PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Cunha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashbin Larden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cunha
vs
Larden

180 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pedro Cunha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ashbin Larden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunha dives in and grabs Larden's left leg, looking for a takedown. Larden pushes down on Cunha's head and hops out.
Larden fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cunha avoids the head kick by Larden.
Larden stuffs the takedown.

Larden closes the distance and clinches.
Cunha is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Cunha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunha drops down looking for an ankle pick but Larden pulls his leg out and moves away.
Larden shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cunha but Cunha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larden tries to clinch there but Cunha circles away.
Cunha fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cunha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larden closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cunha circles away.

Cunha shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cunha showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cunha missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Larden trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cunha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Larden sees it coming and defends easily.
Cunha is breathing heavily.

Larden kicks Cunha off and gets back to his feet.
Larden finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Larden is looking to clinch but Cunha is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cunha tries to clinch but Larden moves out of range.
Cunha slaps away a takedown attempt from Larden, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cunha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Larden swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cunha shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cunha was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larden wants to get back to his feet but Cunha drags him back down.
Larden manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Larden wants to pass the guard but Cunha is defending well.
Cunha tries to roll over but Larden keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larden tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cunha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cunha manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Larden must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cunha keeping moving, preventing Larden from controlling successfully.
Cunha is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunha being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Ashbin Larden has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Larden closes the distance and pushes Cunha back into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Larden's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larden gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cunha.
Cunha being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ashbin Larden will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cunha blocks a head kick by Larden.
Larden looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pedro Cunha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cunha shoots in but no luck this time.
Larden swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cunha looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larden 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.
Cunha wants to control from the top but Larden keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larden working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cunha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cunha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cunha drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cunha jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cunha preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cunha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cunha looking to pass the guard.
Larden looking for a sweep. Not yet Larden, not yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Larden holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larden wants to sweep but no luck.
Pedro Cunha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cunha trying to control but Larden is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Larden shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cunha defends it nicely.

Cunha fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Larden sprawls well initially but Cunha persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cunha trying to pass the guard but Larden defending well.

Cunha is trying to work for a kimura but Larden is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larden trying to control here.
Larden preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Larden is trying to stand.
Cunha trying to control the action but Larden is working from the bottom.

Larden is defending against the submission attempts here by Cunha.
Larden is trying to maintain the position but Cunha is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cunha trying to pass the guard but Larden defending well.

Cunha seems to be looking for submissions.
Larden has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cunha is working away from the top position though.

Cunha seems to be working for a kimura but Larden defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Cunha dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Cunha. No joy for Larden on that attempt.
Cunha moves out of range of the body kick from Larden.
Larden fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck for Cunha with that takedown attempt.
Larden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Larden wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cunha shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Larden as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Cunha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Larden.
Larden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cunha avoids it really well and circles away.

Cunha manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Larden on his heels. He'll look to pass Larden's guard now, I'm sure.
Cunha is pushing down on Larden's leg trying to pass to half guard. Larden is fighting to maintain full guard but Cunha has managed to sneak the leg through.

Cunha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Larden sees it coming and defends easily.
Larden gets back to full guard.
Cunha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larden bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cunha's guard.
Larden is looking to work some ground and pound but Cunha has wrist control.
Cunha is looking to sweep but instead, Larden has passed into half guard.
Larden is controlling the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larden frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larden looking to control but Cunha is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Larden throwing strikes here but Cunha is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Larden misses with a head shot.
Larden controlling from mount.
Cunha working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larden throwing strikes here but Cunha is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Larden stands up from mount. Strange move.
Larden closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cunha circles away.

Larden closes the distance and pushes Cunha back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Larden drags the fight down to the ground.

Cunha drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Larden dives on top into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashbin Larden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Larden 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 Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashbin Larden!