PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Ruffarino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ruffarino
vs
Starr

178 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

165 cm
23
165 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rufus Ruffarino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Starr!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruffarino misses with a wild body shot.
Ruffarino looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Keith Starr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starr lands a nice looking body shot.

Ruffarino clinches up with Starr and pushes him back against the cage.

Ruffarino tightens his grip and picks Starr up, before dumping him to the ground. Starr manages to land in guard.
Ruffarino postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Starr pulls Ruffarino in close to prevent any damage.
Starr lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ruffarino is trying to hold Starr in close to prevent damage but Starr has managed to pass into half guard.
Ruffarino is trying to stand back up but Starr is controlling him
Ruffarino throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ruffarino striking from half guard on the bottom.
Ruffarino wants to control but Starr is keeping busy.
Ruffarino has hold of Starr's hands but Starr slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruffarino wants to improve his position but Starr is controlling well.
Ruffarino is looking to control Starr's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruffarino avoid being mounted?
Ruffarino avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Starr.

Ruffarino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ruffarino is positioning himself well to prevent Starr advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Ruffarino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ruffarino missing with punches from the bottom.

Starr decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ruffarino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Starr lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Ruffarino has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruffarino ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ruffarino no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ruffarino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ruffarino keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.
Starr showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Starr advances to half guard.
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. Starr connects with a nice short shot to Ruffarino's temple.
Starr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ruffarino moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Starr stands up over Ruffarino, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Starr trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruffarino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruffarino working a defensive guard here.
Ruffarino will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ruffarino will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Starr won't allow Ruffarino to sweep him here.
Starr trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruffarino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starr postures up.
Ruffarino lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ruffarino 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.
Ruffarino is in close to Starr's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruffarino trying to control the position from guard on top but Starr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Starr holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keith Starr will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ruffarino's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruffarino darts in looking for a takedown but Starr gets double underhooks and turns Ruffarino into the cage.

Starr forces Ruffarino back against the cage and clinches.
Starr wants a takedown but no success here.

Ruffarino turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Keith Starr has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ruffarino is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Starr has escaped the position, nice work there.
Starr can't do much from the bottom here.
Ruffarino wants to control but Starr is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruffarino cracks Starr with a big right hand but Starr just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Starr on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Starr managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ruffarino.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruffarino laying and praying for a moment but Starr takes advantage and regains half guard.
Ruffarino is trying to control. Starr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Starr regains full guard. Nicely done.

Starr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruffarino defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruffarino accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ruffarino trying to control the position from guard on top but Starr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ruffarino got a little sloppy there for a moment and Starr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ruffarino has managed to get both his arms back between Starr's legs - danger averted.
Ruffarino stands up over Starr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Our spies down at at Demon's Elite Gym inform us that Starr has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr keeping moving, preventing Ruffarino from controlling successfully.
Ruffarino throwing strikes from guard but Starr blocks nicely.
Ruffarino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ruffarino content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruffarino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ruffarino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Starr 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.
Ruffarino trying to control the position from guard on top but Starr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ruffarino misses with a takedown attempt
and Starr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ruffarino thinking.
Starr moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Ruffarino scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Starr wants to get back to his feet but Ruffarino is dominant here and he's now got Starr's back!
Ruffarino avoiding Starr 's attempts to control his hands.
Starr is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruffarino misses with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruffarino punches the canvas rather than the man.

Starr fending off the submission attempt from Ruffarino.
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.
Ruffarino misses with a punch to the head.
Starr covering up well under a series of strikes from Ruffarino.

Ruffarino is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Ruffarino connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Starr to escape the position.
Starr just trying to survive but Ruffarino is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Ruffarino dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ruffarino shoots for a double leg takedown but Starr sprawls well. He's pushed Ruffarino's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Starr shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ruffarino sprawls well. Ruffarino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Starr gets slowly back to his feet.
Ruffarino swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Ruffarino tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starr sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruffarino somewhat.

Starr fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruffarino, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starr tries to pull guard but Ruffarino won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruffarino tightens his grip and picks Starr up, before dumping him to the ground. Starr manages to land in guard.

Starr is looking for a triangle but Ruffarino pushes his legs off easily.
Ruffarino wants to control from the top but Starr keeps moving.

Ruffarino has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Starr to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Ruffarino is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Starr pulls down on the head and he's put Ruffarino to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Keith Starr!