PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Flay (ranked 3364 p4p, 4653 weight class) and Carleton Starling (ranked 445 p4p, 536 weight class). Carleton Starling acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Flay
vs
Starling

191 cm
25
194
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
190
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Neon Zombie
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bobby Flay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Carleton Starling!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flay fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Starling tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Flay swivels and escapes.
Flay feinted with a counter takedown.

Flay takes the fight into the clinch.
Flay changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Starling fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Flay has taken the fight to the clinch.

Flay has hold of one of Starling's legs. Starling is fighting the takedown attempt but Flay gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Starling is trying to keep Flay in close.
Flay is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flay scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Starling trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flay pushing down on Starling's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Flay seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ground and pound from Flay.

Flay is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Flay is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Flay working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flay lands with a punch from half guard.
Flay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Flay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Starling tries to roll over but Flay keeps him under control.
Flay is thwarting Starling's attempts to control the position.
Flay scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Flay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Starling tries to roll over but Flay keeps him under control.
Starling looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starling trying to control here.
Flay lands strikes from half guard.

Flay seems to be working for a kimura but Starling defends the submission attempt.
Starling is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Flay's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Flay's back!
Flay tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Starling prevents Flay from getting the reversal.
Starling throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Starling thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flay regains half guard.
Starling seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Flay is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flay keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Flay dominated that round.
That's time! Flay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Starling shoots for a double leg takedown but Flay sprawls well. He's pushed Starling's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Flay changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Starling shoots in but Flay avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Flay clinches up with Starling and pushes him back against the cage.

Flay gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Flay lands a couple of digs.
Flay controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flay wants to control from the top but Starling keeps moving.

Starling is looking for a triangle but Flay pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flay trying to control the position from guard on top but Starling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bobby Flay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Flay's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Flay working some strikes from top position.
Flay controls from within his opponent's guard.
Starling is trying to control the position but Flay postures up.
Flay distracts Starling with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Flay thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Flay looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Starling is trying to keep Flay in close.
Flay passes into half guard.
Flay looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Flay is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Starling can do to turn this around?

Flay seems to be working for a kimura but Starling defends the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Flay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flay content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flay landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Flay takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Starling is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Flay scores with a couple of nice shots.
Still in half guard, Flay seems content to control.
Starling has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Flay is working away from the top position though.
Flay is nestled in close to Starling, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Flay looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Starling is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starling is concentrating on defense, preventing Flay from advancing position.
Flay looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Starling is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Flay scores with a couple of nice shots.
Flay prevents Starling from improving his position.
Flay scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Flay working Starling over with strikes.
Flay lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Flay looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Starling with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Flay lands strikes from half guard.
Flay is controlling the pace.
Flay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Flay dominated that second round.
That's time! Flay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Flay shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Starling pinned against the cage. Starling gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Flay shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Flay controlling the action here.
Flay trying to control from half guard but Starling is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flay controlling the action here.
Flay landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flay looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Starling trying to control here.
Starling tries to kick Flay off but Flay keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Starling gets full guard.
Flay looking to sit in guard and control but Starling gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Flay wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Flay looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starling is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flay is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Starling trying to control but Flay is working from the bottom.
Flay wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flay keeping moving, preventing Starling from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Flay drives through and clinches with Starling against the cage.
Starling wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Starling is trying to pull guard but Flay turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Starling wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bobby Flay is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Starling fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Starling wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Flay has him pressed against the cage.
Flay has Starling pressed against the cage.
Starling drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bobby Flay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carleton Starling.
Starling tries to pull guard but Flay won't allow it.
Starling fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A bit of stalling here from Starling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Flay pulls guard successfully.
Flay pulls Starling in close to prevent any damage.
Carleton Starling has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Flay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flay 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:26
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Flay!
A relieved looking Bobby Flay thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.