PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Butch Larson (ranked 3703 p4p, 390 weight class) and Desmond Flannery (ranked 4434 p4p, 452 weight class). Flannery has chosen Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Larson
vs
Flannery

187 cm
35
234 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

192 cm
38
270 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Butch Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Desmond Flannery!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flannery looks to land a left hand but Larson moved out of range nicely.
Larson shoots in for a takedown but Flannery shows good takedown defense.

Larson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Flannery keeping moving, preventing Larson from controlling successfully.
Larson stops Flannery from standing up.
Larson trying to control but Flannery is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flannery can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Larson controls the pace.
Larson trying to control but Flannery is working from the bottom.
Larson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flannery keeping full guard, as Larson tries to pass.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Flannery wants to get back to his feet but Larson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Larson.
Flannery is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Larson.
Flannery looks to score with a jab to the body but Larson is just out of range.
Flannery looks to land a left hand but Larson moved out of range nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Flannery. Those never looked like landing.
Larson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Butch Larson has been cut.
Larson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Flannery was covering up waiting for the punch and Larson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Flannery is looking to stand back up but Larson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Flannery.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Flannery to regain full guard.
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!
Flannery keeping full guard, as Larson tries to pass.
Flannery wants to stand up but Larson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Flannery is looking to stand up but Larson isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Larson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Larson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flannery works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flannery wants to stand and escape but Larson is having none of it.
Larson content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Flannery misses with a hook. Larson ducked under it nicely.
Flannery misses with a straight right.
Flannery swinging wildly here.
Flannery throws a right and a left that Larson avoids nicely.
Flannery swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Larson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Flannery.
Flannery misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Larson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Flannery throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larson shoots in for a double leg but Flannery sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Butch Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flannery misses with an uppercut

and Larson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Flannery is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Larson dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Flannery dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Butch Larson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Larson.
Larson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Flannery counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Larson thinking.
Butch Larson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flannery lunges at Larson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Larson's hand.
Flannery works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Flannery misses with an uppercut.
Larson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Larson ducks straight into an uppercut from Flannery and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Larson manages to regain guard straight away.
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!

Flannery decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Larson, up you get!
Desmond Flannery seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flannery misses with a double jab.
Larson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Flannery lands an overhand right.
Larson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Desmond Flannery is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flannery looks to land a combination but Larson avoids it well.
Flannery throws a right hand that misses

and Larson counters by clinching up.
Flannery is trying to break the clinch but Larson has him pressed against the cage.
Flannery has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A frustrated look appears on Flannery's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Flannery's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Larson prevents Flannery from breaking the clinch.
Flannery is trying to force a seperation but Larson has the dominant position.
Nice body punch from Larson.
Flannery working hard to break the clinch.
Flannery looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Flannery looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Flannery stops a takedown attempt from Larson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Butch Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flannery has had enough of the clinch but Larson keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flannery breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Decent striking displayed by Flannery there.
Larson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Flannery.
Larson shoots in but Flannery avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Larson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Flannery keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Desmond Flannery seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Larson shoots in looking for a takedown. Flannery tries to sprawl out of it but Larson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Flannery manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Larson tries for a takedown but Flannery sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Flannery might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Larson tries to move into range but Flannery moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Larson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Larson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flannery looks to score with a jab to the body but Larson is just out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Larson is defended easily by Flannery.

Flannery bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Larson! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Larson is rocked!

Flannery gets to his feet. Larson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Larson bobbing and weaving nicely... He's ducked under a jab and ducks again but ooooooh! Flannery comes at him with an uppercut from hell! Larson falls to the canvas, unconscious! This one is all over! Oh man, looking at the replay that was right on the button! Larson was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Desmond Flannery!
A very excited looking Desmond Flannery made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.