PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drederick Tatum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larkin comes into the arena with I'm Shipping Up To Boston blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larkin
vs
Tatum

181 cm
27
212 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

180 cm
29
213 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps
Firebird Designs

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Drederick Tatum!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatum avoids the head kick by Larkin.
Tatum looks to score with a jab to the body but Larkin is just out of range.
Larkin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Larkin moves away from the strike by Tatum.
Tatum throws a good cross that connects.
Drederick Tatum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tatum throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Larkin.
Tatum swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Larkin throws a shot from downtown. Tatum moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Larkin. Tatum does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tatum has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Larkin.
Larkin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A bone on bone clash there as Tatum blocks the leg kick.
Tatum fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Larkin checks a low kick from Tatum.
Tatum connects with a right hand. Larkin shakes it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tatum throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tatum ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Larkin throws a shot to the body.
Larkin slips a straight right by Tatum.
Larkin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Larkin swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum throws a nice looking combination but Larkin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Larkin misses with a series of wild punches.
Larkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tatum jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tatum misses with a double jab
and Larkin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tatum rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Larkin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Larkin tries to work over Tatum's front leg with a kick but Tatum checks it.
The fighters circling - Tatum throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tatum keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Larkin tries to score with a low kick but Tatum moves his leg out of the way.
Tatum thows a body shot but no joy.
Larkin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tatum throws out the jab.
Larkin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tatum. That did some damage!
Larkin slips under a jab.
Larkin slips under a jab.

Tatum closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Larkin to the mat! Larkin manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatum throws a big elbow that misses.
Larkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tatum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tatum throws a big elbow that misses.
Larkin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tatum throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tatum won't allow Larkin to sweep him here.
Tatum scoring with some ground and pound.
Larkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Larkin, not yet.
Tatum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larkin is looking to stand up but Tatum isn't so interested in that idea.
Larkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum throwing strikes but missing.
Larkin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tatum loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tatum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tatum chips away with some ground and pound.
Tatum postures up in Larkin's guard and throws a big left but Larkin blocks it.
Larkin wants to get back to his feet but Tatum is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tatum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tatum trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tatum lands a couple of digs.
Larkin has his hands on Tatum's head, controlling the position.
Tatum stands up over Larkin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tatum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tatum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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!
Larkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Larkin wants to get back to his feet but Tatum is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tatum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tatum is controlling him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tatum makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tatum is looking to work some ground and pound but Larkin has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drederick Tatum dominated that 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.

Larkin thows a body shot but no joy.
Tatum misses with a straight right.
Tatum thows a body shot but no joy.
Drederick Tatum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tatum misses with a body kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Larkin enables Tatum to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Larkin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Larkin pulls Tatum in to control the position.
Larkin is looking to stand up but Tatum isn't so interested in that idea.
Tatum throwing strikes from guard but Larkin blocks nicely.
Larkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Larkin, not yet.
Tatum trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tatum tries to free his leg and advance position but Larkin is retaining full guard.
Tatum throwing strikes from guard but Larkin blocks nicely.
Larkin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tatum.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum throws a big elbow that misses.
Tatum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tatum trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.
Larkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Larkin pushes Tatum off and gets back to his feet.
Larkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Larkin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Larkin on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Tatum throws a left that rocks Larkin and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Tatum dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Larkin regain composure!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larkin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tatum manages to get to full guard.
Tatum has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Larkin has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin wants to control but Tatum is keeping him busy.
Tatum manages to work his way to half guard, despite Larkin's best efforts.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Larkin in particular looking to stall.
It looks like Larkin is going to stand back up.
Larkin sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Larkin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tatum's head.
Tatum is trying to maintain the position but Larkin is very close to passing his half guard.
Tatum controlling the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tatum throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tatum misses with the combination.
That kick from Larkin tenderised Tatum's leg. Tatum is trying to keep his angry face on.
Larkin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tatum takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larkin scores with a head kick. Tatum tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Larkin defending well as Tatum loads up on a big left hand.
Tatum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larkin moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larkin.
Tatum swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Drederick Tatum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Larkin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Some wild striking there from Tatum.
Larkin throws a looping overhand right but Tatum ducks down to avoid it.
Tatum connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tatum misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larkin.
Tatum throws a hook to the side of Larkin's head but Larkin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tatum is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Larkin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tatum. Tatum circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A left lands for Larkin.
Tatum throws a right hand that misses
enabling Larkin to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Larkin blocks a jab.
Larkin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Larkin moves out of range as Tatum strikes.
Tatum misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drederick Tatum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tatum looks to score with a jab to the body but Larkin is just out of range.
Tatum misses with a straight left.
Tatum works the jab nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Larkin!

It looks like Drederick Tatum has been cut.
Tatum misses with a straight left.
Tatum throws a big shot that misses.
Tatum misses with a hook.
Good exchange - Tatum coming out on top.
Larkin tries to clinch but Tatum is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A left lands for Larkin.
Larkin tried to score with a low kick but Tatum checks it.
Tatum waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Larkin.
Larkin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Larkin clinches with his opponent.
Tatum tries to work over Larkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Larkin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Larkin prevents a body shot from Tatum.
Larkin trying to stall but Tatum improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tatum manages to break the clinch.
Tatum lands a glancing blow to the side of Larkin's head.
Larkin lands with a good body shot.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Tatum.
Tatum blocks a jab.
Larkin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tatum misses with a wild combination.
Larkin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tatum circles away quickly and effectively.
Tatum throws a series of punches but Larkin moves out of range.
A combination from Larkin does no damage.
Larkin misses the shot to the body.
Larkin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tatum throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tatum closes the distance and clinches up with Larkin, looking for a takedown. Tatum pushes Larkin against the cage but Larkin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Larkin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tatum pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Larkin back to the cage. Tatum follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Larkin tries to bum rush Tatum with a series of wild strikes but Tatum uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Larkin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Larkin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tatum dodges the punch combination from Larkin.
Tatum looks to land a combination but Larkin avoids it well.
Larkin lands with a kick to the ribs.
Larkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Tatum is just out of range.
Larkin scores with a hook.
Larkin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tatum defending well as Larkin loads up on a big left hand.
Larkin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tatum misses with a hook.
Tatum fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ryan Larkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drederick Tatum.
Larkin connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tatum moves out of range of the strikes.
Tatum fails to land with a series of punches.
Tatum dodges the punch combination from Larkin.
Larkin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tatum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Larkin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tatum tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tatum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryan Larkin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tatum scores with a sloppy right hand. Larkin should have avoided that one.
Larkin tries to clinch up but Tatum circles away and keeps his distance.
Larkin scores with a punch to the head.
Larkin misses with a hook.
Tatum jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Larkin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Larkin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Larkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Tatum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Larkin was covering up waiting for the punch and Tatum finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tatum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drederick Tatum is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tatum looking to pass the guard.
Tatum stops Larkin from standing up.
Tatum trying to control the position from guard on top but Larkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Larkin wants to get back to his feet but Tatum is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tatum is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Drederick Tatum.
I've got Tatum winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drederick Tatum!
A victorious Drederick Tatum thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.