PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jon Stark (ranked 4421 p4p, 413 weight class) and Cung Lingus (ranked 5471 p4p, 452 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lingus's choice of entrance music: Ängie - Smoke Weed Eat Pussy. Cung Lingus is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Stark
vs
Lingus

183 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jon Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cung Lingus!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark lands with a kick to the temple. Lingus shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Cung Lingus has been cut.

Stark drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lingus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lingus can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lingus controls Stark momentarily but Stark frees himself.
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 throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lingus keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Lingus trying to keep a closed guard but Stark is proving a slippery customer.
Lingus looking for a sweep. Not yet Lingus, not yet.
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.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Lingus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lingus looking for a sweep. Not yet Lingus, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark looking to pass the guard.
Lingus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stark manages to get himself to full guard.

Lingus is looking to pass into half guard but Stark pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stark is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lingus is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lingus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stark moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lingus is controlling him.
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lingus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stark wants to sweep but no luck.

Stark working for a triangle but Lingus defends it easily.
Lingus throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lingus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lingus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lingus is looking to work some ground and pound but Stark has wrist control.
Stark wants to stand up but Lingus is controlling him.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lingus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Stark gets caught flat footed, as Lingus shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stark wants to sweep but no luck.
Lingus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lingus with a flurry of punches that miss.

Lingus thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stark is looking for a triangle but Lingus pushes his legs off easily.
Lingus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lingus tries to free his leg and advance position but Stark is retaining full guard.
Lingus throwing strikes but missing.
Stark keeping full guard, as Lingus tries to pass.
Lingus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
My spies in CrossFit Sydney inform me that Lingus has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Lingus throws a big right hand that misses.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lingus manages to get himself to full guard.

Lingus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lingus might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stark haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stark throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lingus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lingus wants to sweep here but Stark controlling him for the moment.
Lingus is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lingus trying to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stark looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lingus is fending him off so far but Stark persists. Nope, Lingus circles away and we're back to standing.
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 Jon Stark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cung Lingus's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lingus closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stark did well to prevent Lingus getting side control.
Lingus looks to land a strike but Stark avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lingus postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Lingus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark pulls Lingus in to control the position.
Stark wants to sweep but no luck.
Stark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lingus wants to pass the guard but Stark is keeping the position.

Lingus is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Stark is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Stark has escaped and now he's on top!

Lingus is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stark stands up from Lingus's guard - Stark perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lingus gets a double leg takedown into Stark's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lingus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lingus postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lingus throws a big elbow that misses.
Lingus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lingus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cung Lingus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but Lingus is proving a slippery customer.
Stark tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stark working a defensive guard here.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Lingus drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stark manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lingus has Stark in his guard.

Lingus controls Stark momentarily but Stark frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lingus keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark won't allow Lingus to sweep him here.
Lingus looking to control.
Stark stopping the sweep attempt from Lingus.
Lingus is trying to keep Stark in close.
Stark controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lingus trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lingus.

Stark bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stark goes for a double leg but Lingus avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lingus continues to drive forward.
Cung Lingus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stark is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lingus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lingus manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stark on his heels. He'll look to pass Stark's guard now, I'm sure.
Lingus postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.

Lingus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lingus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Stark has his foot on Lingus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lingus works his way back into a safe position though.
Lingus landing some decent shots from guard.
Lingus passes Stark's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lingus winds up and cracks Stark with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Lingus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lingus prevents Stark from improving his position.
Lingus throwing shots but Stark is blocking nicely.
Stark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lingus.
Stark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lingus.
Stark taking some punishment here, with Lingus in his half guard.
Lingus throws a strike but Stark avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
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!
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lingus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lingus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lingus cracks Stark with a solid left hand.
Lingus chips away with some ground and pound.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Lingus drops back looking for a leg! Stark is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stark manages to kick Lingus off! Lingus jumps back into Stark's guard.
Lingus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cung Lingus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Cung Lingus's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Stark shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lingus as he avoids it easily.
Lingus looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Lingus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lingus throws a strike aimed at the side of Stark's head but Stark avoids it well.
Stark is trying to control Lingus's posture but Lingus avoids it.

Lingus tries for a kimura but Stark is defending well.

Lingus has hold of Stark's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Stark seems comfortable defending it but Lingus has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Stark is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Stark is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Lingus couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Cung Lingus!
Cung Lingus decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.