BKFC veteran Taylor Starling returned to the squared circle on Saturday night for a high-stakes scrap with former UFC fighter ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings at KnuckleMania 5.
Emanating from Wells Fargo Arena in Philadephia, both Starling and Rawlings toed the line in desperate need of a return to the win column. Starling entered the bout having lost two of her last three while ‘Rowdy’ has come up short in her last three outings, including back-to-back losses against flyweight women’s champion Christine Ferea.
Round 1
Starling gets her offense going early as Rawlings takes the center of the squared circle. Starling throws an overhand right that’s off the mark as Rawlings is very disciplined in the early going. Starling closes the distance and attempts to dirty box, but eats a counter right hand in close that knocks her to the canvas for the first knockdown of the fight. Starling swings big once again and eats a counter that has her busted open. Starling connects with a left and follows it up with a left-right combination just before the bell.
Round 2
Starling comes out a little more reserved in the second and Rawlings connects with a big right hand that has Starling backing away. Rawlings presses Starling to the ropes and starts to light her up with combinations. Rawlings swings to the body before going back upstairs, connecting with a glancing right hand. Starling lands a right hand at the end of a combination, but she’s unable to muster much more than that before the second stanza ends.
Round 3
Not much action in the first 30 seconds of the third, but Rawlings connects with another nice right hand. Starling throws a combination, but she’s too far away. Rawlings returns fire with a right that lands. Starling lands a stiff jab but pays for it as Rawlings comes back with a combination. Just before the bell, Rawlings lands a right, but just misses with an uppercut near the ring ropes.
Round 4
After seeing both fighters take off the third round, they start to let their hands go with Starling picking up the pace and landing some nice shots in the clinch. Starling scores with a left-right combination. As Rawlings continues to look for her right hand, Starling is keeping her at pay with a counter-overhand right. Rawlings rips to the body. Starling lands a long jab as Rawlings moves in. ‘Rowdy’ lands some shots in the clinch, but the clock runs out before she can do any real damage.
Round 5
Knowing she needs a knockout, Starling comes out swinging, but Rawlings isn’t backing down, throwing back every time her opponent tries to score. Starling with a one-two. Rawlings comes right back with a big right hand that pops Starling’s head back. Rawlings comes right back with another right hand in close that appears to send Starling to the canvas, but the referee rules it a slip.
Starling moves in and Rawlings narrowly misses with an overhand right. They finish the fight jockeying for position in the clinch.
Official Result: Bec Rawlings def. Taylor Starling via unanimous decision (50-44, 49-45, 50-44)
Check Out Highlights From Taylor Starling vs. Bec Rawlings at BKFC KnuckleMania 5:
Bec Rawlings defeats Taylor Starling via UD 👏#KM5 | #KnucklemaniaV | #AlvarezStephens | Watch live now exclusively on DAZN pic.twitter.com/fuVoUylzcb
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