PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bronze Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Earl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larkin comes into the arena with Loose Yourself blaring out of the sound system. Earl has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Larkin
vs
Earl

174 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bronze Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bobby Earl!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Earl ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larkin moves away.
Earl looks gassed!

Larkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Larkin stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Larkin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Earl as he avoids it easily.
Earl doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Larkin counters with a takedown into side control.

Larkin decides to stand up, so the ref orders Earl to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Larkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Earl is trying to keep Larkin in close.

Larkin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Earl, up you get!
Earl misses with a takedown

and Larkin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Earl's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larkin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Earl wants to sweep but no luck.

Earl looking for subs off his back but Larkin has passed one foot through into half guard.

Larkin decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larkin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Earl did well to prevent Larkin getting side control.

Larkin gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Bobby Earl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Earl misses

and Larkin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Earl is trying to get back to full guard.
Earl pushes Larkin off looking to stand but Larkin dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earl wants to get back to full guard.
Earl is holding on to half guard well.
Earl is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronze Larkin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Earl closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Larkin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Earl seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Larkin gets full guard.
Larkin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Earl manages to get himself to full guard.
Larkin wants to stand but Earl is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Earl 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Larkin stands up and waves to Earl to follow him.
Larkin fails with the takedown
and Earl counters with a solid body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Larkin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Earl counters with a takedown into side control.
Larkin manages to get back to half guard.
Earl prevents Larkin from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Earl is keen to just control but Larkin is a slippery customer.
Larkin wants to improve his position but Earl is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is looking to get back to full guard here but Earl has managed to pass to side control instead.
Larkin is trying to reverse the position but instead Earl has taken his back - oops!
You can see the frustration on Larkin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Larkin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Earl's guard. Nice work there by Larkin.
Earl is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Larkin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earl doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Larkin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Larkin prevents Earl from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bronze Larkin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Earl decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Larkin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Larkin wants to sweep here but Earl controlling him for the moment.
Larkin throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Larkin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Earl manages to get himself to full guard.
Earl is looking to sweep but instead, Larkin has passed into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Earl looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Earl moves into full guard.
Bronze Larkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larkin wants to stand but Earl is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Earl wants to stand and escape but Larkin is having none of it.

Larkin stands and steps away. Earl gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Earl decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Larkin's guard.
Earl trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Earl won't allow Larkin to sweep him here.
Larkin throwing short punches from the bottom.
Larkin wants to sweep here but Earl controlling him for the moment.
Larkin doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earl trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.
Earl must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larkin misses with a takedown attempt
and Earl counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bobby Earl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Larkin fails with the takedown

and Earl counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Larkin!
Bobby Earl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bronze Larkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larkin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bronze Larkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Earl comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Larkin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bronze Larkin!