PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roni Draymond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keith Starr will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Draymond
vs
Starr

169 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roni Draymond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Starr!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Anthony Taglia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Draymond clinches up with Starr and pushes him back against the cage.
Draymond blocking some punches.

Draymond manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Starr should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Draymond is looking to stand up but Starr isn't so interested in that idea.
Draymond is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Draymond is really struggling to control Starr but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Starr trying to control but Draymond is working from the bottom.
Draymond is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starr wants to pass the guard but Draymond is keeping the position.
Draymond keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.
Starr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Draymond has his foot on Starr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Starr works his way back into a safe position though.
Draymond pulls Starr in close to prevent any damage.
Starr trying to control but Draymond is working from the bottom.
Draymond pulls Starr in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Draymond takes the fight into the clinch.

Starr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Draymond fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Starr avoids it really well and circles away.
Starr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Draymond throwing a counter right hand but Starr manages to avoid it.
Draymond shoots in but Starr avoids the takedown attempt easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Starr looking to slow down the pace here.

Starr breaks from the clinch.
Draymond is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Starr scores with a hook to the body. Draymond takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Draymond moves into range and clinches up with Starr.
A bit of stalling here from Draymond.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Draymond has taken the fight to the clinch.
Draymond is pressed up against the cage. Starr has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Draymond down to the mat. Draymond avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Starr scores with a three punch combo!
Starr jabs Draymond to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Starr tries to keep at a distance but Draymond has taken the fight into the clinch.

Draymond gets control of Starr's arms and successfully pulls guard. Draymond will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Draymond keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.

Draymond is looking for a triangle but Starr pushes his legs off easily.
Starr trying to control the position from guard on top but Draymond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Draymond is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Starr is aware though and is defending well.
Draymond is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draymond keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.
Starr wants to pass the guard but Draymond is keeping the position.
Draymond keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.
Starr looking to pass the guard.
Draymond keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.
Draymond is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Draymond is trying to keep Starr in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roni Draymond will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Starr throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Draymond was covering up waiting for the punch and Starr finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Starr stopping the sweep attempt from Draymond.
Draymond lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Draymond chips away with some ground and pound.
Starr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Draymond is controlling him.
Starr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Draymond accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draymond works over Starr with some ground and pound from guard.
Starr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Draymond's guard.

Draymond keeping full guard, as Starr tries to pass.
Draymond is adopting a defensive guard.
Draymond working a defensive guard here.
Draymond keeping full guard, as Starr tries to pass.
Starr trying to control the position from guard on top but Draymond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Draymond swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roni Draymond overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Draymond is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Draymond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Starr trying to control but Draymond is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Draymond working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Draymond avoids a punch combination nicely.
Starr lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr is trying hard to land a takedown here. Draymond sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Draymond is looking for a counter combo.
Starr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Draymond as he jumps to the side.
Draymond shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Starr but Starr pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Draymond moves into range and clinches up with Starr.

Starr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Draymond clinches with his opponent.
Starr is trying to pull guard but Draymond turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roni Draymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Starr.
Starr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Draymond creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Starr's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draymond misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Starr.

Draymond manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Draymond wants to sweep here but Starr controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Starr wants to control from the top but Draymond keeps moving.

Starr gets to his feet - Draymond follows without any prompting.
Starr avoids the body shot from Draymond.

Starr closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Draymond to the mat! Draymond manages to get full guard.
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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Starr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Starr wants to control but Draymond is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keith Starr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Draymond's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Starr shoots in and drives through. Draymond sprawls well.
Keith Starr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Draymond fails with the takedown.
Starr wants to counter the offense by Draymond and move into the clinch position.
Draymond keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Draymond clinches with his opponent.
Draymond controlling the action here for a moment.
Draymond manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Draymond for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Draymond is trying to trip Starr. He has hold of a leg but Starr is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Draymond persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draymond looking to pass the guard.

Starr looking for a guillotine here but Draymond defends easily.
Starr is looking to stand up but Draymond isn't so interested in that idea.

Draymond stands up and waves to Starr to follow him.
Draymond walks into a stiff left hand from Starr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Draymond has closed the distance and engaged Starr in a clinch.

Starr manages to break the clinch.
Draymond misses with a wild body shot.
Roni Draymond is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Draymond throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Draymond avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Draymond went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Starr lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Draymond fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Draymond throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Starr was covering up waiting for the punch and Draymond finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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!
Starr wants to stand but Draymond is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draymond trying to control the position from guard on top but Starr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Draymond working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Starr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Draymond controls from within his opponent's guard.

Starr has his foot on Draymond's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Draymond works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Starr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Starr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Draymond.

Draymond gets to his feet - Starr follows without any prompting.
Starr blocks a jab.
Starr throws a combination. Draymond tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Starr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Draymond as he jumps to the side.
Draymond throwing a counter right hand but Starr manages to avoid it.
Roni Draymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Starr.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Starr or perhaps it was just good defense by Draymond, which made it look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roni Draymond showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Draymond 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roni Draymond!