PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Obrien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Svenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Obrien
vs
Svenson

189 cm
27
195 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

198 cm
22
198 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Obrien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lars Svenson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svenson misses with a straight right.
Svenson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Svenson stuffs the takedown.
Svenson swings and misses with a shot to the body

so Obrien counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Svenson working a defensive guard here.
Obrien trying to control the position from guard on top but Svenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Obrien wants to get up but he can't break Svenson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Svenson trying to control the position.
Svenson keeping moving, preventing Obrien from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Obrien closes the distance and clinches up with Svenson, looking for a takedown. Obrien pushes Svenson against the cage but Svenson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien shoots in and drives through. Svenson sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Obrien. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svenson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Obrien. Obrien circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Svenson throws a hook but Obrien avoids it easily.
Lars Svenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Obrien takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Svenson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Svenson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Obrien.
Svenson lands the left hand.
Nice takedown defense from Svenson. No joy for Obrien on that attempt.
Svenson throws a hook but Obrien blocks it.
Svenson misses with an uppercut.

Oooh a lovely combination from Svenson sends Obrien down but not out. Svenson dives into side control looking to finish.

It looks like Mike Obrien has been cut.
Obrien is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Svenson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Let's hope that Svenson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svenson is looking to take a break and control but Obrien is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Obrien wants to control but Svenson postures up.
Svenson wants to control but Obrien is keeping him busy.
Svenson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Svenson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Obrien keeps working.
Obrien stops Svenson from passing to mount.
Svenson working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenson controlling the position from side mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Svenson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Svenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Obrien closes this distance looking for a takedown but Svenson circles away.
Svenson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A jab from Svenson does it's job there.
Svenson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Obrien was well out of range. Poor timing from Svenson.
Obrien misses with a shot to the body
and Svenson counters with a nice uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Obrien.
Obrien walks into a jab.
Obrien misses with a takedown
and Svenson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Obrien thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svenson lands a nice hook to Obrien's body. Obrien takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Svenson with a hook.
Svenson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Svenson connects with a crisp jab.
Svenson with a nice cross.
Obrien gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Obrien doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Svenson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Obrien. Obrien circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Obrien takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Obrien is rocked!
Svenson misses with the combination.
Svenson connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Svenson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Obrien.
A jab from Svenson misses.
Obrien blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Svenson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Obrien's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Obrien with a poor takedown
letting Svenson counter with a right hand.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Svenson and Obrien goes tumbling to the canvas! Svenson follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svenson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Obrien has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Svenson is working away from the top position though.
Svenson wants to take a breather but Obrien is having none of it.
Obrien blocking the ground and pound attempt from Svenson.
Obrien on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Svenson is controlling the pace.
Obrien is trying to stand back up but Svenson is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svenson is controlling the pace.
Obrien trying to hold on to Svenson's head to control him but Svenson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Svenson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice takedown defense from Svenson. No joy for Obrien on that attempt.
Svenson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Svenson misses with a two punch combination.
Svenson throws a one two combo.
Svenson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Svenson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Svenson cracks Obrien with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Svenson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Svenson lands a high kick to the side of Obrien's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Svenson dives into guard, looking to finish.
Oh Obrien is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Svenson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Obrien wants to sweep here but Svenson controlling him for the moment.
Obrien seems to have got his legs back now.
Obrien is looking to stand up but Svenson isn't so interested in that idea.
Svenson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Svenson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Svenson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Svenson trying to control but Obrien is working from the bottom.
Svenson is working Obrien over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Svenson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Svenson wants to control from the top but Obrien keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Svenson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Svenson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Svenson is trying to control. Obrien wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Svenson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Svenson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Svenson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Svenson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Obrien keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obrien tries to roll over but Svenson keeps him under control.
Svenson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.
Svenson is looking to take a break and control but Obrien is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Svenson stalling.

Lars Svenson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Obrien slips a straight right by Svenson.
A telegraphed right hand from Svenson misses the target.
Svenson lands a nice looking body shot.
Svenson digs a good hook to Obrien's body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obrien's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Svenson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Obrien scrambles back to his feet.
Svenson lands the left hand.
Svenson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Svenson looks to land a right hand but Obrien moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Svenson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Obrien's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Svenson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Obrien tries to clinch but Svenson moves away
and Svenson counters with a right hand to the body.
Svenson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Obrien.
Svenson scores with a decent looking hook.
Svenson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Svenson lands a nice looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Obrien on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A combination from Svenson does no damage.

Svenson drops Obrien with a big left hand and mounts him. Obrien is in big trouble!
Svenson unloads with some shots from mount but Obrien bucks and avoids them well.
Svenson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Svenson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Svenson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Svenson is keen to just control but Obrien is a slippery customer.
Obrien on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Obrien tries to get out of the position.
Svenson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Obrien tries to roll over but Svenson keeps him under control.
Svenson is trying to control the action in half guard but Obrien is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Obrien is looking to control Svenson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Obrien avoid being mounted?

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

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lars Svenson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Obrien takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mike Obrien is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Svenson finds it's way through Obrien's defenses.
Svenson swinging wildly here.
Svenson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Obrien.
Svenson scores with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Svenson!
Svenson digs a good body shot into Obrien's ribs.
Svenson fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice uppercut there from Svenson.
Svenson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Obrien.
Svenson throws a hook but Obrien avoids it easily.
Jab from Svenson.
Svenson looks to throw the jab but Obrien is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenson thuds his right hand into Obrien's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Svenson misses with a low kick as Obrien jumps back.
Horrible takedown by Obrien or perhaps it was just good defense by Svenson which made him look bad.
Obrien takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Obrien looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Obrien misses with a takedown attempt - Svenson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Obrien. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svenson lands with a right hand.
Svenson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Svenson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Obrien backs up against the cage.
Svenson tries to bum rush Obrien with a series of wild strikes but Obrien uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Obrien fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Svenson avoids it really well and circles away.
Svenson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Svenson.
Svenson feints and then cracks Obrien's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Obrien down.
Svenson looks to land a right hand but Obrien moved out of range.
Svenson misses the jab.
Svenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Svenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Obrien manages to avoid it.
Jab by Svenson.
Obrien takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Obrien looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lars Svenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Obrien is looking to advance position but Svenson won't allow it.
Mike Obrien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Svenson manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Svenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Svenson 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Svenson!