PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Johnson
vs
Larkin

183 cm
19
224 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
212 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kevin Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shawn Larkin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Larkin.
Larkin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Larkin pinned against the cage. Larkin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Larkin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Larkin circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Larkin fails with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson passes Larkin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson with the ground and pound but Larkin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Larkin blocks nicely.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson throws a strike but Larkin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Larkin can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson throwing shots but Larkin is blocking nicely.
Larkin is doing well to control the position and prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Larkin's head.
Larkin is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Larkin looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Larkin defends it.
Johnson misses with a head shot. Larkin uses the momentum to regain guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Larkin takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Larkin has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Larkin blocks nicely.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Larkin has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Larkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Larkin has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Larkin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Larkin wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Larkin takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Larkin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Larkin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Larkin.
Johnson digs a good body shot into Larkin's ribs.
A big right from Johnson misses.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Larkin circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Larkin is breathing heavily.
Johnson distracts Larkin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
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.
Larkin has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Johnson throws a strike but Larkin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pulls Larkin in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Larkin postures up.
Larkin trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Larkin controlling him for the moment.
Johnson is trying to keep Larkin in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Larkin tries to pass.
Larkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Larkin throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Larkin misses with a hook to the body
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson misses with a jab to the body
and Larkin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Larkin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Larkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a hook.
Larkin misses the body punch
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Larkin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Larkin avoids it well.
Johnson throws a hook but Larkin blocks it.
Larkin fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kevin Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Larkin.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larkin manages to avoid it.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Larkin manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Larkin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Larkin's attempts to control the action.
Larkin wants to control the action but instead Johnson gets a body lock and reverses into Larkin's guard! Nice work!
Larkin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Larkin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larkin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.
Larkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Larkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Larkin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Larkin prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Kevin Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Larkin.
Kevin Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Larkin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Johnson passes to side control.
Johnson slows the pace down.
Johnson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Johnson is taking a breather. Larkin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Larkin wants to get back to full guard.
Larkin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Larkin.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Larkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shawn Larkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Larkin keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shawn Larkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Johnson!