PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Whitney Larsen (ranked 25213 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Garcia (ranked 6599 p4p, 0 weight class). Sammy Garcia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Larsen
vs
Garcia

189 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

167 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Whitney Larsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammy Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larsen.

Larsen closes the distance and pushes Garcia back into the cage.
Larsen lands a body punch.

Garcia jumps guard.
Garcia working a defensive guard here.

Larsen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larsen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Garcia looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Larsen is proving a slippery customer.
Garcia working a defensive guard but Larsen manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larsen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Garcia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Larsen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garcia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Larsen is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Larsen working away.
Garcia takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
You can see the frustration on Garcia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Garcia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Larsen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Larsen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Garcia on the ground.
Garcia avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Larsen.
Garcia tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larsen decides to stand back up. Larsen steps back and let's Garcia get back to his feet.
Larsen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nice uppercut lands for Garcia. That snapped Larsen's head back.
The fighters circle momentarily. Garcia darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Garcia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garcia swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Larsen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcia wants to improve his position but instead Larsen has moved into half guard.
Larsen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Garcia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Garcia trying to hold on to Larsen's head to control him but Larsen postures up.
Larsen lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larsen working Garcia over with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcia trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Larsen manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whitney Larsen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Larsen clinches up with Garcia and pushes him back against the cage.
Larsen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Garcia pulls guard.
Whitney Larsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Larsen from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Larsen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsen stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.

Garcia working for a triangle but Larsen defends it easily.
Larsen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Larsen connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen controlling from the top position.
Garcia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larsen.
Larsen wants to get up but he can't break Garcia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Larsen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Larsen trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Garcia working a defensive guard here.
Garcia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Larsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Garcia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Larsen dives on top into guard.

Garcia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Larsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larsen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garcia being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larsen is one step ahead there.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Larsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garcia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?
Larsen chips away with some ground and pound.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Larsen throwing strikes from guard but Garcia blocks nicely.
Garcia is trying to keep Larsen in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Garcia isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Larsen stacks Garcia on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Larsen!
Larsen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whitney Larsen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Garcia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Larsen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Larsen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.

Garcia jumps into guard, dragging Larsen to the mat.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Larsen is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsen lands a couple of elbows.
Garcia trying to control the position.
Larsen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larsen landing with the ground and pound.
Garcia striking off his back but it's not causing Larsen any problems.
Garcia is trying to control the position but Larsen postures up.

Garcia working for a triangle but Larsen defends it easily.
Garcia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larsen throws a big elbow that misses.

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

Larsen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larsen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.

Garcia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Larsen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Larsen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen is working Garcia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Garcia trying to control the position.
Larsen lands a couple of elbows.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Larsen is aware though and is defending well.
Garcia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Garcia trying to control the position.
Sammy Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garcia's head.
Larsen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larsen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Garcia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Larsen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Larsen scoring with punches to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Whitney Larsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Larsen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Whitney Larsen!