PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Larry LeFell (ranked 1977 p4p, 2078 weight class) and Brennan Calhoun (ranked 241 p4p, 253 weight class). Larry LeFell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

LeFell
vs
Calhoun

186 cm
26
190
5 - 3 - 0

171 cm
20
190
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Larry LeFell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brennan Calhoun!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calhoun darts in looking for a takedown but LeFell gets double underhooks and turns Calhoun into the cage.

LeFell shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Calhoun's guard.

LeFell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
LeFell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
LeFell is pushing down on Calhoun's leg trying to pass to half guard. Calhoun is fighting to maintain full guard but LeFell has managed to sneak the leg through.
Calhoun keeping hold of LeFell's head, controlling as best he can.
LeFell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Calhoun knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calhoun is looking for a sweep. LeFell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

LeFell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
LeFell definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
LeFell trying to control from half guard but Calhoun is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

LeFell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Calhoun moves into full guard.
Calhoun trying to keep a closed guard but LeFell is proving a slippery customer.
LeFell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Calhoun keeping moving, preventing LeFell from controlling successfully.
LeFell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
LeFell preventing the sweep.
LeFell wants to control from the top but Calhoun keeps moving.
Calhoun seems keen to control LeFell's posture.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
LeFell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
LeFell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
LeFell is pushing down on Calhoun's leg trying to pass to half guard. Calhoun is fighting to maintain full guard but LeFell has managed to sneak the leg through.
LeFell stalling away here and it's allowed Calhoun to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

LeFell drops back looking for a leg! Calhoun is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Calhoun manages to kick LeFell off! LeFell jumps back into Calhoun's guard.
LeFell looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun working a defensive guard here.
LeFell looking to sit in guard and control but Calhoun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Calhoun with a flurry of punches that miss.
LeFell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Calhoun connects with a couple of short punches.
Calhoun is looking to work some ground and pound but LeFell has wrist control.
LeFell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Calhoun trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
LeFell has momentary wrist control but Calhoun slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun controls from within his opponent's guard.
LeFell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Calhoun.
LeFell keeping moving, preventing Calhoun from controlling successfully.
LeFell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Calhoun.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Calhoun postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Calhoun stopping the sweep attempt from LeFell.
We've been informed that Calhoun has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calhoun distracts LeFell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Larry LeFell will probably get the nod.
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.

LeFell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Calhoun.
Calhoun stuffs the takedown attempt from LeFell. LeFell gets slowly back to his feet.

Calhoun darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
LeFell pushes Calhoun off but Calhoun dives into side control.
Calhoun wants to lay and pray for a moment but LeFell keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LeFell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Calhoun.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calhoun creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Calhoun sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but LeFell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Calhoun scoring with punches from side control.
Calhoun landing a few strikes.
Check out the look on Calhoun's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Calhoun lands a few punches from side control.
Calhoun scores with punches from side control.
Calhoun trying to control the action but LeFell is working from the bottom.
Calhoun has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
An elbow from Calhoun crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun trying to control the position but LeFell is working away.
Calhoun has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Calhoun scoring with punches from side control.
Calhoun misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
LeFell prevents Calhoun from moving into mount.
Calhoun scores with punches from side control.
Calhoun cracks LeFell with a big elbow.
Calhoun working the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Calhoun working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but LeFell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Calhoun landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Calhoun staying calm.
Calhoun tries to score with some ground and pound. LeFell controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Calhoun trying to control the action but LeFell is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Calhoun misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Calhoun tries to move to mount but LeFell blocks the move with his legs.
Calhoun lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
LeFell can't do much from the bottom here.
LeFell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brennan Calhoun showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Calhoun throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. LeFell was covering up waiting for the punch and Calhoun finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Brennan Calhoun has got the better of the ground game so far.
Calhoun distracts LeFell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

LeFell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Calhoun accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LeFell trying to keep a closed guard but Calhoun is proving a slippery customer.
Calhoun stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. LeFell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Calhoun is in close to LeFell's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calhoun trying to control but LeFell is working from the bottom.
LeFell can't keep his opponent in guard - Calhoun advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Calhoun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Calhoun there.
Calhoun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Calhoun looks to land a strike but LeFell avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Calhoun is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

LeFell working for a triangle but Calhoun defends it easily.
Calhoun working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
LeFell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Calhoun.
Calhoun sitting in guard here, content to control.
Calhoun pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. LeFell is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeFell dives in and grabs Calhoun's left leg, looking for a takedown. Calhoun pushes down on LeFell's head and hops out.
LeFell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Calhoun defends well and LeFell ends up having to push Calhoun into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
LeFell goes for a takedown attempt but Calhoun pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry LeFell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Calhoun. No joy for LeFell on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calhoun misses with an uppercut. LeFell saw that one coming.
LeFell attempts a counter takedown but Calhoun avoids it well and moves away.
LeFell with a lazy takedown attempt

and Calhoun counters with a takedown into side control.
LeFell taking punishment in the form of punches.
LeFell takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
LeFell is working to avoid the ground and pound but Calhoun connects with a decent elbow.
Calhoun working the ground and pound.
An elbow from Calhoun crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused LeFell some visible discomfort.

LeFell is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calhoun tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Oh LeFell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Calhoun lands an elbow.
LeFell takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Calhoun landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Calhoun looking to punish the body of his opponent here but LeFell is avoiding damage well.
Calhoun lands a few punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brennan Calhoun comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Calhoun 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brennan Calhoun!