PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derick Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sampson Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Larkin
vs
Williams

180 cm
24
188 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

172 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Derick Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sampson Williams!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Larkin to the mat! Larkin manages to get full guard.
Williams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Larkin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Williams is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Larkin is trying to hold Williams in close to prevent damage but Williams has managed to pass into half guard.
Williams is looking to advance position but Larkin won't allow it.
Larkin tries to get to full guard but Williams has control of the leg.
Williams seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Larkin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Larkin is trying to control but can't.
Larkin is trying to get back to full guard.
Larkin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Williams controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Williams is one step ahead there.
Williams must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Larkin wants to control the position but Williams says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Williams trying to control the action but Larkin is working from the bottom.
Williams thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Larkin's head.
Larkin is trying to control but Williams manages to pass to mount!
Williams dominating with strikes here.
Williams manages to capitalize on a mistake by Larkin to take his back!
Williams is looking to control Larkin but Larkin is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams has the hooks in. Larkin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Larkin is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larkin tries to roll but Williams sticks to his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larkin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Williams is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Larkin can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Williams should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Williams wants to control the pace but Larkin is squirming around nicely.
Williams looks gassed!
Williams wants to control the action but instead Larkin gets a body lock and reverses into Williams's guard! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Williams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Williams is keeping the position for now.
Williams controlling the position.
Larkin looking to pass the guard.
Larkin postures up in Williams's guard and throws a big left but Williams blocks it.
Larkin wants to pass the guard but Williams is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Larkin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Larkin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Williams tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Williams has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams avoids a punch combination nicely.
Williams fails to land the takedown.
Larkin tries to bum rush Williams with a series of wild strikes but Williams uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Larkin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Williams pushes Larkin up against the cage in a clinch.
Larkin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Williams gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Larkin is trying to drag Williams to the mat but Williams just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Larkin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Williams pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derick Larkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Williams breaks from the clinch.

Williams moves into the clinch successfully.

Williams has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Larkin uses from the top position.
Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampson Williams dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Williams shoots for a takedown but Larkin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Williams shoots in for a takedown but Larkin shows good takedown defense.
Derick Larkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A solid leg kick lands there for Larkin.

Williams shoots in and bounces Larkin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Larkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Larkin is on top in guard.
Larkin slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larkin uses his free foot to push down on Williams's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Williams.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams tries to lock up and control but Larkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Larkin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Williams hang on?
Larkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Larkin dominating with strikes here.
Williams is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Williams really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Larkin scoring with strikes but Williams is staying in there.
Williams takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Larkin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Williams hang on?
Larkin 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.
Williams tries to reverse the position but Larkin maintains control.
Larkin with good strikes from the mount here!
Williams wants to hold on but Larkin pushes him away.
Larkin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Williams swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Larkin with good strikes from the mount here!
Larkin with the ground and pound from mount.
Williams working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin wants to control the pace but Williams is squirming around nicely.
Larkin with shots to the head and body - Williams looks very uncomfortable down there.
Williams avoids a series of strikes thrown by Larkin.

Williams defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Larkin.
Williams is trying desperately to improve position.
Williams taking shots to the head.
Williams is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Larkin working Williams over with strikes here.
Larkin scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Williams is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Larkin lands a big elbow.
Williams tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Larkin scoring with strikes but Williams is staying in there.
Williams sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larkin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Larkin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Williams is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derick Larkin dominated that second round.
That's time! Larkin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Williams is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Williams shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Williams was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larkin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Williams pulls Larkin in close to his closed guard and prevents Larkin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Larkin is pushing down on Williams's leg trying to pass to half guard. Williams is fighting to maintain full guard but Larkin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Larkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Williams keeps working.

Williams makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Larkin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Williams swivels and escapes.
An inside leg kick lands from Larkin.
Larkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Williams.
Derick Larkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams walks into a left hand.

Williams has closed the distance and engaged Larkin in a clinch.

Williams has Larkin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Williams pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Larkin tumbling to the mat - Williams dives into Larkin's guard.
Williams is looking to work some ground and pound but Larkin has wrist control.
Williams has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Larkin is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sampson Williams has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larkin striking off his back but it's not causing Williams any problems.
Williams looking to sit in guard and control but Larkin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Williams wants to sweep here but Larkin controlling him for the moment.
Larkin distracts Williams with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larkin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Williams will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to clinch but Larkin moves out of range.
Larkin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Williams doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Larkin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Larkin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Williams moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Williams fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Larkin sprawls well initially but Williams persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Williams tries to stand and escape but Larkin is controlling the position.
Larkin wants to improve his position but Williams is controlling well.
Larkin moves into full guard.
Larkin has a closed guard, preventing Williams from standing up.
Larkin controls Williams momentarily but Williams frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Williams sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Williams wants to control from the top but Larkin keeps moving.
Williams trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Larkin keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Larkin wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sampson Williams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Williams has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sampson Williams!