PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kirov Sturmovik (ranked 1599 p4p, 1534 weight class) and Donnie Larkin (ranked 234 p4p, 227 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sturmovik
vs
Larkin

190 cm
30
195
10 - 4 - 0

181 cm
35
188
21 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kirov Sturmovik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donnie Larkin!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Larkin takes the fight into the clinch.
Sturmovik looking to throw knees to the head but Larkin is blocking nicely.
A shot in the inside from Sturmovik.
Larkin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sturmovik after a bit of a struggle.
Larkin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sturmovik walks away with a smile on his face. Larkin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sturmovik rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Larkin counters by clinching up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sturmovik creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Our sources have told us that Sturmovik has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Larkin looking for a takedown.
Kirov Sturmovik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Larkin.

Larkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sturmovik misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sturmovik stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Donnie Larkin has been cut.
Sturmovik misses with a looping left.
Larkin blocks a head kick by Sturmovik.
Larkin with the counter takedown but Sturmovik avoids it easily.
Sturmovik looks to throw the jab but Larkin is out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Larkin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sturmovik throws a right and a left that Larkin avoids nicely.
Sturmovik ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larkin moves away.
Larkin moves out of range of the body kick from Sturmovik.
Sturmovik throws a body kick that misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Larkin. That snapped Sturmovik's head back.
Sturmovik attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturmovik lands with a nice body kick.
Larkin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sturmovik tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Sturmovik.
Sturmovik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sturmovik lands with a kick to the ribs.
Larkin needs to keep his hands up - Sturmovik had a free shot at his head there.
A big right from Larkin misses.
Larkin dodges the punch combination from Sturmovik.
Sturmovik uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larkin.
Sturmovik looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sturmovik misses with a right hand
and Larkin counters with a left to the body.
Sturmovik throws a sloppy head kick and Larkin moves out of range easily.
Sturmovik moves forwards but Larkin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sturmovik lands the left hand.
Sturmovik throws a combination that misses

and Larkin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sturmovik's guard.

Sturmovik manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Larkin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sturmovik pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin staying out of range there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Larkin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sturmovik fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sturmovik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larkin throws out a counter right but Sturmovik avoids it with no problem.
Sturmovik throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Larkin jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sturmovik lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Larkin at a distance.
Larkin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Larkin throws a hook but Sturmovik avoids it easily.
Sturmovik keeps the fight on the outside.
Kirov Sturmovik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Larkin.
Sturmovik swinging wildly here.
Sturmovik scores with a nice head shot.
Sturmovik dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Larkin. That did some damage!
A head kick by Sturmovik misses
and Sturmovik takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin throws a hook to the side of Sturmovik's head but Sturmovik sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Sturmovik tries to keep at a distance but Larkin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Larkin wants to get back to striking at distance but Sturmovik won't allow it.
Larkin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sturmovik pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sturmovik tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Larkin avoids it.
Sturmovik unloads a knee to the mid-section. Larkin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sturmovik is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Larkin jumps guard and drags Sturmovik to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Larkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sturmovik defends well.
Our spies down at at kill or be killed F boring Fights inform us that Larkin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Larkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sturmovik gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sturmovik has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Larkin is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturmovik is fighting to break Larkin's control of his arms but Larkin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sturmovik trying to stand up but can't free himself from Larkin's guard.

Larkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sturmovik gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sturmovik postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kirov Sturmovik dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Donnie Larkin's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sturmovik uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Larkin has time to react.
Larkin avoids the head kick by Sturmovik.
Larkin walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sturmovik.
Sturmovik slips under a jab from Larkin.
Larkin tries to close the distance and clinch but Sturmovik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sturmovik throws a jab when Larkin was well out of range.
Sturmovik will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sturmovik throws a head kick that misses.
Larkin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sturmoviks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sturmovik throws an off balance right hand
and Larkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Larkin moves out of range of the body kick.
Larkin scores with a decent looking hook.
Kirov Sturmovik is winning the standup battle so far.
Sturmovik with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Larkin to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sturmovik throws the left hand but Larkin avoids the punch easily.
Larkin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sturmovik fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larkin manages to avoid it.
Sturmovik missing with a left hand there. Larkin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That kick from Larkin tenderised Sturmovik's leg. Sturmovik is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sturmovik throws a hook to the side of Larkin's head but Larkin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturmovik is looking to chop away at Larkin's legs.
Sturmovik throws a head kick but Larkin moves out of range.
Sturmovik misses with a two punch combination.
Sturmovik throws a body punch but Larkin moves out of range.
Larkin looks to throw the jab but Sturmovik is out of range.

Larkin closes the distance and pushes Sturmovik back into the cage.
Sturmovik lands a nice uppercut.

Larkin pulls Sturmovik into guard.

Larkin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sturmovik stacks Larkin 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 Sturmovik!
Larkin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Sturmovik decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Sturmovik throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Larkin has closed the distance and engaged Sturmovik in a clinch.
Sturmovik lands a shoulder strike.
Larkin wants to take the fight to the mat but Sturmovik manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Larkin jumps guard and drags Sturmovik to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Larkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Donnie Larkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larkin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sturmovik haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Larkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sturmovik gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sturmovik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Larkin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sturmovik has managed to get both his arms back between Larkin's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturmovik trying to stand up but can't free himself from Larkin's guard.
Larkin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Larkin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larkin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Larkin wants to pass the guard but Sturmovik is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Larkin prevents Sturmovik from getting back to his feet.
Sturmovik keeping moving, preventing Larkin from controlling successfully.
Larkin passes Sturmovik's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Larkin working over Sturmovik with some ground and pound. Sturmovik looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sturmovik tries to kick Larkin off but Larkin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Donnie Larkin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Donnie Larkin's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sturmovik misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larkin.
Larkin moves out of range of the body kick from Sturmovik.
Larkin throws a shot to the body.
Sturmovik pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Sturmovik misses.
Sturmovik has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Larkin finds it's way round the side to connect with Sturmovik's head.
Sturmovik looks to throw the jab but Larkin is out of range.
Sturmovik fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Larkin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sturmovik ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sturmovik connects with a jab.
Larkin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Larkin there as he acknowledges the shot.

That has opened up Donnie Larkin's cut even more.
Sturmovik connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Larkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Sturmovik on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Larkin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sturmovik. Sturmovik circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sturmovik throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sturmovik blocks a jab.
Sturmovik throws a half hearted mid kick.

Larkin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin wants to control but Sturmovik is keeping him busy.
Larkin controlling the pace.
Larkin working Sturmovik over with strikes.
Larkin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sturmovik has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Larkin is on him like a limpet, forcing Sturmovik back against the cage.
Sturmovik scores with a knee to the head.
Sturmovik tries to land a knee to the head but Larkin blocks with his arms.
Larkin avoiding damage as Sturmovik throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin avoiding damage as Sturmovik throws knees to the body.

Larkin wants the takedown. Sturmovik is fighting it off but Larkin persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sturmovik's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sturmovik keeping moving, preventing Larkin from controlling successfully.
Sturmovik keeping full guard, as Larkin tries to pass.
Larkin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Larkin won't allow Sturmovik to get back to his feet.
Larkin trying to control but Sturmovik is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sturmovik wants to stand and escape but Larkin is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sturmovik dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sturmovik slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sturmovik throws a body punch but Larkin moves out of range.
Larkin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sturmovik scores with a hook to the body. Larkin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Larkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sturmovik.
Sturmovik cracks Larkin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

The cut above Donnie Larkin's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Sturmovik drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Sturmovik.
A left lands for Larkin.
Larkin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Larkin avoids the body shot from Sturmovik.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larkin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sturmovik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Larkin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Larkin moves away from the strike by Sturmovik.
Sturmovik misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sturmovik takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Larkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Sturmovik circles away.
Sturmovik bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirov Sturmovik showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sturmovik 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirov Sturmovik!
A relieved looking Kirov Sturmovik thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.