PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Donnie Larkin (ranked 984 p4p, 1190 weight class) and Bruce Vanorden (ranked 142 p4p, 178 weight class). Vanorden has chosen Unstoppable as his entrance music. 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.

Larkin
vs
Vanorden

181 cm
40
188
27 - 17 - 0

190 cm
34
214
22 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Donnie Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruce Vanorden!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larkin scores with a spinning back kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Vanorden misses the target.
Larkin looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Jab from Vanorden.
Vanorden is looking to clinch.
Vanorden misses with an uppercut. Larkin saw that one coming.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Larkin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Vanorden has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Vanorden and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Larkin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Larkin thuds a left hand into Vanorden's body.
The fighters circling - Vanorden throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vanorden just misses with a punch to the body.
Vanorden uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Larkin.
A telegraphed right hand from Vanorden misses the target.
As Vanorden backs away, Larkin returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Vanorden throws a shot from downtown. Larkin moves away and avoids it.
Bruce Vanorden 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.
A left lands for Larkin.
Vanorden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd cheers as Larkin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vanorden doesn't seem phased though.
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!
Nice uppercut lands for Vanorden. That snapped Larkin's head back.
Vanorden cracks Larkin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Vanorden fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanorden tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Larkin is able to avoid easily.
Vanorden lands with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanorden. Larkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Larkin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Larkin moves away from the strike by Vanorden.
Vanorden thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vanorden misses with a leg kick
and Larkin counters with a straight right hand.
Vanorden doesn't manage to clinch there - Larkin circles away.
Larkin swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Vanorden moves to clinch but Larkin breaks away
and Larkin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Vanorden tries to clinch but Larkin is having none of it.
Vanorden misses with a straight left.
Larkin feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Larkin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vanorden checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Vanorden lands a jab to the head.
Larkin takes one on the button.
Larkin checks a low kick from Vanorden.
Vanorden displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Larkin throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanorden throws a sloppy body shot
and Larkin counters with a nice uppercut.
Vanorden throws a jab but it's blocked by Larkin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Larkin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Vanorden is out of range.
Larkin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Vanorden is looking to slow Larkin down with leg kicks.
Larkin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A slow jab from Vanorden misses its intended target.
A little feinted left hand from Larkin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
An inside leg kick lands from Vanorden.
Larkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vanorden misses with a body shot
and Larkin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Larkin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Vanorden fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Larkin, pushing him back against the cage.

Larkin breaks from the clinch.
Larkin throws a series of punches but Vanorden moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Vanorden. That snapped Larkin's head back.
Vanorden scores with a hook to the body. Larkin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanorden throws a body shot but no joy.
Vanorden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Vanorden.
Larkin walks into a left hand.
Vanorden checks a low kick from Larkin.
Larkin defending well as Vanorden loads up on a big left hand.
Vanorden throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Larkin swinging wildly here.
Vanorden dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vanorden lands a body shot.
Vanorden lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vanorden jabs Larkin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Larkin throws a good cross that connects.
Vanorden thumps Larkin with a low kick.
Larkin staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Vanorden misses the jab.
Vanorden fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Larkin is out of range.
Vanorden avoids the body shot from Larkin.
A little jabbing left from Vanorden on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vanorden throws a predictable looking body shot
and Larkin counters with an outside leg kick.
Larkin misses with a straight right.
Vanorden scores with a nice head shot.
Vanorden tries to clinch but Larkin is having none of it.
Larkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vanorden.
Larkin needs to keep his hands up - Vanorden had a free shot at his head there.
Larkin throws a body shot but no joy.
Vanorden cracks Larkin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Vanorden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Larkin needs to keep his hands up - Vanorden had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vanorden throws a hook but Larkin avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Larkin misses its target.
Vanorden scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vanorden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Vanorden.
A jab from Vanorden does it's job there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Vanorden.
Larkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vanorden.
A jab lands there for Larkin.
Larkin moves out of range of the strikes.
Larkin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Larkin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Larkin tests Vanorden's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Larkin moves away from the strike by Vanorden.
Larkin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vanorden.
Larkin slips under a jab from Vanorden.
Larkin misses with a straight left.
Larkin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Vanorden misses.
Larkin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vanorden throws out the jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Larkin.
Vanorden connects with a high kick.
Vanorden with a hook.
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 takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin slips a straight right by Vanorden.
Vanorden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Larkin throws a low kick but it's checked well by Vanorden.
Larkin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vanorden scores with a body shot.
Vanorden jabs at Larkin's body.
Vanorden scores with a jab. Larkin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Vanorden dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vanorden delivers a nice body kick.
Vanorden looks to land a left hand but Larkin moved out of range nicely.
Vanorden blocks a low kick nicely.
Vanorden keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Larkin.
Larkin throws a right hand that misses
and Vanorden counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Larkin missing with a left hand there. Vanorden was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Larkin misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Vanorden.
Larkin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vanorden lunges at Larkin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Larkin's hand.
Vanorden throws the left hand but Larkin avoids the punch easily.
Vanorden getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vanorden tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Larkin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A counter left hand to the body from Larkin misses its target.
Bruce Vanorden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vanorden connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vanorden lands a nice leg kick that just misses Larkin's sensitive parts.
Vanorden steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Larkin.
Larkin looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Vanorden.
Vanorden misses the jab.
Larkin scores with a leg kick.
Vanorden scores with a leg kick.
Vanorden throws a sloppy body shot
and Larkin counters with a good low kick that Vanorden was not able to check.
Vanorden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Larkin takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanorden lands a head shot.
Vanorden swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vanorden lets loose with a powerful body kick. Larkin will feel that in the morning.
Vanorden thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vanorden tries to land a leg kick but Larkin saw it coming and moves away.
Vanorden throws an overhand right that lands on Larkin's shoulder, as Larkin tries to avoid the shot.
A little feinted left hand from Larkin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Larkin misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big right from Vanorden misses.
A leg kick checked by Larkin.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Vanorden.
Vanorden tries to land a front kick but Larkin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A head kick misses from Larkin.
Vanorden just misses with a punch to the body.
Vanorden slips under a jab.
Vanorden lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanorden moves out of range as Larkin throws a body kick.
Vanorden misses the jab.
Some wild striking there from Larkin.
Larkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vanorden misses with a low kick.
Vanorden connects with a solid leg kick.
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!
A big right from Vanorden misses.
Larkin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vanorden misses with a wild body shot.
Larkin throws a big shot that misses.
Vanorden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Larkin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Vanorden pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Vanorden misses the target.
Larkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vanorden.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Vanorden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Larkin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vanorden clobbers Larkin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jab by Vanorden.
Larkin throws a leg kick but Vanorden sees it coming and moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vanorden! But no joy.
Larkin throws a shot from downtown. Vanorden moves away and avoids it.
Vanorden throws a quick inside leg kick.
Larkin looks to land a combination. Vanorden sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Larkin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Vanorden is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Larkin blocks the body kick.
Larkin looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Vanorden tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice shot by Vanorden.
Vanorden is looking to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vanorden throws a push kick but Larkin slaps the foot to one side.
Vanorden just misses with a punch to the body.
Vanorden checks a low kick from Larkin.
Larkin misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Vanorden thuds his right hand into Larkin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vanorden checks a low kick from Larkin.
Vanorden flicks out a counter leg kick but Larkin steps away.
Vanorden throws a hook but Larkin avoids it easily.
Vanorden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vanorden throws a body kick that misses.
Vanorden lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vanorden staying out of range there.
Vanorden lands a body shot.
Larkin looks to land a left hand but Vanorden moved out of range nicely.
Vanorden is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Larkin with a body shot.
Vanorden with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanorden. Larkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vanorden misses with a body shot.
Vanorden throws a body shot but no joy.
Vanorden throws the left hand but Larkin avoids the punch easily.
Vanorden fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Larkin checks it well.
Bruce Vanorden is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanorden just misses with a punch to the body.
Larkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vanorden throws a nice outside leg kick.
Larkin throws a chopping leg kick but Vanorden manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vanorden fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanorden fails in his attempt to clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Vanorden there.
Vanorden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Vanorden.
Larkin fires out a quick counter leg kick but Vanorden just manages to avoid it.
Larkin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Vanorden throws the left hand but Larkin avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Larkin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vanorden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larkin manages to avoid it.
Larkin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vanorden.
Vanorden misses with a looping left.
Larkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vanorden.
Larkin throws a quick counter kick to the body but Vanorden avoids it.
Larkin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vanorden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanorden is looking to clinch.
Vanorden throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Larkin misses the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vanorden! But no joy.
Vanorden misses with a body shot.
Larkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vanorden.
Vanorden blocks a jab.
Vanorden's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Vanorden.
Larkin throwing a counter right hand but Vanorden manages to avoid it.
Larkin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Donnie Larkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larkin lands with a straight right. Vanorden didn't see that one coming.
Vanorden comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vanorden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Larkin is looking to counter with head kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vanorden.
Vanorden throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Larkin counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanorden. Larkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vanorden swings widly with a right hand
and Larkin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vanorden throws a lazy uppercut
and Larkin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larkin tried to score with a low kick but Vanorden checks it.
Vanorden throws an off balance right hand
and Larkin counters with a nice uppercut.
Larkin throws a solid leg kick but Vanorden takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Larkin.
Vanorden throws a nice outside leg kick.
A lazy left from Vanorden finds it's target.
Vanorden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vanorden blocks a jab.
A head kick from Larkin lands but Vanorden takes it in his stride.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanorden. Larkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vanorden uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Larkin.
Vanorden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larkin moves away.
Larkin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vanorden jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Larkin misses with a wild body shot.
Vanorden scores with a nice body kick.
Larkin stalks Vanorden and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Vanorden's face. Vanorden staggers backwards, shaken.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Vanorden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vanorden 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Vanorden!
Our winner, Bruce Vanorden, 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.