PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jayson Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshimitsu Tajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Starr might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to "Yo Yo Ninja Boy" by Less Than Jake. Tajiri has chosen Asiattacker by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Jayson Starr has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Starr
vs
Tajiri

167 cm
22
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
161 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jayson Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yoshimitsu Tajiri!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starr bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Starr working the strikes but Tajiri uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Starr seems to be working for a kimura but Tajiri defends the submission attempt.
Starr trying to control from half guard but Tajiri is working away.
Tajiri is trying to maintain the position but Starr is very close to passing his half guard.

Starr is looking for a kimura but Tajiri is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Starr to get the leverage.

Starr seems to be working for a kimura but Tajiri defends the submission attempt.
Tajiri is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Tajiri wants to improve his position but Starr is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajiri is not content to let Starr control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Starr keeps the fight on the outside.
Starr shoots for a takedown but Tajiri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tajiri darts in and clinches Starr up against the cage.
Starr drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tajiri stops a takedown attempt from Starr.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jayson Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tajiri gets underhooks to prevent Starr's takedown attempt.

Tajiri turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Starr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Starr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tajiri is refusing to be controlled, as Starr sits in half guard.
Tajiri is looking to control Starr's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tajiri avoid being mounted?
Tajiri controlling the position well.
Starr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tajiri knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Starr content to control rather than advance.
Starr tries to pass to full mount but Tajiri defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tajiri moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Starr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tajiri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tajiri is trying to keep Starr in close.
Starr lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Starr prevents Tajiri from getting back to his feet.
Starr is looking to work some ground and pound but Tajiri has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Starr thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Starr is breathing heavily.
Starr connects with a couple of short punches.
Tajiri is trying to keep Starr in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Starr slips a jab and a cross from Tajiri.
Starr misses with a takedown attempt - Tajiri sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Starr misses with a takedown attempt - Tajiri sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Tajiri. No joy for Starr on that attempt.
Tajiri doesn't manage to clinch there - Starr circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshimitsu Tajiri dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Starr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tajiri connects with a high kick.

Starr drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Starr advances to half guard.
Tajiri pushes Starr off looking to stand but Starr dives back in and keeps control.
Starr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Starr is keen to just control but Tajiri is a slippery customer.
Tajiri keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tajiri is looking to control Starr's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tajiri avoid being mounted?
Starr is looking to take a break and control but Tajiri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Starr is looking for a kimura but Tajiri is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Starr to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Tajiri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Starr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tajiri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tajiri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Starr counters with a shoot takedown. Tajiri fights it but they end up in guard.
Tajiri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starr is one step ahead there.
Starr trying to control but Tajiri is working from the bottom.
Starr 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.
Tajiri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tajiri controls Starr momentarily but Starr frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr throwing strikes but missing.
Starr thows a big elbow that misses.
Starr passes into half guard.
Tajiri trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Starr manages to pass to mount!

Starr working for a submission but Tajiri is keeping him at bay.
A nice elbow there by Starr.
Tajiri is squirming around, avoiding Starr's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr working Tajiri over with strikes here.
Poor strikes thrown by Starr there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Starr putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Starr raining down shots from the mount!
Tajiri is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Starr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tajiri is looking to escape.
Starr lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Starr looking to ground and pound but Tajiri is blocking nicely.
Tajiri taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tajiri keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Starr looking to control and managing it successfully.
Starr trying to control but Tajiri is having none of it.

Starr goes for an armbar but Tajiri turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Tajiri.
Starr looking to control.
Tajiri slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Starr dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Starr lands with a thumping leg kick.

Tajiri gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tajiri holds on and takes a little breather.
Starr trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tajiri's guard.
Tajiri is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starr is controlling him.
Starr wants to stand but Tajiri is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tajiri is trying to keep Starr in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajiri looking for a sweep. Not yet Tajiri, not yet.
Starr looking to pass the guard.
Starr slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Starr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tajiri lands a head kick!
Starr misses with a takedown attempt
and Tajiri counters with a head kick. That will keep Starr thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Starr is rocked!
Starr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Oh Starr is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jayson Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tajiri seems to be stalking Starr here. He circles momentarily and then unleashes a devastatic head kick! Starr drops like a stone, out cold! WOW! Are you kidding me!? What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Yoshimitsu Tajiri!