PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nate Starks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacques De Molay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacques De Molay will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Starks
vs
De Molay

195 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
178 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nate Starks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jacques De Molay!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Molay cracks Starks with an open hand slap.
Molay moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Molay. That snapped Starks's head back.
Molay moves out of range as Starks throws a body kick.
Molay throws a one two combo.
Molay fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Starks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Starks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A left and a right from Molay both land. Nice combination.
Molay dips to his left and cracks Starks with an uppercut!
Jacques De Molay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molay fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Starks on the side of the head.
A jab lands there for Molay.
Starks throws a right and a left that Molay avoids nicely.
Molay fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Starks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Starks is looking to land body kicks.
Molay throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Molay throws a looping overhand right but Starks ducks down to avoid it.
Molay lands with a nice body punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Molay. Starks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Molay counter with a right hand.
Jacques De Molay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starks has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Molay works over Starks's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molay connects with the punch.
Molay looks to land a combination but Starks avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Molay.
Molay rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Starks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Molay pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Molay throws a right and a left that both miss.
Molay looks winded!

Starks clinches with his opponent.
Molay is trying to break the clinch but Starks is controlling him.

Starks manages to break the clinch.
Molay lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molay looks to land a combination. Starks sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Starks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Molay.
Molay throws a series of punches but Starks avoids them all with ease.
Starks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Molay fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Molay is working the combinations to good effect here.
Molay throws a lazy right hand but Starks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some wild striking there from Starks.
Starks misses with a few strikes there.
A slow jab from Molay misses its intended target.
Molay fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Starks slips a straight right by Molay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molay throws a looping overhand right but Starks ducks down to avoid it.
Molay looks to score with a jab to the body but Starks is just out of range.
Starks throws a push kick but Molay slaps the foot to one side.
Sloppy strikes from Starks. Those never looked like landing.
Starks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Molay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Starks ducks under a wild hook from Molay.
Molay misses with a jab, cross combination.
Starks takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molay ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Starks.
Molay is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Starks had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Starks fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques De Molay dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Starks needs to keep his hands up - Molay had a free shot at his head there.
Starks misses with a series of wild punches.
Molay moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Molay lands with a hook. Starks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Starks takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Molay listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Molay throws a jab when Starks was well out of range.
Molay misses with a jab, cross combination.
Starks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molay scores with a shot to the body.
Molay throws a looping overhand right but Starks ducks down to avoid it.
Starks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Starks takes one to the chin there.
Molay moves out of range of the body kick from Starks.
Molay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Starks moves away.
Molay misses with a few strikes there.
Molay is breathing heavily.
Molay slips a jab and a cross from Starks.
Molay bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Molay looks to score with a jab to the body but Starks is just out of range.
Nate Starks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Molay fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starks slips under a jab from Molay.
No joy there for Starks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Molay lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Starks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Molay is trying to break free.
Molay wants to break free but Starks has control.
Molay has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Starks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Molay's efforts to push away.
Molay is trying to force a seperation but Starks has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starks breaks from the clinch.
Starks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Molay scores with a shot to the body.
Starks tries to bum rush Molay with a series of wild strikes but Molay uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Molay swinging wildly here.
Molay misses with a wild combination.
Starks looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Molay scores with a jab to the head.
Molay moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Starks misses with a combination
and Molay counters with a right hand to the body.
Molay throws a right hand that Starks ducks under and follows up with a left that Starks also avoids with ease.
Molay misses with a hook

and Starks counters with a crisp one two that drops Molay! Starks thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Molay to his feet! Molay is in big trouble!

Molay is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starks tries to bum rush Molay with a series of wild strikes but Molay uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Molay is still on wobbly legs! Can Starks finish him?

Molay gets tackled into the cage by Starks. Starks maintains the clinch.

Starks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Molay seems to have recovered his senses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Starks instigates a clinch.
Molay tries to break the clinch but Starks is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Starks dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Molay lands a slapping body shot.
Starks shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Starks misses with a double jab
and Molay connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Molay scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Starks doesn't seem bothered though.
Molay looks to land a combination but Starks avoids it well.
Molay lands a nice hook to Starks's body. Starks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters circling - Molay throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Molay misses with a jab, cross combination.
Molay lands a jab to Starks's midsection.
Molay swinging wildly here.
Molay takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Starks throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Starks moves into range and clinches up with Molay.
Molay looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Molay wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Starks has him pressed against the cage.

Starks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jacques De Molay seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Molay takes a swing at Starks's ribcage but misses.
Molay fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molay fails to land with a series of punches.
Molay dips to his left and cracks Starks with an uppercut!

Starks drives through and clinches with Molay against the cage.
Molay is trying to break the clinch but Starks has him pressed against the cage.
Molay is trying to break free.
Starks can't break the clinch.

Starks pulls guard successfully.
Starks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Starks pushes Molay off and gets back to his feet.
A left lands for Molay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molay closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Molay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Starks was well out of range. Poor timing from Molay.
Starks throws a series of punches but Molay moves out of range.
Starks fails with a takedown attempt.
Molay will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Molay looks to score with a jab to the body but Starks is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molay looks to land a left hand but Starks moved out of range nicely.
Molay swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Starks has taken the fight to the clinch.

Starks has Molay pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Starks pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Molay tumbling to the mat - Starks dives into Molay's guard.
Starks's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molay is looking to stand up but Starks isn't so interested in that idea.
Starks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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 Nate Starks.
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 Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

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