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). Butch Larson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mayflower
vs
Larson

181 cm
24
242 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

187 cm
29
234 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
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 10 - 5 - 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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Butch Larson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larson throws a combination that misses

and Mayflower counters by moving into the clinch.
Mayflower prevents a body shot from Larson.
Mayflower tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Larson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mayflower can't get the takedown.

Larson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mayflower tries to free his leg and advance position but Larson is retaining full guard.
Larson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mayflower has passed into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayflower misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mayflower with the ground and pound but Larson regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Larson wants to improve his position but Mayflower is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is not content to let Mayflower control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mayflower not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've been hearing good reports from Mayflower's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Larson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mayflower has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Larson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Larson regains half guard.
Mayflower seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Larson looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson is looking to improve his position.
Mayflower tries to pass to full mount but Larson defends it.

Mayflower is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mayflower sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Larson defending well though.

Larson actively working from the bottom here.
Larson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mayflower is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mayflower blocks the strikes from Larson.
Mayflower looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Larson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Larson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mayflower pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larson is keeping the position for now.
Mayflower missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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.
Mayflower being controlled here momentarily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Larson wants to sweep here but Mayflower controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Larson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Larson preventing the sweep.
Mayflower controls Larson momentarily but Larson frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mayflower throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Larson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayflower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Larry Mayflower will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mayflower enables Larson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mayflower manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mayflower tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Larson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mayflower swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mayflower striking off his back but it's not causing Larson any problems.
Butch Larson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mayflower looking for a guillotine here but Larson defends easily.
Larson wanted to stand there but Mayflower had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mayflower working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Larson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Larson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson looking to pass the guard.
Larson preventing the sweep.

Mayflower escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Larson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mayflower looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mayflower keeping full guard, as Larson tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Larson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Larson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mayflower regains guard.

Mayflower has his foot on Larson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Larson works his way back into a safe position though.
Larson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayflower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mayflower is trying to keep Larson in close.

Mayflower isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Larson stacks Mayflower on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Larson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson throws a strike aimed at the side of Mayflower's head but Mayflower avoids it well.
Mayflower wants to control but Larson postures up.
Larson wants to stand but Mayflower is controlling his arm.
Mayflower is looking for a sweep.
Mayflower striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Mayflower sneaks back into half guard.
Mayflower wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Larson wants to stand up but Mayflower is controlling the position.
Mayflower is trying to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Larson has managed to clinch.
Larson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Larson successfully pulls guard.
Larson looking to control.
Mayflower won't allow Larson to sweep him here.
Mayflower works over Larson with some ground and pound from guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Larson is looking for a triangle but Mayflower pushes his legs off easily.
Larson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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! This is the final round!

Larson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mayflower holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mayflower misses with a punch to the body.

Larson pulls Mayflower into guard.
Larson looking to control.
Mayflower postures up in Larson's guard and throws a big left but Larson blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larson wants to sweep here but Mayflower controlling him for the moment.
Mayflower throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Larson is looking to stand up but Mayflower isn't so interested in that idea.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mayflower trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Larson scores with the left hand. Mayflower knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Larry Mayflower has been cut.
Larson looks to throw a body kick

and Mayflower counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Larson!
Larson struggling a bit here.

Mayflower tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mayflower has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Mayflower wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Larson, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mayflower wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Larson is trying to control Mayflower's posture but Mayflower avoids it.

Mayflower is trying to get an arm triangle but Larson is defending well.
Larson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Larson desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Larson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mayflower is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayflower missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Larson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mayflower wants to free his trapped foot but Larson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mayflower wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larson keeps working.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Larson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mayflower.
Larson tries to roll over but Mayflower keeps him under control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mayflower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mayflower is looking to counter the offense by Larson and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Larson throws out a powerful jab.
Mayflower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Larson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Larson wants to clinch

and Mayflower counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Larson controls Mayflower momentarily but Mayflower frees himself.
Mayflower wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.
Mayflower working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mayflower throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larson is looking to stand up but Mayflower isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Larry Mayflower.
I think Mayflower 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Mayflower!