PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Tong (ranked 4138 p4p, 0 weight class) and Desmond Larkin (ranked 3779 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tong
vs
Larkin

190 cm
25
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Tong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Desmond Larkin!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Larkin gets the takedown into side control.
Larkin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tong is avoiding damage well.
Tong avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Larkin.
Larkin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Tong!

Larkin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Larkin sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Poor strikes thrown by Larkin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Larkin throws some wild stikes that Tong manages to avoid easily.
Larkin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Poor strikes thrown by Larkin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Larkin working for a guillotine from mount but Tong is in no mood to give up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Larkin looking to finish with strikes here!
Larkin lands a big shot there that rocks Tong but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tong because Larkin loaded up on that one.
Larkin working the ground and pound effectively.
Tong wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Larkin.
Larkin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tong because Larkin loaded up on that one.

Larkin wants to finish this one by submission but Tong is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Larkin.
Larkin thowing shots but they're missing.
Tong wants to control but Larkin is having none of it.

Larkin goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Tong is on top in guard.
Tong wants to control from the top but Larkin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tong wants to control from the top but Larkin keeps moving.
Larkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larkin seems keen to control Tong's posture.
Our spies down at at Main Event inform us that Larkin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Tong trying to control the position from guard on top but Larkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larkin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Larkin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin throwing strikes but missing.
Tong keeping moving, preventing Larkin from controlling successfully.
Larkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tong is trying to keep Larkin in close.
Larkin throws a strike but Tong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tong wants to control from the top but Larkin keeps moving.

Larkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tong drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tong jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Larkin is on top in guard.

Larkin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tong is not content to let Larkin control the position.
The strikes coming from Larkin are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Larkin trying to control the position but Tong is working away.

Larkin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Larkin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Larkin shoots in but no luck this time.

Tong darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Larkin is looking for a sweep. Tong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Larkin preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Tong prevents Larkin from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Larkin's head.
Tong wants to free his trapped foot but Larkin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tong controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tong is working away from the top position though.
Larkin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Larkin.
Larkin is trying to keep Tong in close.
Tong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Larkin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Larkin is controlling Tong's posture.
Larkin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tong manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larkin forces his way into half guard.
Larkin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tong wants to improve his position but Larkin is controlling well.
Tong trying to hold on to Larkin's head to control him but Larkin postures up.
Larkin wants to pass the guard but Tong is defending well.
Larkin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Larkin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tong looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Tong tries to roll over but Larkin keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Larkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Tong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Larkin.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larkin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tong does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tong is looking to improve his position.
Larkin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Larkin not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Larkin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Larkin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tong sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Larkin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Larkin looking to finish with strikes here!

Larkin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tong to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tong shrugs it off.
Tong tries to reverse the position but Larkin maintains control.
Larkin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tong tries to hold on but Larkin pushes him away.
Larkin unloads with some shots from mount but Tong bucks and avoids them well.
Larkin throws some wild stikes that Tong manages to avoid easily.
Tong is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Larkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Larkin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tong counters by clinching up.
Tong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tong - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tong is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Larkin tries to pull guard but Tong won't allow it.
Ben Tong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Desmond Larkin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larkin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tong prevents it.
Larkin avoiding damage as Tong throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tong stalling in the clinch.
Tong struggles to land a body shot inside as Larkin controls his hands.
Tong holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tong just leaning against Larkin, taking a breather.
Tong stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Tong for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

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.

Tong manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Larkin with that takedown attempt.
Larkin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Tong closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Larkin quickly recovers to half guard.
Tong is thwarting Larkin's attempts to control the position.
Larkin works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Larkin prevents Tong from improving his position.
Larkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Tong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Larkin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tong tries to roll over but Larkin keeps him under control.
Tong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Larkin.
Larkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tong is trying to stand back up but Larkin is controlling him
Tong tries to get to full guard but Larkin has control of the leg.
Larkin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin trying to control from half guard but Tong is working away.

Tong kicks off Larkin and gets to his feet.
Tong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ben Tong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Larkin gets caught flat footed, as Tong shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tong trying to control the position from guard on top but Larkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Larkin is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Tong frees his head nicely. Oh but Larkin has switched to an armbar! Tong is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Desmond Larkin!