PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fri Day (ranked 5085 p4p, 226 weight class) and Igor Larionov (ranked 3827 p4p, 181 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.

Day
vs
Larionov

170 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fri Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Igor Larionov!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larionov ducks under a wild hook from Day.
Day throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larionov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Larionov misses the shot to the body.
Day was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Day throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larionov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Larionov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Larionov's corner calls for a 1-2. Larionov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Larionov lands with a cross.
Larionov throws the left hand but Day avoids the punch easily.
Day swinging wildly here.
Day ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larionov moves away.
Day misses with a left hand
and Larionov counters with a stiff right hand.
Day throws a poor cross that misses
and Larionov counters with a nice uppercut.
Day throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Day gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Larionov.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larionov manages to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larionov throws a hook but Day avoids it easily.

Day gets caught flat footed, as Larionov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Day is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Larionov trying to control the position from guard on top but Day is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day is trying to keep Larionov in close.

Larionov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Day looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larionov passes into half guard.
Day has his hands clasped together around Larionov's back. He's all about the action.
Day is trying to control but can't.
Day knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Larionov on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Larionov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Larionov slows the pace down in half guard.

Larionov is looking for a kimura but Day is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Larionov to get the leverage.
Day wants to control but Larionov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Larionov stalling away here and it's allowed Day to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Day has control of Larionov's left arm, preventing Larionov from doing any damage.
Larionov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Day is controlling Larionov's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larionov trying to control but Day is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Larionov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Day.
Larionov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Day finds it's way round the side to connect with Larionov's head.
Fri Day is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Larionov defending well as Day loads up on a big left hand.
Day misses with an uppercut
and Larionov counters with a nice uppercut.
Larionov misses with an uppercut. Day saw that one coming.
Day was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Larionov slips under a jab.
Larionov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Day counters with a straight right hand.
Larionov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Larionov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Day.
A big left from Day misses.
Day displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Larionov throws out the jab.
Larionov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Day.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larionov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Larionov throws a jab when Day was well out of range.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larionov manages to avoid it.
Larionov moves forwards but Day connects with a nice, crisp jab.
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!
Larionov tries to close the distance and clinch but Day swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Larionov has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Larionov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Day.
Larionov just misses with a punch to the body.
Day misses with the body kick
letting Larionov counter with a right hand.
Larionov slips under a jab from Day.
Nice defenses there by Larionov.

Larionov moves into the clinch successfully.
Larionov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Day swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Larionov blocks a body shot from Day.
Larionov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Day blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Larionov fails to land.
Day looking to stall.
Day on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Larionov dominated that round.
That's time! Day's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Day fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Day slips a jab from Larionov.
Larionov 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.
Larionov looks to land a right hand but Day moved out of range.
Day throws out a powerful jab.
Nice shot by Larionov.
Day with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Larionov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Day swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Day throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Larionov! But no joy.
Larionov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Day.
Larionov lands a nice hook to Day's body. Day takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
An inside leg kick from Larionov misses.
Day throws an off balance right hand
letting Larionov counter with a right hand.
Day throws out a loose jab but Larionov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Larionov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Larionov defending well as Day loads up on a big left hand.
Larionov with the counter takedown but Day avoids it easily.
Igor Larionov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Larionov shoots in looking for a takedown but Day manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Larionov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larionov is looking to clinch but Day is avoiding it.
A jab from Larionov misses.
Day tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Larionov is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larionov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Day moves away.
Larionov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Day.
Larionov slips under a jab.
A jab from Larionov misses.
Day throws a shot from downtown. Larionov moves away and avoids it.
Day throws a right hand that misses
and Day takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Day swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Larionov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Day's hands.
Day defending well as Larionov loads up on a big left hand.
Day uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Larionov.
Day thows a left - swing and a miss!
It seemed like Larionov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Larionov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Day throws a lazy uppercut
and Larionov counters with a straight right hand.
Larionov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Larionov defending well as Day loads up on a big left hand.
A little jabbing left from Larionov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Larionov tries to clinch there but Day circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Day misses the target.
Larionov defending well as Day loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larionov looks to land a right hand but Day moved out of range.
Larionov shoots in looking for a takedown. Day tries to sprawl out of it but Larionov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Day manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Day displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Larionov throws out the jab.
Larionov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Larionov loads up on a big right hand but Day slips the punch.
Day misses with a looping right.
Larionov tries to clinch but Day is having none of it.
Larionov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Day throws out the jab.
Day throws a body shot but no joy.
Larionov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Day.
Larionov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Larionov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Day.
Larionov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Day.
Larionov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Day.
Larionov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larionov has Day up against the cage in a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Day as the two fighters clinch.
Day blocks a body shot from Larionov.
Day can't find room to land a body shot as Larionov controls the action.
Day wants to stall.
Day blocks an elbow strike from Larionov.
Day lands a left hand that snaps the head of Larionov backwards.
Larionov is trying to stall.
Larionov misses with a body punch.
Larionov has a couple of punches blocked by Day.
Day struggles to land a body shot inside as Larionov controls his hands.
Larionov slowing the pace effectively.
Day throws a punch but it's blocked by Larionov.
Larionov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fri Day has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Larionov.
Day misses with some punches.
Day softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day is looking to control Larionov's arms but Larionov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Day has his back to the cage.
Larionov swings wildly with an uppercut but Day uses good head movement to avoid it.
Day scores with a nice hook to the head.
Day blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Larionov stalling against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Day fails to land.
Larionov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Day misses with a hook to the ribs.
Larionov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Day lands a body punch in the clinch.
Larionov missing with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Day misses with a punch to the body.
Day pushes Larionov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Day misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Larionov.
Day misses with a punch on the inside.
Day tries to work over Larionov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fri Day will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Larionov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Day misses with a straight right.
Day circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larionov throws a leg kick but Day checks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Day misses the target.
Day looks to throw the jab but Larionov is out of range.
Day waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Larionov.
A swing and a miss from Day.
Larionov works the jab nicely.
Larionov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Day paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Day misses with an uppercut.
Day slips a jab from Larionov.
Day is looking for a counter combo.
Day walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larionov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Larionov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Day throws a big shot that misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Day blocks the leg kick.
Day is looking to counter punch.
Larionov misses with a wild body shot.
Day throws a jab when Larionov was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larionov throws a jab when Day was well out of range.
Day avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Larionov takes one on the button.
Day slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Larionov throws a hook to the side of Day's head but Day sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Day throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Larionov throws out a counter right but Day avoids it with no problem.
Jab, jab by Larionov - just one landing.
Larionov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Day misses with a straight left.
Day uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Larionov.
Larionov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Larionov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Day defends well and Larionov ends up having to push Day into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Day throws a hook but Larionov avoids it easily.
Larionov throws a hook to the side of Day's head but Day sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Larionov has his takedown stuffed
and Larionov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Day throws a hook but Larionov blocks it.
Larionov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Day moves away.
Day just misses with a punch to the body.
Larionov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Larionov has Day up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Day.
Day lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Day misses with a hook to the ribs.
Larionov leaning against his opponent.
Larionov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Day up against the cage.
Larionov continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Larionov working aggressively here.
Larionov wants to stall.
Day scores with a nice hook to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Day - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day can't find room to land a body shot as Larionov controls the action.
A short right from Larionov.
Larionov struggles to land a body shot inside as Day controls his hands.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Larionov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Day avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Fri Day has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Larionov.
Day is leaning against Larionov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Day digs a right hand into Larionov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Larionov's gas tank.
Larionov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fri Day has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Larionov prevents a body shot from Day.
Larionov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Larionov tries to pull guard but Day won't allow it.
Larionov blocking some punches.
Larionov working aggressively here.
Larionov tries to work over Day's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Day tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Larionov's elbow.
Day letting Larionov take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larionov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Larionov gets control of Day's arms and successfully pulls guard. Larionov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Larionov is looking for a triangle but Day pushes his legs off easily.
Day stays in close to Larionov's body and controls the position.
Day wants to control from the top but Larionov keeps moving.

Larionov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Day defends well.

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 Fri Day.
I think Day 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fri Day!