PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boyce Larson (ranked 24498 p4p, 0 weight class) and Megumi Hayashida (ranked 5940 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Larson
vs
Hayashida

151 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boyce Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Megumi Hayashida!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayashida shoots in for a takedown but Larson shows good takedown defense.
Larson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hayashida.
Larson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Hayashida closes the distance and clinches.
Hayashida tries to pull guard but Larson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Boyce Larson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Megumi Hayashida.
Hayashida is trying to pull guard but Larson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hayashida goes for a takedown attempt but Larson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hayashida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Larson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Larson tries to buck Hayashida off but Hayashida is having none of it.
Larson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hayashida in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson wants to control but Hayashida postures up.
Larson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hayashida is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Hayashida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Larson, who protects the arm well.
Larson controls the position for a moment.
Larson regains half guard.

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 missing with punches from the bottom.
Hayashida wants to control but Larson is keeping him busy.
Larson is trying to maintain the position but Hayashida is very close to passing his half guard.
Larson moves into full guard.
Hayashida wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.
Larson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hayashida tries to score a power double leg takedown but Larson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hayashida somewhat.
Larson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Larson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Larson dives in for a single leg takedown but Hayashida sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hayashida darts in looking for a takedown but Larson gets double underhooks and turns Hayashida into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hayashida instigates a clinch.
Larson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hayashida just stands there and leans against the cage.

Larson manages to break the clinch.

Hayashida manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Larson on his heels. He'll look to pass Larson's guard now, I'm sure.
Hayashida trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hayashida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larson is keeping the position for now.

Larson is working an open guard so Hayashida takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Larson tries to keep at a distance but Hayashida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hayashida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Larson smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Megumi Hayashida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Boyce Larson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hayashida.
Larson tries to counter with a takedown but Hayashida is quick to defend against it.
Larson has a takedown stuffed.

Hayashida closes the distance and pushes Larson back into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson jumps guard but Hayashida stands there with Larson around his waist. Larson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hayashida misses with a knee to the head.
Larson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boyce Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hayashida has double underhooks.
Hayashida tries to score a body lock takedown but Larson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hayashida tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Larson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Larson is trying to pull guard but Hayashida turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hayashida can't break the clinch.
Hayashida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hayashida holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hayashida is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Larson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hayashida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Larson is trying to break the clinch but Hayashida has him pressed against the cage.

Hayashida gets control of Larson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hayashida will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Larson trying to control but Hayashida is working from the bottom.
Hayashida looking for a sweep. Not yet Hayashida, not yet.
Hayashida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Larson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayashida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Hayashida is working an open guard so Larson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Megumi Hayashida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Larson gets caught flat footed, as Hayashida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hayashida tries to free his leg and advance position but Larson is retaining full guard.
Hayashida has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Larson is proving hard to escape from.
Hayashida passes into half guard.
Hayashida is breathing heavily.
Larson wants to sweep but Hayashida has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayashida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larson keeps working.
Larson is looking to regain half guard here but Hayashida keeps moving and retains side control.
Hayashida looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Larson is avoiding damage well.
Hayashida working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hayashida in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Megumi Hayashida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Boyce Larson's cut.
That's time! Larson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A head kick by Hayashida misses

and Larson counters with a shoot takedown. Hayashida fights it but they end up in guard.
Hayashida is striking from the bottom but Larson uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Larson prevents Hayashida from standing back up.
Hayashida is looking to improve his position.

Hayashida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larson pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayashida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Larson is working away from the top position though.
Larson is looking to take a break and control but Hayashida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hayashida controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hayashida trying to get back to full guard but Larson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hayashida tries to buck Larson off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Larson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Larson avoids the attempt from Hayashida to control.
Hayashida is looking to get to half guard.
Larson can't control as he wanted to and Hayashida manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Larson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayashida is staying active underneath Larson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hayashida wants to get back to full guard but Larson has mounted him!
Hayashida wants to hold on but Larson pushes him away.
Hayashida is trying to escape the mount.
Hayashida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hayashida gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayashida is looking to improve his position.
Hayashida tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Larson is thwarting Hayashida's attempts to control the position.

Larson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Megumi Hayashida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Larson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boyce Larson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hayashida has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Megumi Hayashida!