PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rickon Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Touko Unikeko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Unikeko is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Gesaffelstein - Opr. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Stark
vs
Unikeko

176 cm
29
166 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

168 cm
26
147 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Rickon Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Touko Unikeko!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark feints a jab promting Unikeko to slip. Stark then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Unikeko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Stark rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Unikeko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Unikeko is looking for the big counter here.

Stark fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Unikeko to the ground. Stark is now in Unikeko's guard.
Unikeko pulls Stark in close to prevent any damage.
Stark postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark cracks Unikeko with a solid left hand.
Stark throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark throwing strikes but missing.
Stark has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Stark throws a strike but Unikeko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Unikeko manages to get himself to full guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Unikeko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Unikeko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Unikeko's head.

Unikeko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stark defends it easily.
Unikeko wants to sweep but no luck.
Stark wants to control from the top but Unikeko keeps moving.
Unikeko pulls Stark in close to his closed guard and prevents Stark from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stark throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Unikeko has momentary wrist control but Stark slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark throws an elbow that misses. Unikeko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stark's guard. Nice move by Unikeko!

Stark wants to sweep here but Unikeko controlling him for the moment.
Stark trying to strike off his back.
Unikeko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Unikeko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stark has his hands on Unikeko's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Unikeko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Unikeko from controlling successfully.
Unikeko stopping the sweep attempt from Stark.
Unikeko postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Stark is controlling Unikeko's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Unikeko darts in and clinches Stark up against the cage.
Stark is looking for a takedown.
Unikeko stops a takedown attempt from Stark.
Unikeko is pushing Stark up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Unikeko leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Unikeko avoiding damage.
Unikeko receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Unikeko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Unikeko has Stark pushed against the cage.
Unikeko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stark.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickon Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Unikeko manages to pull guard.
Stark trying to control but Unikeko is working from the bottom.
Unikeko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Unikeko's head.
Unikeko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stark throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rickon Stark will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stark looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stark throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark trying to control but Unikeko is working from the bottom.
Unikeko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Unikeko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stark loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stark throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Unikeko keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Unikeko looking to control.
Stark throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Unikeko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Unikeko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stark is stalling in the full guard.
Stark throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Unikeko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stark cracks Unikeko with a solid left hand.
Unikeko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stark missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Stark got a little sloppy there for a moment and Unikeko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stark has managed to get both his arms back between Unikeko's legs - danger averted.
Stark wants to control from the top but Unikeko keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Unikeko trying to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Stark changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Unikeko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Unikeko being controlled for a moment.
Rickon Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The strikes coming from Stark are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stark sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Unikeko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Unikeko regains half guard.
Stark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Unikeko can do to turn this around?
Stark thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Unikeko's head.
Stark blocks the strikes from Unikeko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Unikeko is looking to control Stark's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Unikeko avoid being mounted?
Stark 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.
Unikeko works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stark throws a big right hand that misses.
Stark postures up.
Unikeko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stark postures up in Unikeko's guard and throws a big left but Unikeko blocks it.
Stark throws a strike but Unikeko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Stark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Unikeko.
Unikeko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Unikeko working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Stark looking to hit a scissor sweep but Unikeko is one step ahead there.
Unikeko looking to pass the guard.
Stark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Unikeko tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickon Stark 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. And we move into the final round!

Stark throws a right and a left that both miss.

Unikeko clinches.
Stark drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Unikeko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stark has Unikeko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Unikeko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Unikeko has picked Stark up - he's going for a ride! Unikeko dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Stark slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stark has his hands on Unikeko's head, controlling the position.
Unikeko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stark looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stark wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stark has control of Unikeko's left arm, preventing Unikeko from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stark with a poor takedown
and Unikeko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickon Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stark looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Unikeko!
Unikeko is trying to buck Stark off.
Stark misses with the ground and pound.
Unikeko sneaks back into half guard.
Unikeko taking some punishment here, with Stark in his half guard.
Stark winds up and cracks Unikeko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stark landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Stark there.
Stark landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Touko Unikeko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Unikeko is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Unikeko is still in real trouble! Can Stark finish him?
Stark lands with a punch from half guard.
Unikeko taking some punishment here, with Stark in his half guard.
Unikeko landing small, sideways elbows.
Unikeko is looking for a sweep. Stark is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Unikeko taking some punishment here, with Stark in his half guard.
Stark tries to pass to full mount but Unikeko defends it.
Stark missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rickon Stark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stark working Unikeko over with strikes.
Unikeko seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Unikeko trying to control but Stark postures up.
Stark stops Unikeko from getting back to his feet.
Stark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Unikeko defending well though.
Stark throwing shots but Unikeko is blocking nicely.
Stark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Unikeko defending well though.
Stark not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stark throwing shots but Unikeko is blocking nicely.
Stark not doing much here.
Stark passes the guard and advances to mount!
Stark wants to control the pace but Unikeko is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickon Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stark, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickon Stark!
Rickon Stark very nearly forgot to thank Spartan Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.