PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Oro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is 36 MaFia - Live By Yo Rep. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stark
vs
Oro

184 cm
26
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

160 cm
19
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Oro!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oro rushes Stark and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Oro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Oro shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Oro showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Stark is staying active underneath Oro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stark wants to get back to full guard.
Oro wants to control but Stark is keeping him busy.
Oro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Oro is working for a submission of some sort.
Oro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stark's head.
Stark keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Stark is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Oro jumps into side control!
Stark managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Oro.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oro tries for a kimura but Stark is defending well.

Oro goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Stark has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Oro but great work by Stark.
Oro can't do much from the bottom here.
Stark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Oro is looking to regain half guard here but Stark keeps moving and retains side control.
Stark really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stark is staying tight to Oro's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Stark tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stark has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stark is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oro scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Stark manages to mount him!
Oro tries to hold on but Stark pushes him away.
Stark controlling from mount.
Oro is squirming around, avoiding Stark's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oro tries to hold on but Stark pushes him away.
Stark looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stark seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Oro for as long as he can get away with.

Stark working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Oro bucks Stark off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stark gets the takedown into side control.
Oro tries to bench press Stark off him but Stark keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stark is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Oro will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oro is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stark is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oro struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vladimir Oro will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Stark crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Oro - the referee stops the clock and Stark gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Oro. Stark manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Oro gets a takedown into half guard.

Oro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stark is just riding it out for now. Oro eventually gives up the hold.
Stark works his way to full guard. Good work.
Oro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Stark is looking for a triangle but Oro pushes his legs off easily.
Stark has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Oro trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is adopting a defensive guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stark is on top in guard.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Oro is keeping the position for now.
Stark is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Oro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Steven Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Oro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Oro is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stark is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stark is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Oro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Oro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stark is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Oro manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stark wants to control from the top but Oro keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stark prevents Oro from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oro can't keep his opponent in guard - Stark advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stark performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Stark is trying to work for a kimura but Oro is defending well.

Oro pushes Stark off and gets back to his feet.
Oro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stark misses with a takedown attempt
and Stark takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oro tries to clinch but Stark is having none of it.

Stark throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Oro tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stark is in Oro's guard.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Oro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oro managing to control the position.
Oro is breathing heavily.
Oro is looking to stand up but Stark isn't so interested in that idea.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark being controlled here momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oro is looking to stand up but Stark isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steven Stark will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Oro is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stark's half guard.
Stark keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Stark wants to control but Oro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Oro trying to mount his opponent but Stark defends it.
Oro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Oro looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stark wants to control but Oro is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is trying to get back to full guard.
Stark regains full guard. Nicely done.
Oro trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oro is one step ahead there.

Stark escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Oro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stark keeping full guard, as Oro tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oro won't allow Stark to sweep him here.
Stark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Oro manages to get himself to full guard.
Oro keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Oro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark is stalling in the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stark advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stark looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Stark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Oro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stark goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Oro rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Stark's guard! Nice work there by Oro!
Oro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oro is looking to stand up but Stark won't let him.
Oro trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Oro trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Oro wanted to stand there but Stark had control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stark is controlling Oro's posture.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vladimir Oro wasn't active enough on the ground.

Oro scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Steven Stark.
I think Stark 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steven Stark!
Steven Stark thanked the fans post fight for their support.