PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Halme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vito Starkard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halme
vs
Starkard

197 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
20
242 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tony Halme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vito Starkard!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starkard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Halme's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Starkard trying to control the position from guard on top but Halme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starkard postures up.
Halme wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Halme is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Starkard distracts Halme with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Starkard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tony Halme.

Halme gets caught flat footed, as Starkard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starkard looking to pass the guard.
Starkard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Starkard throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starkard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like Starkard might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Halme looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Starkard.
Starkard fails with the takedown
and Halme counters with a left and a right that stings Starkard.

Halme forces Starkard back against the cage and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Halme is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Starkard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Halme jumps guard but Starkard stands there with Halme around his waist. Halme gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Halme tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Halme. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halme is fighting off a takedown attempt but Starkard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Halme to the mat. Halme regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Starkard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Starkard trying to control the position from guard on top but Halme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starkard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Starkard slips nicely into half guard.
Halme is breathing heavily.
Starkard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Starkard connects with a nice short shot to Halme's temple.
Starkard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Starkard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starkard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Starkard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Starkard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Starkard breaks from Halme's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The referee warns Halme that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Starkard putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starkard has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Halme's face.
Starkard with a couple of short strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starkard controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Starkard is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Halme has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vito Starkard 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.

Starkard closes the distance and pushes Halme back into the cage.

Starkard gets control of Halme's arms and successfully pulls guard. Starkard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Starkard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Starkard is looking for a triangle but Halme pushes his legs off easily.
Starkard working a defensive guard but Halme manages to pass into side control anyway.
Halme tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Starkard manages to work his way to half guard, despite Halme's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starkard manages to get to full guard.
Halme wants to control from the top but Starkard keeps moving.
Starkard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Starkard trying to strike off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Starkard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Starkard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Halme!
Starkard scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starkard putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starkard controlling the pace for now.
Halme is bucking up trying to escape but Starkard cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Starkard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Starkard controlling the pace for now.
Starkard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Halme is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starkard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Starkard landing strikes from the mount and Halme is in trouble!
Halme wants to control but Starkard is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Starkard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Starkard lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Halme hang on?
Starkard putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halme taking shots to the head.
Halme is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halme taking shots to the head.
Starkard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Starkard lands a big elbow.
Starkard landing strikes from the mount and Halme is in trouble!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Starkard. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Starkard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Starkard scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Halme?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Starkard cracks Halme with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Starkard lands a couple of good shots and Halme has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vito Starkard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Starkard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Starkard keeps the fight on the outside.

Starkard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Halme looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Starkard landing a few strikes.
Halme takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Vito Starkard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Starkard working the ground and pound from side control.
Starkard cracks Halme with a big right hand but Halme just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starkard is working Halme over with some ground and pound from side control.
Starkard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Starkard is putting a hurting on Halme here, landing some big shots from side control.
The referee asks Starkard politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Starkard prefers to stall for the moment though.
Starkard working the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halme seems a little lost for a moment, as Starkard dominates the positioning.
Halme on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starkard cracks Halme with a big right hand but Halme just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Halme knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Starkard on the ground.
Starkard lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Starkard scores with a couple of short elbows.
Starkard scoring with punches and elbows.
Starkard working the head with strikes.
Starkard grinds an elbow into Halme's temple.
Starkard controls the position.
Starkard in side control lands a decent elbow.
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!
The referee asks Starkard politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Starkard prefers to stall for the moment though.
Starkard working the head and body with strikes.
Starkard slows the pace down.
Starkard lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starkard cracks Halme with a big right hand but Halme just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Halme is trying to escape the position but Starkard is controlling the position.
Starkard working the ground and pound from side control.
Halme takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Let's hope that Starkard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Starkard advances to full mount.
Starkard dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starkard content just to control the position here.
Starkard scoring with strikes but Halme is staying in there.
Starkard postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Halme looks a forlorn figure.
Starkard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Starkard controlling from the full mount.
Starkard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starkard controlling from the full mount.
Starkard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Starkard lands a heavy elbow.
Starkard raining down shots from the mount!
Vito Starkard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Starkard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tony Halme has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starkard with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vito Starkard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Starkard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vito Starkard!