PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Larry Mayflower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butch Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mayflower
vs
Larson

181 cm
23
242 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

187 cm
27
234 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larry Mayflower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Butch Larson!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larson moves out of range as Mayflower strikes.

Mayflower closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mayflower lands in his opponent's guard.
Mayflower trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larson has control of Mayflower's left arm, preventing Mayflower from doing any damage.
Mayflower loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mayflower loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Our spies down at at St Petersburg MMA Gym inform us that Larson has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larson wants to sweep but no luck.
Larson looking to control but Mayflower passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson keeping control of the position.
Mayflower thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Larson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mayflower wants to pass to mount but Larson is defending the position.
Mayflower throwing shots but Larson is blocking nicely.
Mayflower looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mayflower not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Larson is looking for a sweep. Mayflower is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mayflower is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Larson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mayflower.
Larson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mayflower is working away from the top position though.

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.
Larson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Larson.

Larson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mayflower is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Barbell Brigade that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Mayflower trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Larson holds on and takes a little breather.

Larson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mayflower uses it to pass to side control.
Larson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mayflower working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Larson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Larson keeps trying to improve his position.
Mayflower tries to move to mount but Larson blocks the move with his legs.
Larson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mayflower's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mayflower passes to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mayflower working for a submission but Larson is keeping him at bay.
Mayflower wants to control the pace but Larson is squirming around nicely.
Mayflower thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mayflower unloads with some shots from mount but Larson bucks and avoids them well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Larson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mayflower wants to sweep but no luck.
Larson looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Mayflower dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Larson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mayflower's hands.

Larson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mayflower is trying to maintain the position but Larson is very close to passing his half guard.
Mayflower is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Larson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Larson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mayflower tries to get to full guard but Larson has control of the leg.
Larson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mayflower tries to roll over but Larson keeps him under control.

Larson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Larson uses his free foot to push down on Mayflower's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mayflower.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson content just to control the position here.
Mayflower is squirming around, avoiding Larson's attempts to control the action.
Mayflower tries to reverse the position but Larson maintains control.
Mayflower is squirming around, avoiding Larson's attempts to control the action.
Larson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson looking to control but Mayflower is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mayflower is desperately trying to improve his position but Larson has a good base and remains in mount.
Larson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Larson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Larson content just to control the position here.
Mayflower is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mayflower is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mayflower is looking to escape.

Larson looking for a guillotine from mount but Mayflower is having none of it.
Larson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mayflower because Larson loaded up on that one.
Larson trying to control but Mayflower is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Larson unloads with some shots from mount but Mayflower bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Larson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Larson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mayflower to the ground. Larson is now in Mayflower's guard.
Mayflower keeping moving, preventing Larson from controlling successfully.
Mayflower looking to control.
Larson is stalling in the full guard.

Larson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mayflower has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Larson has managed to get both his arms back between Mayflower's legs - danger averted.
Larson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayflower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mayflower haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mayflower wants to sweep here but Larson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Larson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Larson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Larson trying to control the action but Mayflower is working from the bottom.
Larson controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson grinds an elbow into Mayflower's temple.
Mayflower tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mayflower struggling a bit here.
Mayflower tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Larson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mayflower stops Larson from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson trying to control the position but Mayflower is working away.
Larson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mayflower is avoiding damage well.
Mayflower is looking to reverse the position.
Larson throwing strikes but Mayflower manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Larson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Butch Larson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larson is looking to regain half guard here but Mayflower keeps moving and retains side control.

Mayflower looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mayflower landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Larson is trying to control Mayflower's posture but Mayflower avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Butch Larson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Larson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Larson!