PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dominik Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Sibelius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominik Starr has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Starr
vs
Sibelius

173 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dominik Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Sibelius!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Starr.

Starr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Starr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sibelius is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sibelius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starr is keeping the position for now.
Sibelius stops Starr from standing up.
Sibelius trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sibelius trying to control but Starr is working from the bottom.
Starr has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sibelius trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Starr throws a hook to the side of Sibelius's head but Sibelius sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Starr sizes up Sibelius with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sibelius moves away from the strike by Starr.
Starr lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Jean Sibelius has been cut.
Sibelius looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Starr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Starr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sibelius.
Starr looks to throw the jab but Sibelius is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starr. Sibelius does a little dance to reset his feet.

Sibelius shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sibelius showed some decent athleticism there.
Starr wants to control but Sibelius is keeping busy.
Sibelius wants to take a breather but Starr is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr is looking to escape.
Sibelius trying to pass the guard but Starr defending well.
Starr is looking to control Sibelius's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Starr avoid being mounted?
Starr is refusing to be controlled, as Sibelius sits in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sibelius.
A swing and a miss from Starr.
Starr misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Starr tries to bum rush Sibelius with a series of wild strikes but Sibelius uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sibelius looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dominik Starr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Sibelius.
Starr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Starr connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Starr throws the left hand but Sibelius avoids the punch easily.
Sibelius needs to keep his hands up - Starr had a free shot at his head there.
Sibelius shoots in for a double leg but Starr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sibelius misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Starr defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sibelius.
Sibelius blocks a jab.
Starr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sibelius looks for a takedown but Starr sprawls well.
Starr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Starr wants it to stay on the feet.
Sibelius looks gassed!
Starr throws a body punch but Sibelius moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius shoots for a takedown but Starr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sibelius doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Starr throws a shot from downtown. Sibelius moves away and avoids it.

Sibelius looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Starr looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sibelius passes into half guard.
Starr trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sibelius trying to control the action but Starr is working from the bottom.
Starr regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominik Starr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jean Sibelius's cut.
That's time! Starr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sibelius showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Starr.
Sibelius shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Starr pinned against the cage. Starr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Sibelius shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sibelius was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Starr is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
BOOM! Sibelius connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Starr tries to lock up and control but Sibelius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Starr that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Sibelius working for a guillotine from mount but Starr is in no mood to give up.
Starr tries to hold on but Sibelius postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee warns Starr that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Starr is desperately trying to improve his position but Sibelius has a good base and remains in mount.
Sibelius trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sibelius connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sibelius scoring with strikes but Starr is staying in there.
Starr regains half guard.
Sibelius 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.
Starr tries to roll over but Sibelius keeps him under control.
Starr is staying active underneath Sibelius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Starr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sibelius on the ground.
Starr blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sibelius.
Sibelius moves into full mount! Starr won't be happy about that!
Sibelius postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Starr looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sibelius throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Starr bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sibelius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Sibelius.
Sibelius stops Starr from getting back to his feet.
Sibelius performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Starr is not content to let Sibelius control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sibelius lands a nice short elbow.
Starr trying to control but Sibelius postures up.
Sibelius slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Starr is staying active underneath Sibelius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sibelius is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sibelius trying to pass the guard but Starr defending well.
Sibelius 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.
Starr wants to sweep but Sibelius has passed to side control!
Sibelius trying to control the position but Starr is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Sibelius showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean Sibelius's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sibelius shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sibelius was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Starr is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sibelius prevents Starr from getting the reversal.
Starr throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sibelius. What's that going to do exactly?
Sibelius is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Starr can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sibelius looking to control but Starr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sibelius controlling from the full mount.
Starr tries to lock up and control but Sibelius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sibelius connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sibelius wants to control the pace but Starr is squirming around nicely.
Starr is in all sorts of trouble here.

Sibelius with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sibelius can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Starr is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sibelius landing shots from mount.
Sibelius avoids the attempt from Starr to control.

Sibelius goes for an armbar but Starr turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Starr.
Sibelius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sibelius looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starr is one step ahead there.
Sibelius has a closed guard, preventing Starr from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sibelius is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Starr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sibelius keeps control of Starr as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Starr lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sibelius wants a takedown.

Starr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sibelius dodges the punch combination from Starr.
Starr throws a series of punches but Sibelius moves out of range.

Sibelius shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sibelius was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sibelius cracks Starr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sibelius trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Starr taking shots to the head.
Sibelius has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sibelius lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Starr is in a horrible position here. Sibelius smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sibelius scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Sibelius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sibelius has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Sibelius!