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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conor Larkin (ranked 1234 p4p, 2314 weight class) and Verneri Ahma (ranked 172 p4p, 287 weight class). Conor Larkin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 186 cm
40
163
14 - 4 - 0 |
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172 cm
41
156
35 - 26 - 0 |
Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahma swings for the body but Larkin moves out of range.
Ahma lands a nice hook to Larkin's body. Larkin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ahma throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Larkin counters by moving into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Ahma.
Larkin misses with a punch on the inside.
Larkin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ahma breaks from the clinch.
Ahma pivots, looking for a leg kick but Larkin is out of range and Ahma settles back down.
Larkin misses with the combination.
Ahma is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Verneri Ahma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larkin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Some wild striking there from Ahma.
Ahma shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Larkin sprawls well. Larkin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ahma gets slowly back to his feet.
As Ahma looks to move away, Larkin throws a big counter combo but Ahma just gets out of the way.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin thuds his shin into the meat of Ahma's side.
Ahma misses with an attempted mid kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Ahma.
Ahma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Larkin.
Larkin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ahma on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Larkin stuns Ahma with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ahma swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Larkin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Larkin tries to clinch but Ahma moves out of range.
Larkin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Larkin has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Larkin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Larkin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The fighters circling - Ahma throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larkin closes the distance and clinches.
Larkin cracks Ahma with a nice body shot.
Larkin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ahma backwards.
Ahma manages to break the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahma.
Larkin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Larkin is looking for a counter combo.
Larkin throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Ahma throws a lazy uppercut
and Larkin counters with a low kick, right behind Ahma 's knee.
Ahma throws a big shot that misses.
Larkin lands a nice shot to the body.
Ahma avoids a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Larkin. Ahma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ahma smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Larkin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ahma wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Larkin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ahma backwards.
Larkin slowing the pace effectively.
Larkin leaning his opponent against the cage.
Larkin lands a hook that snaps the head of Ahma backwards.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin jumps guard but Ahma stands there with Larkin around his waist. Larkin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ahma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ahma throws a shot from downtown. Larkin moves away and avoids it.
A shot to the body from Larkin misses
and Ahma counters with a left to the body.
Ahma throws a hook but Larkin avoids it easily.
Ahma throws out a loose jab but Larkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Larkin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Larkin scores with a jab to the body.
Larkin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ahma.
Ahma avoids a punch combination nicely.
Larkin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ahma was covering up waiting for the punch and Larkin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Conor Larkin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Ahma misses with a body shot
and Larkin counters with a right hand to the body.
Larkin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
No joy there for Ahma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Larkin darts in and clinches Ahma up against the cage.
Ahma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larkin is looking to wear down Ahma with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Ahma.
Ahma misses with a looping right.
Larkin tries to clinch but Ahma moves out of range.
Ahma waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Larkin.
Larkin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Larkin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ahma can do to turn this around?
Ahma misses with a kick to the body
and Larkin counters with a shoot takedown. Ahma fights it but they end up in guard.
Larkin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Larkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Ahma is retaining full guard.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
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.
Ahma tries to land a body kick
and Larkin counters by moving into the clinch.
Ahma wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Larkin decides to pull guard.
Ahma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larkin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ahma is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Larkin.
Ahma working away.
Larkin tries to improve position but can't.
Larkin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma prevents Larkin from improving his position.
Ahma trying to control the action but Larkin is working from the bottom.
Larkin wants to improve his position but Ahma is controlling well.
Larkin is positioning himself well to prevent Ahma advancing to mount.
That's four 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.
Larkin tries to roll over but Ahma keeps him under control.
Ahma with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ahma prevents Larkin from improving his position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ahma fails to land with a series of punches.
Larkin throws a shot to the body.
Ahma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ahma misses with an uppercut. Larkin saw that one coming.
Ahma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larkin.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ahma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Larkin circles away quickly and effectively.
A quick step to the side and Larkin tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Larkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahma was well out of range. Poor timing from Larkin.
Ahma connects with the punch.
Larkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Conor Larkin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Ahma fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ahma misses with a hook
and Larkin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ahma thinking.
A swing and a miss from Ahma.
Ahma is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Ahma throws the left hand but Larkin avoids the punch easily.
Ahma throws a body kick that misses.
Ahma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Larkin clinches.
Larkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larkin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ahma looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Larkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verneri Ahma seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A shot to the body from Larkin misses
and Ahma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Larkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Ahma is just out of range.
Larkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ahma manages to avoid it.
Larkin takes one on the button.
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!
Larkin scores with a leg kick.
Larkin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ahma tries to avoid it but Larkin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ahma to the ground. Ahma escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ahma is looking to chop away at Larkin's legs.
A low kick lands for Ahma.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Larkin.
Ahma misses with the combination.
Ahma scores with a hook to the body. Larkin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Larkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahma moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ahma! But no joy.
Larkin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ahma circles away.
Larkin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ahma tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Larkin is in Ahma's guard.
Ahma is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ahma is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Larkin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Conor Larkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin stopping the sweep attempt from Ahma.
Larkin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ahma keeping full guard, as Larkin tries to pass.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin moves out of range as Ahma strikes.
Nice uppercut lands for Ahma. That snapped Larkin's head back.
Larkin digs a good hook to Ahma's body.
Larkin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Larkin misses with a wild body shot.
Larkin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Larkin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ahma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Larkin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ahma has time to react.
Verneri Ahma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larkin thuds a left hand into Ahma's body.
Ahma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Ahma.
Larkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Ahma is just out of range.
Larkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahma was well out of range. Poor timing from Larkin.
Larkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ahma manages to avoid it.
Larkin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Larkin duly obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larkin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Larkin slips under a jab from Ahma.
Larkin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin avoids the body shot from Ahma.
Ahma waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Larkin.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Larkin tries to pull guard but Ahma won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Larkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larkin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ahma just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ahma is trying to break the clinch but Larkin is controlling him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Larkin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that's the end of the fight!
Conor Larkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Larkin, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor Larkin!
Our winner, Conor Larkin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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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
51% |
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