PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Starr (ranked 4309 p4p, 6295 weight class) and Robert KO (ranked 490 p4p, 574 weight class). Robert KO is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Starr
vs
KO

175 cm
26
163
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
165
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matt Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robert KO!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
KO throws a big counter head kick but Starr avoids it with no problem.
KO throws a combination that misses
and Starr counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Starr swings for the body but KO moves out of range.
KO dodges the punch combination from Starr.
KO throws a right and a left that Starr avoids nicely.
Starr throws a body shot but no joy.
KO lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
KO comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
KO tries to land a leg kick but Starr saw it coming and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starr scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. KO doesn't seem bothered though.
KO uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starr.
KO looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Starr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from KO.
Starr is looking to wear down KO with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
KO throws a right and a left that both miss.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starr. KO does a little dance to reset his feet.
KO throws a right hand that Starr ducks under and follows up with a left that Starr also avoids with ease.
It looked like Starr wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Starr misses with a wild body shot.
Some wild striking there from KO.
Starr looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Starr tests KO's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by KO!

It looks like Matt Starr has been cut.
KO darts in trying to clinch
and Starr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
KO swings for the body but Starr moves out of range.
KO has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A punch combination from KO misses.
Starr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but KO moves away.
KO throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Starr.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
KO tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Starr was well out of range. Poor timing from KO.
Matt Starr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starr throws a body punch but KO moves out of range.
KO showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Starr.
KO takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
KO wants to slow Starr down by chopping away at his legs.
Matt Starr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starr throws a series of punches but KO moves out of range.
Starr lands with a nice body punch.
Starr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but KO circles away quickly and effectively.
KO lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A combination from KO does no damage.
Starr throwing a counter right hand but KO manages to avoid it.
KO goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
KO motions for Starr to come forward. KO throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Starr wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Starr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but KO circles away quickly and effectively.
Starr swinging wildly here.
KO lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
KO throws a body punch but Starr moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but KO moves away.
KO tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Starr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
KO lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
KO finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
KO avoids the body shot from Starr.
No joy there for Starr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
KO wants to clinch.
KO fails to land with a series of punches.
Starr ducks right into an uppercut from KO.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert KO will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Starr's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Starr misses with a body shot.
Starr has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
KO throws a nice looking combination but Starr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little feinted left hand from Starr on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Starr blocks a leg kick.
Starr clobbers KO with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
KO has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Starr on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Starr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but KO manages to avoid it.
Starr throws a looping overhand right but KO ducks down to avoid it.
KO is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
KO avoids the body shot from Starr.
KO throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Starr throwing a counter right hand but KO manages to avoid it.
Starr takes a swing at KO's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr misses with a body shot.
Starr throws the left hand but KO avoids the punch easily.
KO keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Starr just misses with a punch to the body.
KO throws a counter combo.
KO looks to land a combination but Starr avoids it well.
Starr connects with a good right hand that stumbles KO. KO circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Starr misses the shot to the body.
Starr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Starr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from KO.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr looks to land a right hand but KO moved out of range.
Starr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Starr throws a body shot but no joy.
Starr swings widly with a right hand
and KO counters with a one-two to the body.
KO throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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 bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of KO's head.
Starr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from KO.
KO keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starr. KO does a little dance to reset his feet.
KO lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Starr misses with a combination
and KO counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr throws a right and a left that both miss.
KO misses with a low kick as Starr jumps back.
Starr appears to be looking for a big counter.
A telegraphed right hand from Starr misses the target.
KO ducks under a wild hook from Starr.
Starr takes a swing at KO's ribcage but misses.
Starr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but KO moves away.
Starr throws a body shot but no joy.
KO is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starr was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Starr uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent KO stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
KO throws a right and a left that Starr avoids nicely.
Starr swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
KO throws a right and a left that both miss.
Starr misses the shot to the body.
KO is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Starr cracks KO with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
KO misses with a double jab.
Starr throws a sloppy body shot
and KO counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
KO is looking to clinch but Starr is avoiding it.
Starr appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Starr misses with a hook. KO ducked under it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Starr dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Starr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

KO misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Starr.
Starr looks to score with a jab to the body but KO is just out of range.
Starr throws a hook to the side of KO's head but KO sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
KO looks to land a combination but Starr avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Starr.
Starr throws a combination but it was largely blocked by KO.
Starr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but KO moves away.
No joy there for KO, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Starr misses with a wild body shot.
KO misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr looks to score with a jab to the body but KO is just out of range.
Starr feints a jab promting KO to slip. Starr then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. KO slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
KO tries to clinch but Starr is having none of it.
Robert KO is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Starr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by KO.
KO misses with a wild combination.
Starr cracks KO with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
KO throws a shot from downtown. Starr moves away and avoids it.
Starr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. KO looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
KO tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Starr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr misses with a body shot.
Starr throws a series of strikes that have KO backpedaling.
Starr comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
KO lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Starr circles away quickly and effectively.
KO lands with a hook. Starr tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Starr walks into a jab.
KO throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Starr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Starr avoids the body shot from KO.
No joy there for Starr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
KO stalks Starr and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Starr's face. Starr staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr throws a lazy right hand but KO sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
KO tries to clinch up.
Starr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Starr throws a body shot but no joy.
Starr misses with a wild body shot.
KO lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Starr circles away quickly and effectively.
Starr was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
KO misses with a hook.
KO closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Starr throws a body shot but no joy.
KO feints a counter leg kick.
Starr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from KO.
Starr stuns KO with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
KO dodges the punch combination from Starr.
KO appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
KO throws a body shot but no joy.
KO fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
KO scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Starr misses the shot to the body.
KO is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
KO misses with the combination.
Starr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

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 Matt Starr.
Well Starr 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Starr!