PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arnost Paskalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Larusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paskalev comes into the arena with The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger blaring out of the sound system. Larusso has chosen Glory of love as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paskalev
vs
Larusso

173 cm
25
153 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

170 cm
24
140 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

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 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arnost Paskalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Larusso!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paskalev slips a jab from Larusso.
Paskalev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Larusso throws the kick towards the body but Paskalev avoids it.
Larusso misses with a head kick.
Larusso stuns Paskalev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paskalev steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Larusso. That one must have hurt.
Larusso throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

so Paskalev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Larusso looking to control.
Paskalev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Paskalev throws a big elbow that misses.
Paskalev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've been hearing that Paskalev has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Paskalev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Paskalev throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larusso keeping moving, preventing Paskalev from controlling successfully.
Paskalev 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.
Paskalev looking to pass the guard.
Paskalev is stalling in the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Larusso shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Paskalev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Larusso takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Larusso throws a leg kick that is checked

and Paskalev counters with a takedown into side control.

Larusso sneaks out the side door and pushes Paskalev away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Larusso lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paskalev shoots in for a takedown but Larusso shows good takedown defense.
Daniel Larusso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab from Larusso.
Paskalev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Larusso will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Paskalev is looking to land body kicks.
Larusso looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Paskalev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Paskalev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larusso.
Paskalev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Paskalev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Larusso misses with a low kick.
Larusso throws a body kick that misses

and Paskalev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larusso won't be happy with that.
Larusso is not content to let Paskalev control the position.
Paskalev just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paskalev advances to mount.
Paskalev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Larusso felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Paskalev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Larusso for as long as he can get away with.
Paskalev scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Paskalev misses with a head shot.
Paskalev wants to control the pace but Larusso is squirming around nicely.
Larusso is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paskalev unloads with some shots from mount but Larusso bucks and avoids them well.
Paskalev with a couple of short strikes.
Larusso is squirming around, avoiding Paskalev's attempts to control the action.
Paskalev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Paskalev misses with a head shot.
Larusso can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paskalev is working for a guillotine from mount but Larusso frees his head quite easily.
Paskalev trying to control but Larusso is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Larusso will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Larusso swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Paskalev lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Larusso attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A punch combination from Larusso misses.
Paskalev tries to counter with a takedown but Larusso is quick to defend against it.
Larusso looks to score with a jab to the body but Paskalev is just out of range.
Larusso throws a hook but Paskalev avoids it easily.
Larusso looks to land a right hand but Paskalev moved out of range.
Larusso misses with a looping left.
Larusso looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paskalev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Larusso pinned against the cage. Larusso gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Larusso takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paskalev blocks the body kick.
Paskalev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Paskalev tries for a takedown but Larusso sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Larusso throws a leg kick

and Paskalev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paskalev.

Larusso is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Paskalev presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Paskalev jumps guard.
Larusso trying to control but Paskalev is working from the bottom.
Paskalev controls Larusso momentarily but Larusso frees himself.

Larusso decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Paskalev, up you get!
Larusso misses with a jab, cross combination.
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!
Larusso throws a leg kick

and Paskalev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paskalev trying to control from half guard but Larusso is working away.
Paskalev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Larusso wants to get back to full guard.
Larusso keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Paskalev is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Larusso reverses the position - he's now on top in Paskalev's guard.
Larusso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Larusso preventing the sweep.

Paskalev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Larusso is aware though and is defending well.
Paskalev is trying to control the position but Larusso postures up.
Larusso sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paskalev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Larusso is aware though and is defending well.
Larusso preventing the sweep.

Paskalev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Larusso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Larusso missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paskalev has Larusso pulled in close to control his posture.

Paskalev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Larusso can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Paskalev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larusso passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paskalev is looking to regain half guard here but Larusso keeps moving and retains side control.

Larusso decides to stand back up. Larusso steps back and let's Paskalev get back to his feet.
A cross from Larusso lands.
No luck for Paskalev with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnost Paskalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larusso lands with an uppercut that bounces Paskalev off the cage and back into range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Larusso.
Larusso misses with the body kick

and Paskalev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Larusso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Paskalev moves away from the strike by Larusso.
Paskalev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Larusso sprawls and moves away.
Larusso takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Paskalev checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice defenses there by Larusso.
Larusso misses with a leg kick

and Paskalev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Larusso is pressing down on Paskalev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Larusso bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paskalev's guard.

Larusso trying to stand up but can't free himself from Paskalev's guard.

Paskalev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Larusso defends well.

Paskalev is working an open guard so Larusso takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paskalev tries to move into range but Larusso moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Larusso scores with a spinning back kick!
Larusso scores with a decent looking hook.
Larusso throws a right hand that misses
and Paskalev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Paskalev blocks a head kick by Larusso.
Larusso takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Larusso throws a head kick that misses

and Paskalev counters with a shoot takedown. Larusso fights it but they end up in guard.

Larusso manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paskalev lets loose with a powerful body kick. Larusso will feel that in the morning.
Larusso finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Larusso looks to score with a jab to the body but Paskalev is just out of range.
Paskalev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Larusso misses with a low kick.
Paskalev feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Larusso.
Larusso is looking to land body kicks.
Paskalev attempts a counter takedown but Larusso avoids it well and moves away.
Larusso looks to land a body kick but Paskalev moved away.
Paskalev tries to counter with a takedown but Larusso is quick to defend against it.
Larusso throws a solid leg kick but Paskalev takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Larusso.
Paskalev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Larusso throws a hook but Paskalev blocks it.
Larusso looks to land a right hand but Paskalev moved out of range.

Paskalev gets a takedown into half guard.
Larusso looks like he's trying to stand up.
Larusso won't allow Paskalev to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paskalev trying to control the action but Larusso is working from the bottom.
Larusso tries to roll over but Paskalev keeps him under control.
Paskalev lands with a punch from half guard.
Paskalev is pressing down on Larusso's thigh, looking to free his foot. Larusso is holding on for now.
Arnost Paskalev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paskalev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Larusso defending well though.
Arnost Paskalev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Paskalev is looking to stall here but Larusso recovers full guard.
Paskalev wants to control from the top but Larusso keeps moving.
Paskalev slips nicely into half guard.
Daniel Larusso is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Larusso is trying to get back to full guard.

Paskalev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Larusso defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Larusso.
I've got Larusso 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Larusso!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Daniel Larusso waved his t-shirt featuring VIRAL COMBAT's logo in front of the cameras.
The defeated Arnost Paskalev had this to say: 'Honey Badger needs sleep now'.