PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcello Cobretti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francis Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cobretti's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, White Zombie - Black Sunshine . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cobretti
vs
Stark

190 cm
23
200 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

189 cm
26
197 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marcello Cobretti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Francis Stark!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cobretti thuds his right hand into Stark's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Francis Stark has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stark.

It looks like Marcello Cobretti has been cut.
Cobretti dives in and grabs Stark's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stark pushes down on Cobretti's head and hops out.
Stark throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cobretti counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stark is looking for a sweep. Cobretti is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark is pressing down on Cobretti's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cobretti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cobretti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cobretti.
Cobretti trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cobretti being controlled here momentarily.
Stark tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Francis Stark was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cobretti blocks a head kick by Stark.
Stark misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Stark. Those never looked like landing.
Cobretti with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stark to score with a decent uppercut.
Stark throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stark punishes Cobretti's body with a nice straight punch.
Stark misses with a few strikes there.
Stark takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Stark ducks right into an uppercut from Cobretti.
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 tries to bum rush Cobretti with a series of wild strikes but Cobretti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cobretti throws a leg kick that misses.
Stark moves out of range of the body kick.
Stark cracks the inside of Cobretti's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cobretti swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Stark lands a body shot.
Cobretti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stark's sensitive parts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cobretti can't find room to land a body shot as Stark controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cobretti as Stark tries to tie him up.
Cobretti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Stark's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stark misses with a double jab

and Cobretti counters with a single leg into guard. Stark didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cobretti postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Cobretti throws an elbow that misses. Stark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cobretti's guard. Nice move by Stark!
Cobretti throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Cobretti is trying to control the position but Stark postures up.

Cobretti working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stark doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stark manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stark stopping the sweep attempt from Cobretti.
Cobretti looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stark puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cobretti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is looking to take a break and control but Cobretti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cobretti trying to hold on to Stark's head to control him but Stark postures up.
Stark tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cobretti knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cobretti tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We've been hearing good reports from Cobretti's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Stark wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Cobretti dominated 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.

Cobretti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stark scores with a jab to the body.
Marcello Cobretti is winning the standup battle so far.
Cobretti takes a swing at Stark's ribcage but misses.
Cobretti misses with a right hand
and Stark counters with a nice body shot.
Stark misses with a lunging right hand

and Cobretti counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stark's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stark controls Cobretti momentarily but Cobretti frees himself.
Cobretti throwing strikes from guard but Stark blocks nicely.
Cobretti trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.
Cobretti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobretti distracts Stark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stark is trying to keep Cobretti in close.
Cobretti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cobretti scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stark controls Cobretti momentarily but Cobretti frees himself.
Cobretti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stark pulls Cobretti in to control the position.
Stark is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cobretti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cobretti looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cobretti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cobretti throws a strike but Stark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cobretti looking to control.
Stark wants to get up but he can't break Cobretti's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Cobretti is looking for a triangle but Stark pushes his legs off easily.
Cobretti working a defensive guard here.
Cobretti 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.

Cobretti looking for subs off his back but Stark has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark content to control rather than advance.
Stark is pressing down on Cobretti's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cobretti is holding on for now.
Stark tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Stark prevents Cobretti from improving his position.
Stark perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cobretti is looking for a sweep. Stark is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Francis Stark has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Cobretti shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cobretti.
Stark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cobretti is working away from the top position though.

Cobretti is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Cobretti 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cobretti is pressing down on Stark's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stark is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Cobretti dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Cobretti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stark was well out of range. Poor timing from Cobretti.
A jab from Stark misses.
Stark swinging wildly here.
Stark tries to work over Cobretti's front leg with a kick but Cobretti checks it.
Cobretti tries to clinch up.
Cobretti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stark throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cobretti misses with a body shot.
Cobretti throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stark.
Stark cracks Cobretti with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cobretti throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stark's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cobretti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cobretti looks to throw the jab but Stark is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobretti thows a body kick. Stark tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Stark connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cobretti's hands.
Stark throws a lazy right hand but Cobretti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An inside leg kick from Stark misses.
Stark throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stark throws a front kick aimed at Cobretti's knee but Cobretti avoids it well.
Francis Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cobretti misses with a takedown attempt - Stark sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stark wants to slow Cobretti down by chopping away at his legs.

Cobretti drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stark is trying to keep Cobretti in close.
Cobretti works over Stark with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cobretti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cobretti stands up over Stark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.
Cobretti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stark seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cobretti throws a big right hand that misses.
Cobretti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stark is pulling down on Cobretti's head to control his posture.
Cobretti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti throwing strikes from guard but Stark blocks nicely.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stark has momentary wrist control but Cobretti slips an elbow through the middle.
Cobretti chips away with some ground and pound.
Cobretti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cobretti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cobretti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cobretti postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Cobretti landing with the ground and pound.
Cobretti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Cobretti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cobretti trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stark is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Cobretti from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cobretti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Francis Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cobretti throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcello Cobretti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cobretti has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcello Cobretti!
Marcello Cobretti seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.