PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Boreste Bardanos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Larusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bardanos comes to the cage accompanied by My Kingdom Will Come. Larusso has chosen Glory of love as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Boreste Bardanos is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Bardanos
vs
Larusso

164 cm
28
145 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
144 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER
MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Boreste Bardanos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Larusso!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bardanos darts in looking for a takedown but Larusso gets double underhooks and turns Bardanos into the cage.
Larusso ducks under a wild hook from Bardanos.
Larusso follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Larusso tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bardanos drops down looking for a counter takedown but Larusso sprawls and moves away.
Larusso has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bardanos is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Bardanos ducks under a wild hook from Larusso.
Bardanos swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A slow jab from Larusso misses its intended target.
Bardanos throws a predictable looking body shot
and Larusso counters with a straight right hand.
Boreste Bardanos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bardanos takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bardanos blocks a leg kick.
Bardanos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Larusso counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Larusso sizes up Bardanos with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bardanos has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo in the buildup to the fight.
Larusso throws a chopping leg kick but Bardanos manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bardanos lands with a straight right. Larusso didn't see that one coming.

Bardanos gets a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are battling for position here. Larusso manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larusso is wriggling around but Bardanos manages to pass to half guard.
Larusso blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bardanos.
Bardanos wants to advance to full mount but Larusso doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Larusso wants to stand and escape but Bardanos is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bardanos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larusso not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bardanos stays in close to Larusso's body and controls the position.
Larusso is trying to keep Bardanos in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bardanos trying to control the position from guard on top but Larusso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larusso looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Larusso working a defensive guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bardanos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bardanos stands up over Larusso, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bardanos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bardanos trying to control but Larusso is working from the bottom.
Larusso wants to hit a switch here but Bardanos passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Larusso there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larusso is bucking up trying to escape but Bardanos cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Larusso is trying desperately to improve position.
Bardanos working Larusso over with strikes here.
Bardanos throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bardanos with good strikes from the mount here!
Bardanos throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bardanos throws some wild stikes that Larusso manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bardanos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Larusso is looking to escape.
Larusso tries to hold on but Bardanos postures up.
Bardanos lands with some strikes.
Larusso is working to get back to half guard.
Bardanos throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Larusso tries to hold on but Bardanos pushes him away.
Bardanos is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Larusso can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bardanos sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boreste Bardanos 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.

Bardanos throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A jab lands there for Larusso.
Larusso slips a jab and a cross from Bardanos.
Bardanos scores with a shot to the body.
Bardanos connects with a body shot.
Larusso throws an overhand right that lands on Bardanos's shoulder, as Bardanos tries to avoid the shot.
Larusso throws a shot from downtown. Bardanos moves away and avoids it.
Bardanos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Larusso finds it's way round the side to connect with Bardanos's head.
Bardanos connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Larusso throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Larusso.
Larusso throws a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bardanos checks a leg kick nicely.
Bardanos scores with a nice right hand.
Bardanos falls off balance throwing a combination
and Larusso counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardanos checks a low kick from Larusso.
Bardanos throws an overhand right that lands on Larusso's shoulder, as Larusso tries to avoid the shot.
Larusso is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Larusso throws a low kick but Bardanos moves out of range easily.
Bardanos misses with a few strikes there.
Larusso misses with a body shot.
Bardanos appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bardanos throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Larusso stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Larusso misses with a low kick as Bardanos jumps back.
Bardanos with a hook.
Bardanos connects with a body shot.
Daniel Larusso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bardanos lands a lovely overhand right.
Bardanos works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bardanos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Larusso 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Larusso takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Larusso connects with a body shot that sends Bardanos's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larusso throws a leg kick but Bardanos checks it.
Larusso scores with a punch to the head.
Bardanos dips to his left and cracks Larusso with an uppercut!
Larusso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bardanos.
Larusso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bardanos lands a right hook to the body.
Bardanos misses with a looping left.
Larusso only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Larusso scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Larusso connects with an inside leg kick.
Larusso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bardanos.
A big right from Larusso misses.
Bardanos throws the left hand but Larusso avoids the punch easily.
Bardanos smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Larusso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Larusso cracks Bardanos with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larusso tries to land a leg kick but Bardanos saw it coming and moves away.
Larusso takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Larusso staying out of range there.
Larusso lands with a kick to the temple. Bardanos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A good leg kick by Larusso.
Larusso connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bardanos throws a big shot that misses.
Bardanos throws a lazy uppercut
and Larusso counters with a leg kick.
Larusso misses with a kick to the body.
Larusso misses with a low kick.
Bardanos changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bardanos misses with a body shot.
Larusso tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bardanos is able to avoid easily.
Larusso slaps away a takedown attempt from Bardanos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Larusso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bardanos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larusso ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Bardanos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Larusso throws Bardanos to one side and escapes!
Daniel Larusso seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bardanos misses with a two punch combination.
Bardanos blocks a head kick by Larusso.
Bardanos was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Larusso - that will leave a mark!
Bardanos swings for the body but Larusso moves out of range.
Bardanos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Larusso tries a low kick but Bardanos avoids it.
Nice body punch from Bardanos.
Larusso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A bone on bone clash there as Bardanos blocks the leg kick.
Bardanos moves out of range of the leg kick from Larusso.
Larusso lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bardanos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Larusso sprawls well. Larusso wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bardanos gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Larusso will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Larusso lands a head kick!
Bardanos misses with a wild body shot.
Bardanos loads up on a big right hand but Larusso slips the punch.
Bardanos checks a leg kick nicely.
Bardanos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Larusso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Larusso misses with a low kick.
Larusso misses the shot to the body.
Bardanos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larusso manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Larusso misses.
Larusso throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bardanos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larusso manages to avoid it.
Larusso just misses with a punch to the body.
Bardanos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Larusso ducks under a wild hook from Bardanos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardanos blocks the body kick.
Bardanos misses with a right hand
and Larusso makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bardanos really felt that one!
Larusso avoids the body shot from Bardanos.
Bardanos dips to his left and cracks Larusso with an uppercut!
Nice shot by Bardanos.
Larusso misses with a body kick.
Larusso plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bardanos. Larusso does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bardanos slips under a jab from Larusso.
Bardanos appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bardanos scores with a shot to the body.
Larusso is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bardanos misses with a straight left.
Larusso lands a really nice looking cross but Bardanos seems unphased.
The crowd cheers as Larusso lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bardanos doesn't seem phased though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larusso stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Larusso wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larusso throws a lazy head kick
and Bardanos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Larusso defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bardanos.
Larusso swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Larusso throws a head kick that misses

and Bardanos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Larusso manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nice body punch from Bardanos.
Larusso throws a hook to the side of Bardanos's head but Bardanos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Larusso throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bardanos.
Larusso throws a low kick but Bardanos avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Bardanos blocks the leg kick.
Larusso misses with a kick to the body.
Larusso thuds a left hand into Bardanos's body.
Larusso throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Larusso throws a wild body kick that Bardanos sees coming a mile off.
Larusso throws a sloppy head kick and Bardanos moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bardanos listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Bardanos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Larusso to the mat! Larusso manages to get full guard.
Bardanos is standing up over Larusso. Larusso looks to escape but Bardanos dives into side control.

Bardanos is trying to get an arm triangle but Larusso is defending well.
Larusso tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bardanos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bardanos has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Larusso tries to lock up and control but Bardanos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bardanos looking to finish with strikes here!
Bardanos wants to control the pace but Larusso is squirming around nicely.
Bardanos postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Larusso looks a forlorn figure.
Bardanos throws some wild stikes that Larusso manages to avoid easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bardanos 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.
Boreste Bardanos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bardanos thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bardanos in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Boreste Bardanos did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Larusso connects with a single shot there.
Bardanos lands a slapping body shot.
Bardanos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Larusso misses with a low kick as Bardanos jumps back.
Larusso throws a front kick aimed at Bardanos's knee but Bardanos avoids it well.
Larusso moves out of range as Bardanos strikes.
Larusso throws a looping overhand right but Bardanos ducks down to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bardanos.
Larusso tries to bum rush Bardanos with a series of wild strikes but Bardanos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bardanos slips under a jab.
Bardanos connects with a body shot that sends Larusso's belly button to the back.
Larusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bardanos manages to avoid it.
Bardanos looks to land a combination but Larusso avoids it well.
Larusso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardanos checks the leg kick nicely there.
Larusso lands a nice looking body kick.
Bardanos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bardanos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Bardanos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Larusso tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice jab there from Larusso.
Bardanos swinging wildly here.
Larusso misses the shot to the body.
Bardanos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Larusso.
Larusso catches Bardanos with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Larusso misses with a hook. Bardanos ducked under it nicely.
Bardanos throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bardanos missing with a left hand there. Larusso was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bardanos throws a body shot but no joy.
A punch combination from Bardanos misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big left from Bardanos misses.
A punch combination from Bardanos misses.
Larusso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bardanos.
A little feinted left hand from Bardanos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Larusso connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bardanos momentarily.
A big right from Larusso misses.
Bardanos darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bardanos moves out of range as Larusso strikes.
Bardanos tries to counter with a takedown but Larusso is quick to defend against it.
Bardanos misses with an uppercut.
Bardanos lands with a cross.
Bardanos wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Larusso throws a head kick but Bardanos moves out of range.
Larusso just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larusso misses with a looping right.
Bardanos connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bardanos misses with a looping right.
Bardanos misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the body from Bardanos misses
and Larusso counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Larusso tries to land a front kick but Bardanos steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bardanos blocks the body kick.
Bardanos has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bardanos there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bardanos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Larusso throws a nice head kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Larusso misses the target.
Bardanos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Larusso gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bardanos throws a hook to the side of Larusso's head but Larusso sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larusso throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bardanos moves out of range as Larusso throws a body kick.
Bardanos swings for the body but Larusso moves out of range.
Bardanos thuds his right hand into Larusso's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice sprawl there from Larusso as Bardanos shoots in.
Bardanos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larusso.
Larusso throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bardanos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Larusso avoids a punch combination nicely.
Larusso turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bardanos swings for the body but Larusso moves out of range.
Bardanos throws a right hand that Larusso ducks under and follows up with a left that Larusso also avoids with ease.
Bardanos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larusso.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Boreste Bardanos will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bardanos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Larusso.
Larusso throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Larusso scores with the left hand. Bardanos knows he should have avoided that one.
Larusso throws a leg kick that is checked

and Bardanos counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Larusso manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right from Bardanos.
Larusso's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Bardanos has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Larusso clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Larusso is trying to break free.

Larusso defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Bardanos's arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Bardanos's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Larusso wants to get back to his feet.
Bardanos misses with punches from the back.
Bardanos is striking well from the back but Larusso escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Bardanos working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larusso looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bardanos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Larusso's head.
Larusso taking some punishment here, with Bardanos in his half guard.
Bardanos seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Larusso is refusing to be controlled, as Bardanos sits in half guard.
Larusso avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bardanos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larusso is staying active underneath Bardanos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bardanos controlling the pace.
Bardanos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larusso keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bardanos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larusso moves away.
Larusso throws a head kick but Bardanos moves out of range.
Bardanos appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Larusso throws a head kick that half lands.
Larusso throws a jab but it's blocked by Bardanos.
Bardanos tries to counter with a takedown but Larusso is quick to defend against it.
Boreste Bardanos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bardanos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Larusso enables Bardanos to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Larusso manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bardanos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Daniel Larusso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bardanos 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.
Bardanos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bardanos 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Larusso.
I think Bardanos 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 49:48
Judge James Glass scores the fight 49:48
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boreste Bardanos!
Boreste Bardanos retains his featherweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Boreste Bardanos thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.