PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Capt Larsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucio Spartalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larsen comes to the cage accompanied by Gravediggaz - Diary of a madman. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larsen
vs
Spartalainen

197 cm
24
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

186 cm
24
212 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Capt Larsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucio Spartalainen!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsen misses with a wild combination.
Larsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spartalainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Spartalainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spartalainen shoots in for a double leg but Larsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Larsen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Spartalainen shoots in and bounces Larsen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Larsen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larsen keeping moving, preventing Spartalainen from controlling successfully.
Larsen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Spartalainen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spartalainen won't allow Larsen to sweep him here.
Larsen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Larsen keeping full guard, as Spartalainen tries to pass.
Larsen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spartalainen on the ground.

Spartalainen 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larsen tries to close the distance and clinch but Spartalainen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Spartalainen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Spartalainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larsen keeps working.
Larsen is pushing Spartalainen's head away, looking to escape. Spartalainen manages to hold on to the position though.
Larsen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Spartalainen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Spartalainen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Larsen trying to hold on to Spartalainen's head to control him but Spartalainen postures up.
Larsen is refusing to be controlled, as Spartalainen sits in half guard.
Larsen is trying to get back to full guard.
Spartalainen is trying to control. Larsen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spartalainen works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartalainen content just to control the position here.

Spartalainen is working for a guillotine from mount but Larsen frees his head quite easily.
Spartalainen tries to control but Larsen wriggling away.
Larsen is desperately trying to improve his position but Spartalainen has a good base and remains in mount.
Spartalainen tries to control but Larsen wriggling away.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larsen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Spartalainen.
Larsen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Larsen is trying to escape the mount.
Spartalainen misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartalainen tries to control but Larsen wriggling away.
Larsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Spartalainen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Spartalainen prevents Larsen from getting the reversal.

Spartalainen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Larsen is looking to improve his position but Spartalainen isn't that keen on the idea.
Larsen wants to control but Spartalainen is having none of it.
Larsen is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Spartalainen content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Spartalainen working for a guillotine from mount but Larsen is in no mood to give up.
Spartalainen throws some wild stikes that Larsen manages to avoid easily.
Spartalainen controlling the position easily from mount.
Spartalainen looking to control but Larsen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Larsen tries to hold on but Spartalainen postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spartalainen unloads with some shots from mount but Larsen bucks and avoids them well.
Spartalainen controlling from mount.
Larsen is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucio Spartalainen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Larsen is looking to clinch but Spartalainen is avoiding it.

Spartalainen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Larsen's half guard.
Spartalainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Spartalainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Larsen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spartalainen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Larsen reverses the position - he's now on top in Spartalainen's guard.
Larsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Spartalainen looking to control.
Larsen is looking to stand up but Spartalainen won't let him.
Larsen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spartalainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Larsen tries to stand but Spartalainen is controlling from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Larsen tries to close the distance and clinch but Spartalainen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Spartalainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartalainen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Larsen to score with a decent uppercut.
Larsen wants to clinch.
Spartalainen closes the distance and clinches up with Larsen, looking for a takedown. Spartalainen pushes Larsen against the cage but Larsen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Larsen is looking to clinch.

Larsen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spartalainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Larsen tries a knee to the head but Spartalainen blocks it.
Larsen tries to land a knee to the head but Spartalainen blocks with his arms.

Spartalainen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Larsen tries to improve position but can't.

Spartalainen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Larsen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Spartalainen is breathing heavily.

Spartalainen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Larsen tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartalainen trying to control the action but Larsen is working from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Larsen tries to bench press Spartalainen off him but Spartalainen keeps the position.
Spartalainen trying to control the action but Larsen is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larsen looks to land a combination but Spartalainen avoids it well.
Larsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spartalainen.

Larsen drives through and clinches with Spartalainen against the cage.

Larsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Larsen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Spartalainen tries to pull guard but Larsen holds him up against the cage and eventually Spartalainen drops back down to his feet.
Capt Larsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Spartalainen.
Larsen scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Larsen throws an elbow but misses.
Larsen lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Larsen looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Larsen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Larsen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spartalainen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spartalainen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Larsen as he jumps to the side.
Larsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Capt Larsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larsen is looking to clinch but Spartalainen is avoiding it.
Some wild striking there from Larsen.

Larsen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Spartalainen blocks the elbow strike.
Larsen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Larsen landing knees to the head.
Larsen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Spartalainen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Larsen tries a knee to the head but Spartalainen blocks it.
Larsen is trying to break the clinch but Spartalainen is controlling him.
Larsen with a knee to the head.

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.
Spartalainen fails to pull guard.
Spartalainen blocks an elbow strike from Larsen.
Spartalainen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Larsen prevents it.
Spartalainen jumps guard but Larsen stands there with Spartalainen around his waist. Spartalainen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Larsen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spartalainen has him pressed against the cage.

Larsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Capt Larsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spartalainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Larsen.
Larsen tries to clinch up.

Spartalainen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Larsen to the mat! Larsen manages to get full guard.
Spartalainen content to stall in guard here.
Spartalainen is pushing down on Larsen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Larsen is fighting to maintain full guard but Spartalainen has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Capt Larsen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Larsen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Larsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Larsen throws a jab when Spartalainen was well out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Larsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Larsen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Spartalainen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Spartalainen wants to control from the top but Larsen keeps moving.
Spartalainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Larsen is retaining full guard.
Spartalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Larsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spartalainen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Spartalainen preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartalainen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Spartalainen won't allow Larsen to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Larsen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Spartalainen misses with a takedown attempt - Larsen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Spartalainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spartalainen dodges the punch combination from Larsen.
Larsen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Spartalainen shoots in but Larsen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Capt Larsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Spartalainen shoots for a takedown but Larsen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Capt Larsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Spartalainen.
Larsen tries to clinch but Spartalainen is having none of it.
Larsen misses with a jab, cross combination.

Spartalainen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Larsen's half guard.
Larsen is controlling Spartalainen's trapped leg to prevent Spartalainen from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen is trying to control but can't.

Spartalainen seems to be working for a kimura but Larsen defends the submission attempt.
Spartalainen is keen to just control but Larsen is a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Larsen is looking to escape.
Spartalainen is thwarting Larsen's attempts to control the position.
Larsen is staying active underneath Spartalainen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Larsen regains full guard. Nicely done.

Spartalainen has gone for a leg lock! Larsen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Spartalainen's guard.
Larsen postures up.

Larsen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen tries to clinch but Spartalainen moves out of range.

Larsen instigates a clinch.
Larsen lands with a light punch inside.
Larsen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Larsen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Larsen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Larsen lands an elbow that stopped Spartalainen in his tracks for a moment.
Larsen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Larsen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Larsen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Larsen.
Larsen looking to throw knees to the head but Spartalainen is blocking nicely.
Spartalainen jumps guard but Larsen stands there with Spartalainen around his waist. Spartalainen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Spartalainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Larsen misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Larsen is trying to break the clinch but Spartalainen is controlling him.
Spartalainen tries to pull guard but Larsen holds him up against the cage and eventually Spartalainen drops back down to his feet.
Spartalainen managing to block the knees to the body from Larsen.
Larsen misses with a knee to the head.
Spartalainen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Larsen walks away with a smile on his face. Spartalainen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Spartalainen gets a takedown into half guard.
Spartalainen wants to take a breather but Larsen is having none of it.
Spartalainen controlling the action here.
Larsen tries to roll over but Spartalainen keeps him under control.
Larsen is staying active underneath Spartalainen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Capt Larsen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Larsen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!