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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Starker (ranked 2097 p4p, 4489 weight class) and Gorgon Zola (ranked 93 p4p, 159 weight class). Starker's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Catrin O'Neill - Ar Lan Y Mor. Zola has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!
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| 190 cm
43
265
23 - 19 - 0 |
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193 cm
36
267
11 - 13 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Starker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gorgon Zola!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Starker has managed to clinch.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Zola is stalling here.
Zola dodges an elbow strike from Starker.
Zola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Starker closes the distance and clinches.
Zola blocks an elbow strike from Starker.
Zola manages to break the clinch.
Starker rushes Zola and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zola blocks an elbow strike from Starker.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Starker swings wildly with an uppercut but Zola uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Zola wants a takedown but no success here.
Zola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Starker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zola feints the counter takedown.
Starker clinches with his opponent.
Zola is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zola blocks the elbow strike.
Zola dodges an elbow strike from Starker.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zola breaks the clinch.
Starker drives through and clinches with Zola against the cage.
Starker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.
Still in the clinch, Starker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Zola blocks an elbow strike.
Starker lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zola looking to slow down the pace here.
Starker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Starker misses with an elbow over the top.
Zola manages to break the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starker moves into the clinch.
Zola throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
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!
Zola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zola drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.
Zola avoids a wild elbow strike from Starker.
Zola tries a body shot but Starker blocks it.
Zola tries for a takedown but Starker manages to get underhooks.
Paul Starker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gorgon Zola.
Starker pushes off an throws an elbow but Zola leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zola fails to pull guard.
Zola dodges an elbow strike from Starker.
Zola blocks an elbow strike from Starker.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Starker creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zola's defenses.
Zola blocks an uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zola's brow.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Starker pushes off an throws an elbow but Zola leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zola's brow.
Starker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zola jumps guard and drags Starker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Starker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zola is proving hard to escape from.
Starker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zola controls Starker momentarily but Starker frees himself.
Starker wants to stand but Zola is controlling his posture from full guard.
Starker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zola on the ground.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starker postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zola has a closed guard, preventing Starker from standing up.
Starker postures up.
Starker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zola's guard.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zola gets tackled into the cage by Starker. Starker maintains the clinch.
Zola blocks an elbow strike.
Starker gets through Zola's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zola has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Starker is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zola looking for a takedown.
Nice elbow from Starker.
It looks like Gorgon Zola has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zola is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Starker to keep the fight standing.
A short left from Starker.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Starker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gorgon Zola's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Starker takes the fight into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zola's brow.
Zola taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Paul Starker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zola keeps the fight on the outside.
Starker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Starker wants it to stay on the feet.
Starker tries to clinch there but Zola circles away.
Zola clinches.
Zola goes for a takedown attempt but Starker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Starker wants to clinch up but Zola keeps it at a distance.
Zola shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Starker pinned against the cage. Starker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paul Starker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gorgon Zola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starker tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Starker clinches with his opponent.
Zola is working for takedown but Starker is calmly controlling the position for now.
Starker lands a right hand.
Zola is trying to push Starker away but Starker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Starker throws an elbow but misses.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.
Zola jumps guard.
Zola has a closed guard, preventing Starker from standing up.
Zola is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Starker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Starker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zola can do to turn this around?
Zola doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starker stands up from Zola's guard - Starker perhaps looking for a knockout.
Starker is looking to clinch but Zola is avoiding it.
Zola will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Starker doesn't manage to clinch there - Zola circles away.
Zola fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Starker, pushing him back against the cage.
Zola dodges an elbow strike from Starker.
Zola tries to pull guard but Starker won't allow it.
Zola tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Starker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Starker has closed the distance and engaged Zola in a clinch.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Zola tries to pull guard but Starker won't allow it.
Starker creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Starker closes the distance and pushes Zola back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zola blocking some punches.
Zola is trying to drag Starker to the mat but Starker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Zola's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zola's brow.
Starker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Starker has a couple of punches blocked by Zola.
Starker working aggressively here.
Zola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zola lands a nice hook to Starker's body. Starker takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Starker takes a jab right on the kisser.
Starker tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Starker won't be happy with that.
Starker explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Paul Starker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Starker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Starker tries to clinch up but Zola circles away and keeps his distance.
Zola dives in for a single leg takedown but Starker sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zola closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zola pulls guard effortlessly.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola looking to control.
Starker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zola striking off his back but it's not causing Starker any problems.
Zola controls Starker momentarily but Starker frees himself.
Starker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zola controlling Starker's posture.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Starker stuffs the takedown.
Zola connects with a body shot that sends Starker's belly button to the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Paul Starker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gorgon Zola's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Zola lands a head kick. Starker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Starker wants to clinch up but Zola keeps it at a distance.
Zola is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Starker pushes Zola up against the cage in a clinch.
Zola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Starker stuffs the takedown attempt from Zola. Zola gets slowly back to his feet.
Starker closes the distance and clinches.
Zola breaks the clinch.
Starker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Starker has closed the distance and engaged Zola in a clinch.
Starker lands an elbow inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zola blocks an elbow strike.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.
Zola tries to pull guard but Starker holds him up against the cage and eventually Zola drops back down to his feet.
Zola holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Zola is leaning against Starker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Zola gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Starker regains guard.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Starker manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Zola breaks the clinch.
Zola buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Starker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zola gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Starker has a couple of punches blocked by Zola.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Starker throws an elbow but it misses.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.
Zola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zola!
Zola fails with a takedown attempt.
Starker tries to counter with a takedown but Zola is quick to defend against it.
Paul Starker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gorgon Zola.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola swats away the attempt to clinch by Starker.
Starker wants to clinch
and Zola counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Starker is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Starker looks to clinch
and Zola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Starker tries to clinch there but Zola circles away.
Zola changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Zola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Starker doesn't manage to clinch there - Zola circles away.
Starker has managed to clinch.
Zola takes an elbow to the forehead.
Starker lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zola looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zola jumps guard.
Zola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starker stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Starker wants to clinch up but Zola keeps it at a distance.
Zola lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Zola keeps the fight on the outside.
Zola throws a nice head kick!
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Starker looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short right from Starker.
Gorgon Zola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zola fails to pull guard.
Zola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zola lands a jab-cross combination.
Starker tries to clinch up.
Starker wants to clinch up but Zola keeps it at a distance.
Zola forces Starker back against the cage and clinches.
Starker creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zola's defenses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starker looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zola avoids a wild elbow strike from Starker.
Zola is trying to push Starker away but Starker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zola jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Starker walks away with a smile on his face. Zola gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zola tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Zola shoots in for a takedown but Starker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Starker doesn't manage to clinch there - Zola circles away.
Starker clinches.
Knees to the body from Zola.
Zola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Starker has him pressed against the cage.
Starker lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Starker throws an elbow but misses.
Starker pushes off an throws an elbow but Zola leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Starker throws a punch but it's blocked by Zola.
Zola tries to land knees in the clinch but Starker avoids the damage to the body.
Starker lands an elbow just above Zola 's eye.
That has opened up Gorgon Zola's cut even more.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zola avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
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 Paul Starker.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Starker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Starker!
After the fight, Paul Starker was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
61% |
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