PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conor Larkin (ranked 2443 p4p, 274 weight class) and Lamont Banner (ranked 889 p4p, 107 weight class). Lamont Banner is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Larkin
vs
Banner

186 cm
22
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

171 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Conor Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lamont Banner !
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Larkin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Banner was covering up waiting for the punch and Larkin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Larkin wants to control from the top but Banner keeps moving.
Larkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Banner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larkin throws a big right hand that misses.
Banner looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Banner has his foot on Larkin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Larkin works his way back into a safe position though.
Larkin forces his way into half guard.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.
Larkin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Larkin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Banner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Larkin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin wants to pass to mount but Banner is defending the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Larkin lands a nice short elbow.
Larkin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Banner tries to get to full guard but Larkin has control of the leg.

Larkin is looking for a kimura but Banner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Larkin to get the leverage.
Banner is trying to stand back up but Larkin is controlling him
Larkin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Larkin connects with a nice short shot to Banner 's temple.
Banner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Banner taking some punishment here, with Larkin in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Banner tries to get to full guard but Larkin has control of the leg.
Larkin prevents Banner from standing back up.
Larkin working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Banner 's thigh. Banner counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Larkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Banner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Larkin from controlling successfully.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Larkin defends it easily.
Banner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Larkin scoring with punches to the head and body.

Banner is looking for a triangle but Larkin pushes his legs off easily.
Larkin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Larkin pushes down on Banner 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Larkin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Banner is looking to escape.
Banner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to control Larkin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Banner avoid being mounted?
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Larkin is trying to control. Banner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Larkin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Banner is not content to let Larkin control the position.
Larkin working the head and body with strikes.
Larkin works his way into full mount!
Banner trying desperately to get to his feet.
Larkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Banner ?
Larkin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Larkin is working for a guillotine from mount but Banner frees his head quite easily.
Banner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Larkin goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Banner is on top in guard.
Larkin has a closed guard, preventing Banner from standing up.
Banner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Larkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Larkin has a closed guard, preventing Banner from standing up.
Larkin seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Larkin 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.
Larkin has a closed guard, preventing Banner from standing up.
Larkin wants to improve his position but instead Banner has moved into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants to get back to his feet.
Banner has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Larkin works to full guard.
Banner wanted to stand there but Larkin had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Larkin is on top in guard.

Banner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Banner wants to stand and escape but Larkin is having none of it.
Larkin pushes down on Banner 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Larkin is keen to just control but Banner is a slippery customer.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Banner pushes Larkin off looking to stand but Larkin dives back in and keeps control.
Banner trying to control here.
Banner is trying to stand up here but Larkin is controlling him well.
Larkin misses with a head shot. Banner uses the momentum to regain guard.
Larkin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Banner 's guard.
Larkin working over Banner with some ground and pound. Banner looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Banner is looking to escape.

Larkin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Banner sees it coming and defends easily.
Larkin is looking to take a break and control but Banner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Larkin stops Banner from getting back to his feet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Larkin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Banner 's head.

Banner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larkin pulls his head out easily.
Larkin trying to mount his opponent but Banner defends it.
Larkin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Larkin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Larkin is looking to take a break and control but Banner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Larkin.
Larkin throwing shots but Banner is blocking nicely.
Larkin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Larkin moves into full mount! Banner won't be happy about that!
Banner tries to hold on but Larkin postures up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Larkin dominating with strikes here.
Larkin trying to control but Banner is having none of it.
Larkin scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Larkin trying to control but Banner is having none of it.
Larkin raining down hammerfists from mount.

Banner is rocked!
Larkin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Banner is still in real trouble! Can Larkin finish him?
Larkin cracks Banner with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Larkin drops a big elbow. That's hurt Banner ! More shots from Larkin and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Conor Larkin!