PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Carlos (ranked 991 p4p, 1174 weight class) and Donnie Larkin (ranked 143 p4p, 170 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Carlos
vs
Larkin

175 cm
28
165
17 - 9 - 0

181 cm
40
188
26 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Shadow Realm Apparel

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juan Carlos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Donnie Larkin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Carlos slams his shin into Larkin's torso.
Larkin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Carlos.
Carlos seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Carlos misses with a straight right.
Larkin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Larkin has his takedown stuffed
and Carlos counters with a right hand to the body.
Larkin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Larkin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carlos defends it nicely.
It looked like Carlos was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Larkin clinches with his opponent.
Carlos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Larkin's elbow.
Larkin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Carlos backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlos looking to stall.
Larkin swings wildly with an uppercut but Carlos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carlos misses with a hook from the clinch.
Carlos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Carlos blocking some punches.

Carlos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Larkin throws a head kick that misses
and Carlos counters with a one-two to the body.
Carlos throws a leg kick but Larkin moved away.
Larkin throws an off balance right hand
and Carlos counters with a straight right hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Larkin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carlos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Carlos is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlos sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Carlos is trying to get back to full guard.

Larkin is working for a submission of some sort.
Carlos trying to control from the bottom.
Larkin working over Carlos with some ground and pound. Carlos looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Larkin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Larkin trying to mount his opponent but Carlos defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Larkin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Larkin's back!
Larkin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Carlos trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Carlos has the hooks in. Larkin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Carlos loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Larkin hold on?
Larkin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Carlos is keen to just control but Larkin is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Carlos controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carlos trying to control the action but Larkin is working from the bottom.

Carlos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Larkin defends it well.

Larkin looking for submissions off his back.
Carlos working over Larkin with some ground and pound. Larkin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Larkin is not content to let Carlos control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Carlos dominated that round.
That's time! Carlos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Larkin shoots in but Carlos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Larkin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carlos but Carlos pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Carlos shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Larkin's guard.
Carlos wants to control from the top but Larkin keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carlos preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlos works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Carlos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Larkin looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Carlos pushes past his half guard into mount!
Carlos scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlos looking to control but Larkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Larkin is trying desperately to improve position.
Carlos tries to control but Larkin wriggling away.
Carlos is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Larkin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Carlos is really struggling to control Larkin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Larkin is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlos lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Larkin hang on?
Larkin is squirming around, avoiding Carlos's attempts to control the action.
Larkin is working to get back to half guard.
Larkin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carlos is on top in guard.

Carlos got a little sloppy there for a moment and Larkin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Carlos has managed to get both his arms back between Larkin's legs - danger averted.
Carlos preventing the sweep.
Carlos trying to control the position from guard on top but Larkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Juan Carlos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larkin is looking for a triangle but Carlos pushes his legs off easily.
Carlos working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Larkin's head.
Carlos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Carlos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Larkin keeping moving, preventing Carlos from controlling successfully.
Larkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Larkin, not yet.
Carlos makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Carlos trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlos trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.
Carlos working some strikes from top position.
Larkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Larkin keeping moving, preventing Carlos from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Larkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Carlos defends well.
Carlos trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Carlos dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Larkin walks into a left hand.
Larkin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carlos swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Donnie Larkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carlos on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Carlos leaves Larkin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Carlos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larkin fails with a takedown attempt.
Carlos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Carlos counters with a nice uppercut.
Juan Carlos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Larkin.
A low kick from Larkin is predictable there
and Carlos counters with a left and a right that stings Larkin.
Larkin has his takedown stuffed
letting Carlos counter with a right hand.
Juan Carlos is winning the standup battle so far.
Carlos throws a push kick but Larkin slaps the foot to one side.
Larkin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Carlos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Larkin can do to turn this around?
Larkin misses with a takedown
and Carlos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
It looks like Carlos has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Carlos throws a hook but Larkin blocks it.
Carlos turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Carlos.
Larkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carlos lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Larkin moves out of range as Carlos throws a body kick.
Carlos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Larkin finds it's way round the side to connect with Carlos's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larkin with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Carlos to score with a decent uppercut.
Larkin goes for a double leg but Carlos avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Carlos continues to drive forward.
Larkin fails with the takedown
and Carlos counters with a leg kick.
Carlos uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Larkin has time to react.
Larkin with a poor takedown
and Carlos counters with a nice uppercut.
Carlos throws an overhand right that lands on Larkin's shoulder, as Larkin tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Carlos counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Larkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sloppy strikes from Carlos. Those never looked like landing.
Carlos throws a big shot that misses.
Carlos blocks a head kick by Larkin.
As Larkin looks to move away, Carlos throws a big counter combo but Larkin just gets out of the way.
Donnie Larkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carlos throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Larkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Carlos moves away.
Carlos misses with a wild body shot.
Larkin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carlos but Carlos pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin throws a head kick that misses.
As Larkin looks to move away, Carlos throws a big counter combo but Larkin just gets out of the way.
Larkin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Carlos counters with a head kick. That will keep Larkin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Carlos lands with a nice body kick.
Carlos scores with a spinning back kick!
Larkin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carlos thuds his right hand into Larkin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Carlos misses with a hook to the body
and Larkin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Larkin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Carlos checks it well.
Juan Carlos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carlos, as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Carlos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Carlos, 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Carlos!
After winning the bout, Juan Carlos thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.