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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Davido Monto (ranked 1990 p4p, 1558 weight class) and Donnie Larkin (ranked 281 p4p, 225 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.
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| 182 cm
33
195
19 - 18 - 1 |
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181 cm
37
188
23 - 15 - 0 |
BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 19 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Davido Monto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donnie Larkin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larkin takes the fight into the clinch.
Larkin successfully pulls guard.
Monto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Monto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Larkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Monto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Larkin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Monto.
Monto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larkin is keeping the position for now.
Larkin working a defensive guard here.
Larkin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Monto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Monto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Monto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Larkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larkin looking to control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin looking for a guillotine here but Monto defends easily.
Larkin controls Monto momentarily but Monto frees himself.
Monto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larkin looking to control.
Monto wants to pass the guard but Larkin is keeping the position.
Larkin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Larkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Monto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Monto throws a big right hand that misses.
Monto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Larkin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Monto has Larkin in his guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Monto looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larkin passes into side control.
Monto wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Larkin lands a decent elbow from side control.
Larkin connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Monto some visible discomfort.
Monto tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Larkin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Larkin trying to control the action but Monto is working from the bottom.
Monto tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Larkin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Larkin working the ground and pound from side control.
Larkin controlling from side mount.
Monto is looking to regain half guard here but Larkin keeps moving and retains side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monto is working hard here to advance position.
Monto regains half guard.
Larkin slows the pace down in half guard.
Larkin is looking to take a break and control but Monto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Monto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larkin pulls his head out easily.
Monto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Monto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Monto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Monto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Larkin defends well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Monto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Larkin has managed to get both his arms back between Monto's legs - danger averted.
Larkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Monto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monto striking off his back but it's not causing Larkin any problems.
Larkin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Monto 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.
Monto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Larkin's guard.
Larkin looking to control.
Monto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Monto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Monto preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Monto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Larkin's head.
Monto passes Larkin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Larkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Donnie Larkin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Monto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Donnie Larkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Monto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Monto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Larkin but Larkin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larkin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Larkin throws a jab but it's blocked by Monto.
Monto takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larkin throws a hook but Monto avoids it easily.
Monto moves away from the strike by Larkin.
Monto attempts a counter takedown but Larkin avoids it well and moves away.
Monto gets tackled into the cage by Larkin. Larkin maintains the clinch.
Monto wants a takedown.
Larkin pulls Monto into guard.
Larkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Monto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Larkin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Larkin has escaped and now he's on top!
Monto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Larkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Monto throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Monto 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.
Larkin stays in close to Monto's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Larkin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Monto seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monto is looking to sweep but instead, Larkin has passed into half guard.
Monto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larkin pulls his head out easily.
Larkin drops an elbow to the side of Monto's head.
Larkin prevents Monto from improving his position.
Larkin wants to control but Monto is keeping him busy.
Monto actively working from the bottom here.
Monto throws a strike from the bottom but Larkin passes into side control!
Monto is trying to work for a sweep but Larkin has mounted him!
Larkin content just to control the position here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Larkin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Monto working to try and regain half guard.
Larkin controlling the position easily from mount.
Larkin lands a big elbow.
Larkin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Larkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Monto is looking to escape.
Monto is looking to get to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Monto to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Monto shrugs it off.
Monto is working to get back to half guard.
Larkin cracks Monto with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Larkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Monto is looking to escape.
Larkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Monto taking shots to the head.
Larkin content just to control the position here.
Monto is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Donnie Larkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Larkin moves into the clinch.
Monto turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Monto manages to end up in side control.
Larkin can't do much from the bottom here.
Monto landing strikes.
Monto working away.
Monto cracks Larkin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Monto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Larkin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Larkin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Monto connects with a decent elbow.
Larkin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monto tries to get to full guard but Larkin has control of the leg.
Larkin wants to take a breather but Monto is having none of it.
Larkin controlling the action here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin wants to take a breather but Monto is having none of it.
Larkin controlling the pace.
Monto is staying active underneath Larkin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Larkin prevents Monto from improving his position.
Monto looking for submissions off his back.
Monto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Monto wants to improve his position but Larkin is controlling well.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Larkin working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Larkin drops an elbow to the side of Monto's head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Monto actively working from the bottom here.
Monto is staying active underneath Larkin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Larkin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Monto is trying to get back to full guard.
Larkin lands with a punch from half guard.
Donnie Larkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larkin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Monto with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Larkin in particular looking to stall.
Larkin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Monto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Monto looking for submissions off his back.
Monto is staying active underneath Larkin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monto has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Larkin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Larkin!
Larkin lands an elbow.
Larkin controls the position.
Larkin trying to control the position but Monto is working away.
Monto is trying to work for a sweep but Larkin has mounted him!
Larkin controlling the position easily from mount.
Monto is in all sorts of trouble here.
Larkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Monto is looking to escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Monto that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Monto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Donnie Larkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Larkin controlling the action here.
Monto looking for submissions off his back.
Larkin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larkin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie Larkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Larkin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnie Larkin!
In his post fight interview, Donnie Larkin started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
35% |
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