PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Augusto Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark has chosen P.O.D. - Alive as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soto
vs
Stark

181 cm
19
193 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
24
192 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Decent knees
Solid chin

Zentrope Fighting Universe

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Augusto Soto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur Stark!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Arthur Stark has been cut.
Soto throws a lazy right hand but Stark sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Soto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Soto is looking to land body kicks.
Soto misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Stark.
Soto shoots for a takedown but Stark saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Soto throws a leg kick

and Stark counters by clinching up.
Stark with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stark blocks an uppercut.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Stark taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stark tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Soto avoids it.
Soto scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Soto pushes Stark back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Soto tries to work over Stark's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Stark controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto managing to block the knees to the body from Stark.
Stark scores a nice knee to the body.
Soto has Stark pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stark manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Augusto Soto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A hook to the body from Soto.
Stark throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stark misses with an elbow over the top.
Soto avoiding damage as Stark throws knees to the body.
Stark using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stark's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Stark working Soto over with knees to the body.
Stark is looking to control Soto's arms but Soto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stark has his back to the cage.
Stark prevents Soto from breaking the clinch.
Soto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stark landing knees to the body.
Soto is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stark effectively controlling the action here.
Stark blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto pushes Stark back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Soto is working for takedown but Stark is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stark with a knee to the head.

Soto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stark is looking to clinch.
Stark misses with an attempted mid kick.
Stark blocks a head kick by Soto.
Stark looks to clinch
and Soto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Soto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stark moves away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stark.
Stark moves to clinch but Soto breaks away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Soto swats away the attempt to clinch by Stark.
Soto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Stark blocks the leg kick.
Soto throws a nice looking combination but Stark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stark tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Soto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Arthur Stark is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soto misses with a straight right.
Stark wants to clinch.
Soto lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Stark moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stark is looking to clinch but Soto is avoiding it.
Stark misses with a few strikes there.
Stark moves to clinch but Soto breaks away
and Soto counters with a thumping low kick.
Stark tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stark tries to clinch but Soto moves away
and Soto counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto looks to score with a jab to the body but Stark is just out of range.
Soto throws a leg kick which misses Stark's front leg but catches the back leg as Stark tries to avoid it.
Stark closes the distance looking to clinch
and Soto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stark doesn't manage to clinch there - Soto circles away.
Stark ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stark.
Arthur Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stark tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Soto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch but Soto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stark throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Soto shoots in and gets a takedown into Stark's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arthur Stark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arthur Stark's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stark moves in looking to clinch but Soto pushes him off.
Soto looks to score with a jab to the body but Stark is just out of range.
Soto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stark tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stark takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stark is looking to clinch.
Augusto Soto is winning the standup battle so far.
Soto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Soto keeps the fight on the outside.
Soto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soto throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Stark throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stark tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Soto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stark looks to clinch
and Soto counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto scores with a nice strike.
Soto scores with a kick to the body.
Stark ducks right into an uppercut from Soto.
Stark tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Soto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stark is breathing heavily.
Soto moves out of range of the body kick from Stark.
Soto misses with a leg kick.
Stark wants to clinch
and Soto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stark takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body punch from Soto.
Soto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soto lands a jab to the head.
Stark wants to clinch but Soto slips to the side
and Soto counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stark fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stark dodges the punch combination from Soto.
Soto cracks the inside of Stark's front leg.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Soto. Stark shrugs it off though.
Stark drops his hands momentarily and Soto takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Soto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stark looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jab by Soto.
Stark moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stark tries a head kick but it misses.
Soto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stark checks it well.
Soto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soto circles away quickly and effectively.
Stark ducks right into an uppercut from Soto.
Stark tries to clinch but Soto is having none of it.
Stark tries to clinch
and Soto counters with an outside leg kick.
Soto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stark manages to avoid it.
Soto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stark pinned against the cage. Stark gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Soto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stark tries to clinch but Soto moves away
and Soto counters with a low kick, right behind Stark 's knee.
Nice body punch from Soto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Soto.
Arthur Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soto throws a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soto lands a right hook to the body.
Soto thows a body shot but no joy.
Soto connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Soto keeps the fight on the outside.
Stark wants to clinch.
Soto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stark swivels and escapes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stark throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Soto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Soto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stark swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Soto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Arthur Stark's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stark tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soto paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Soto looking to score a takedown here. Stark is defending well but Soto drives through and ends up in Stark's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Soto is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soto landing some decent shots from guard.
Soto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Soto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark has control of Soto's left arm, preventing Soto from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stark finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Stark fakes the leg kick and cracks Soto in the body.
Soto jabs at Stark's body.
Soto shoots in for a takedown but Stark shows good takedown defense.
Stark tries to clinch
and Soto counters with an inside leg kick.
Stark is looking to clinch but Soto is avoiding it.
Soto missing with a left hand there. Stark was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Soto.
Stark slips under a jab from Soto.
Stark is looking to clinch but Soto is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark staying out of range there.
Soto throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Stark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stark tries to clinch up but Soto circles away and keeps his distance.
Stark moves out of range as Soto throws a body kick.
Soto misses with a few strikes there.
Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soto tries to score with a low kick but Stark moves his leg out of the way.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch but Soto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stark takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stark tries to clinch but Soto is having none of it.
Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Soto scoring well with a low kick there.
Soto scores with a leg kick.
Stark moves out of range as Soto throws a body kick.
Stark throws a push kick but Soto slaps the foot to one side.

Soto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stark quickly recovers to half guard.
Soto is pressing down on Stark's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stark is holding on for now.
Soto is looking to take a break and control but Stark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Soto not doing much here.
Soto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is bucking up trying to escape but Soto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stark is in all sorts of trouble here.
Soto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stark is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Soto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Soto clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Arthur Stark's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Soto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Soto moves out of range of the body kick from Stark.
Stark tries to clinch up.
Stark wants to clinch up but Soto keeps it at a distance.
Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stark tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stark darts in trying to clinch
and Soto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Soto comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Soto fails with the takedown.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soto swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark misses with a low kick.
Soto swats away the attempt to clinch by Stark.
Stark tries to clinch but Soto is having none of it.
A combination from Soto does no damage.
Soto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Soto thows a body shot but no joy.
Soto tries to score with a low kick but Stark moves his leg out of the way.
Good work by Stark as he checks the leg kick.

Stark moves into the clinch.
Stark gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soto.
Stark landing knees to the head.

It looks like Augusto Soto has been cut.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto swings wildly with an uppercut but Stark uses good head movement to avoid it.

Soto has clasped his hands together around Stark's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Soto is looking to take a break and control but Stark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Soto lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soto working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Soto prevents Stark from escaping the position.
Soto working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Soto cracks Stark with a big elbow.
Stark is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries to advance to mount but Stark denies him.
Soto trying to control the position but Stark is working away.
Stark on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Soto landing a few strikes.
Stark parries the strikes from Soto easily there. Soto is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stark to escape.
Stark is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Soto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Soto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Soto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Soto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stark wants to get back to his feet.
Stark is looking to improve his position but Soto isn't that keen on the idea.
Soto lands a heavy elbow.
Soto avoids the attempt from Stark to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soto controlling his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Soto had his way with Arthur Stark in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Soto or perhaps it was just good defense by Stark which made him look bad.
Stark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soto throws a looping overhand right but Stark ducks down to avoid it.
Stark throws a head kick but Soto moves out of range.

Stark darts in and clinches Soto up against the cage.
Stark missing with knees to the body.
Stark trying to land knees to the body.
Stark tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stark lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Soto.
Stark is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Soto.
Stark throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Soto blocks it with crossed arms.
Soto gets through Stark's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Soto breaks the clinch.
Stark takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stark throws a sloppy head kick and Soto moves out of range easily.
Soto with a nice cross.
Stark walks forward, straight into a front kick from Soto.
Soto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Soto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Soto jabs Stark to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stark tries to clinch but Soto moves out of range.

Soto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Soto is looking to take a break and control but Stark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Soto controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto wants to control but Stark is keeping him busy.
Soto cracks Stark with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Stark is not content to let Soto control the position.
Soto controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Arthur Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Soto happy to just control the position for now.
Stark is pushing Soto's head away, looking to escape. Soto manages to hold on to the position though.
Stark tries to bench press Soto off him but Soto keeps the position.
Stark is being controlled here.
Soto in side control, throwing shots but Stark defends.
Stark can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Stark trying to remain calm as Soto controls from the top position.
Soto misses with the ground and pound.
Soto working the head with strikes.
Soto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stark can do to turn this around?
Soto creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stark sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Soto is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stark's shoulder. That is not cool.
Soto tries to move into full mount but can't pass Stark's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark isn't going anywhere.

Soto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Augusto Soto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Soto 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 49:46
Judge James Glass scores the fight 49:46
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Augusto Soto!
Augusto Soto retains his middleweight title!
A victorious Augusto Soto thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.