PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wolfe Larsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Sylvia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larsen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is "Get Out" by Circa Survive. Anderson Sylvia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Larsen
vs
Sylvia

190 cm
20
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
198 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wolfe Larsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anderson Sylvia!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sylvia throws a sloppy head kick and Larsen moves out of range easily.
A cross from Larsen lands.

Sylvia gets caught flat footed, as Larsen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Larsen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sylvia's guard.
Sylvia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Larsen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Larsen trying to control but Sylvia is working from the bottom.
Larsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Larsen with a nice head shot there.
Larsen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sylvia wants to get back to his feet but Larsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Larsen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Larsen fails with the takedown.
Sylvia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Larsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Larsen looks to land a strike but Sylvia avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Larsen is working Sylvia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Larsen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Larsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sylvia is looking to stand up but Larsen isn't so interested in that idea.
Sylvia is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen throwing strikes but missing.
Larsen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Larsen postures up in Sylvia's guard and throws a big left but Sylvia blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Larsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Larsen throwing strikes here but Sylvia is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Larsen scoring with strikes but Sylvia is staying in there.
Larsen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
A nice elbow there by Larsen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sylvia is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sylvia's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Larsen controlling the pace for now.
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.
Sylvia is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sylvia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Larsen landing strikes from the mount and Sylvia is in trouble!
Sylvia in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Larsen unloading with bombs!
Larsen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Larsen unloads with some shots from mount but Sylvia bucks and avoids them well.
Sylvia is trying to stand up.
Sylvia holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Larsen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Larsen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen lands with some strikes.
Sylvia wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larsen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sylvia looks gassed!
Larsen cracks Sylvia with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sylvia is in a horrible position here. Larsen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Larsen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Larsen breaks from Sylvia's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Larsen won't let Sylvia get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larsen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sylvia really wants to buck Larsen off and get back to his feet.
Larsen unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Larsen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Larsen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Larsen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sylvia is trying to defend but Larsen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Larsen passes to side control.
Sylvia is trying to buck Larsen off.
Larsen cracks Sylvia with a big elbow.
Sylvia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Larsen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Larsen stands up and beckons Sylvia to his feet.
Larsen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sylvia throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sylvia lands with an overhand left.
Sylvia throws a head kick that half lands.
Sylvia is breathing heavily.
Sylvia tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sylvia throws a head kick but Larsen moves out of range.

Larsen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Larsen stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Larsen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sylvia throws a left and a right that both miss

and Larsen counters with a shoot takedown. Sylvia fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Larsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larsen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sylvia is keeping the position for now.
Larsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Larsen throwing strikes from guard but Sylvia blocks nicely.
Larsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wolfe Larsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larsen stops Sylvia from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sylvia thuds his right hand into Larsen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sylvia swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Larsen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sylvia's guard now.
Larsen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Larsen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sylvia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larsen won't allow Sylvia to get back to his feet.
Sylvia keeping moving, preventing Larsen from controlling successfully.
Larsen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia keeping moving, preventing Larsen from controlling successfully.
Sylvia is looking to stand up but Larsen isn't so interested in that idea.
Sylvia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sylvia throws a head kick but Larsen moves out of range.
Sylvia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Larsen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sylvia misses with the combination.

Larsen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Larsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sylvia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sylvia can do to turn this around?
Sylvia keeping moving, preventing Larsen from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sylvia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Larsen trying to move into half guard but instead Sylvia has managed to sweep!
Larsen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sylvia's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sylvia pushes Larsen off and gets back to his feet.
Larsen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wolfe Larsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Larsen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Larsen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Larsen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wolfe Larsen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Larsen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Larsen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Sylvia kicks Larsen off and gets to his feet.
Anderson Sylvia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Larsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Larsen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sylvia's head.

Larsen decides to stand up.
Sylvia tries a head kick but it misses.

Larsen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Larsen won't allow Sylvia to get back to his feet.

Sylvia uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sylvia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Larsen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sylvia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Larsen is controlling him.
Larsen chips away with some ground and pound.
Larsen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Larsen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sylvia wants to stand but Larsen is controlling the position.
Larsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larsen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sylvia is looking to stand up but Larsen isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A cross from Larsen lands.

Larsen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Larsen passes Sylvia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Larsen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Larsen.

Sylvia kicks off Larsen and gets to his feet.
Sylvia lands a nice looking body shot.
Sylvia misses with a body punch

and Larsen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sylvia won't be happy with that.
Larsen throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Larsen decides to stand back up. Larsen steps back and let's Sylvia get back to his feet.
Anderson Sylvia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sylvia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Larsen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An elbow from Larsen crashes against the mat.
Sylvia tries to escape but Larsen is in control.
Larsen landing a few strikes.
Larsen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Larsen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Larsen landing strikes.
Sylvia wants to get back to his feet but Larsen drags him back down.
Anderson Sylvia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larsen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sylvia is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sylvia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Larsen scoring with punches from side control.
Wolfe Larsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsen scoring with punches from side control.
Larsen landing strikes.
Larsen scores with punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wolfe Larsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Larsen, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wolfe Larsen!