PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larson
vs
North

155 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rayford Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy North!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
North scores with a head kick.
Larson misses with a leg kick.
North tries to counter by closing the distance.

North takes the fight into the clinch.
Larson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. North avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
North lands an elbow inside that Larson shrugs off.
North slows down the pace here.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Larson really is a fat lump.
Larson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Larson fails to pull guard.

Larson jumps guard.
North wanted to stand there but Larson had control of the position.
Larson looking to hit a scissor sweep but North is one step ahead there.

Larson kicks North off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - North looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
North is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Larson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Larson gets tackled into the cage by North. North maintains the clinch.
North scores with a nice hook to the head.
North using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Larson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Larson takes a knee to the side of the body.
North lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Larson is trying to pull guard but North has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
North lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
North lands with a short shot to the head.
North working Larson over with knees to the body.
Larson is breathing heavily.
North misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from North.
North displaying some good clinch control by pressing Larson up against the cage.
North creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Larson's defenses.

It looks like Rayford Larson has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is keeping an eye on North - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Larson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as North walks away with a smile on his face. Larson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

North closes the distance and clinches.
Larson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by North after a bit of a struggle.
North lands a good knee to the midsection. Larson won't want to take too many of those.
North using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by North.
North with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North scores with a shot to the side of Larson's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from North.
North avoiding damage.
North working some nice short punches in the clinch.
North lands an elbow that stopped Larson in his tracks for a moment.
North lands a body shot.
North unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Still in the clinch, North scores with a nice short uppercut.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
North lands a damaging elbow.
North lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
North on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
North lands an elbow just above Larson 's eye.
North lands an elbow that stopped Larson in his tracks for a moment.
Larson takes an elbow to the temple.
North slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Larson tries to pull guard but North holds him up against the cage and eventually Larson drops back down to his feet.
A bit of stalling here from North.
Larson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. North just stands there and leans against the cage.
North scores a nice knee to the body.
North has Larson pushed against the cage.
Larson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
North lands a good knee to the midsection. Larson won't want to take too many of those.
North pushes Larson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The referee is keeping an eye on North - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
North lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy North dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rayford Larson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Larson tries to keep at a distance but North has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as North takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Larson has hold of one of North's legs. North is fighting the takedown attempt but Larson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
North wants to stand but Larson is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

North wriggles free and stands up.

North gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, North just misses with a elbow thrown towards Larson's brow.
North prevents a takedown attempt there.
North trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, North just misses with a elbow thrown towards Larson's brow.

Larson breaks from the clinch.

North fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Larson, pushing him back against the cage.
North trying to stall but Larson improves his position.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Larson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
North wants to stand but Larson is controlling the position.
Larson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Larson with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

North has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Larson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Larson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. North avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Larson tries to pull guard but North holds him up against the cage and eventually Larson drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
North prevents a takedown attempt there.
North content to slow the pace in the clinch.
North lands a knee to the head.
Larson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
North lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
North pressing his opponent against the cage.
North taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Larson.
North lands an elbow inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. North gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Larson is looking for a takedown.
North gets through Larson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
North misses with an elbow over the top.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. North obliges.
Larson tries for a takedown. No joy.
North creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Larson's defenses.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Larson jumps guard but North stands there with Larson around his waist. Larson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
North lands an elbow inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from North.
North gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Larson letting North take a breather here.
Larson being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Larson.
North lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
North lands a damaging elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, North creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Larson blocks an elbow strike.
North lands a left hand that snaps the head of Larson backwards.
Larson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Larson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but North is defending well.
North gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from North.
North unloads a knee to the mid-section. Larson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
North connects with a knee to the head.
Larson looking to slow down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy North showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rayford Larson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

North moves into the clinch successfully.
Larson looking for a takedown.
Jimmy North seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Larson blocks an elbow strike.
North lands an elbow inside that Larson shrugs off.
North prevents a takedown attempt there.
North unloads a knee to the mid-section. Larson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
North stalling in the clinch.
North gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
North stalling the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
North lands a nice uppercut.
North unloads a knee to the mid-section.
North landing knees to the head.
Nice elbow from North.
North stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
North content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Larson or not.
North lands an elbow inside that Larson shrugs off.
North lands with a light punch inside.
North scores a nice knee to the body.
North lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
North unloads a knee to the mid-section. Larson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
North lands a nice elbow.
North pressing his opponent against the cage.
A shot in the inside from North.
North just leaning against Larson, taking a breather.
North is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. North obliges.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from North.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
North lands a nice elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
North lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
North scores with a nice hook to the head.
North will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Larson up against the cage.
Larson is working for takedown but North is calmly controlling the position for now.
North stalls.
Larson takes a knee right on the jaw!
North lands with a left to the head.
North prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee is keeping an eye on North - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
North gets through Larson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by North after a bit of a struggle.
North lands a hook that snaps the head of Larson backwards.
North connects with a knee to the head.
Larson stalling in the clinch but North improves position.
North lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Larson is working for takedown but North is calmly controlling the position for now.
North with a knee to the head.
North lands an elbow just above Larson 's eye.
Larson takes a shot to the head.
Larson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
North lands a nice knee to the body.
North lands an elbow inside.
North lands an elbow that stopped Larson in his tracks for a moment.
North trying to land knees to the body.
North has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larson blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. North smiles and moves away.
North throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Larson appears to be looking for a big counter.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up but Larson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick by North misses

and Larson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Larson seems content to control.
Rayford Larson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
North is trying to escape back to his feet but Larson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
North is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Larson is controlling him well.
Rayford Larson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jimmy North is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy North comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got North 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy North!