PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Owen Starks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Alard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Starks
vs
Alard

189 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
187 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

[MMABR] Nutrition Unlimited-154Q Recovery for $65
[MMABR] Nutrition Unlimited-154Q Recovery for $65

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Owen Starks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aaron Alard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Starks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starks.
Starks misses with the combination.
Starks with a hook.
A left lands for Starks.
Danga de danga de dang - Starks scores with a four punch combination!
Starks moves out of range of the leg kick from Alard.
Alard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Starks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Starks is looking to clinch but Alard is avoiding it.
Alard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alard somewhat.
Starks throws a lazy right hand but Alard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Starks finds it's target.
Alard fails with the takedown.
Owen Starks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Alard.
Starks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alard was well out of range. Poor timing from Starks.
Starks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Starks moves into range and connects with a jab.
Starks moves in looking to clinch but Alard pushes him off.
Starks ducks under a wild hook from Alard.
Starks misses with an attempted mid kick.
Alard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Starks as he avoids it easily.
Starks loads up on a big right hand but Alard slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Alard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Starks blocking the ground and pound.
Starks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alard on the ground.
Alard trying to control but Starks is having none of it.
Starks on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Starks tries to get out of the position.
Starks is in all sorts of trouble here.
Alard punishing his opponent with strikes.
Starks wants to control but Alard is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alard working Starks over with strikes here.
Alard throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Starks because Alard loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starks tries to hold on but Alard pushes him away.
Alard thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Alard prevents Starks from getting the reversal.

Alard goes for an armbar but Starks turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Starks.

Alard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Starks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alard working a defensive guard here.
Alard throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Alard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Starks trying to control but Alard is working from the bottom.
Starks is looking to work some ground and pound but Alard has wrist control.
Starks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alard is keeping the position for now.
Starks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alard is proving hard to escape from.

Alard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Starks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alard trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Starks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Starks fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Owen Starks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alard swats away the attempt to clinch by Starks.
Starks moves in looking to clinch but Alard pushes him off.
Starks is looking to clinch but Alard is avoiding it.
Owen Starks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starks tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Starks tries to clinch up but Alard circles away and keeps his distance.
Alard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Starks.

Alard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alard pushes down on Starks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Starks trying to get back to full guard but Alard takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Starks defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Alard.
Starks wants to get back to his feet.
Starks takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Alard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Starks is surviving well by controlling Alard's body position as best he can.

Alard looking for a guillotine from mount but Starks is having none of it.
Alard throwing strikes but Starks recovers to half guard. A much better position.

Alard is working for a kimura but Starks is defending it quite comfortably.
Alard is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starks is trying to maintain the position but Alard is very close to passing his half guard.
Alard is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Alard looking to sit in guard and control but Starks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Alard is trying to keep Starks in close.
Starks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alard is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alard is trying to control the position but Starks postures up.
Starks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Alard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Starks controls from within his opponent's guard.
Starks trying to control but Alard is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Alard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Alard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Starks swivels and escapes.
Alard slips a jab and a cross from Starks.
Alard misses with a hook to the body
and Starks counters with a series of strikes. Alard will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alard keeps the fight on the outside.
A combination from Starks does no damage.
Starks is looking to clinch.
Starks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A jab from Starks finds it's way through Alard's defenses.
Starks lands a nice shot to the body.
Starks throws a jab but it's blocked by Alard.
Starks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Alard.
Alard blocks the body kick.
Starks throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Owen Starks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Alard.
Alard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Starks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Starks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Starks throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Alard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Starks but Starks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alard tries a head kick but it misses.
Alard slips a jab and a cross from Starks.
Starks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Starks.
Starks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Alard with that takedown attempt.
Starks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Starks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Starks cracks Alard with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Owen Starks is winning the standup battle so far.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Alard.
Alard fails with the takedown.
Starks misses with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Starks.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Starks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alard shoots for a double leg takedown but Starks sprawls well. He's pushed Alard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A head kick misses from Starks.
A slow jab from Starks misses its intended target.
Starks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alard is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Starks.
Starks throws the kick towards the body but Alard avoids it.
Alard looks for a takedown but Starks sprawls well.
Starks throws a head kick but Alard moves out of range.
Starks stuffs the takedown attempt from Alard. Alard gets slowly back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Alard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starks takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The strikes coming from Alard are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Starks takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Starks is looking to regain half guard here but Alard keeps moving and retains side control.
Starks wants to control but Alard postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alard wants to take a breather but Starks manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Alard.
Alard thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Owen Starks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Starks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen Starks!