PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elliot Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larkin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I'm Shipping Up To Boston. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Larkin
vs
Saunders

181 cm
34
212 lbs
35 - 16 - 0

182 cm
35
205 lbs
29 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Diamond Nutrition 160q
Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)

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 35 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elliot Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saunders.
Saunders misses with a hook. Larkin ducked under it nicely.
Saunders on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Larkin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Larkin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Larkin wants it to stay on the feet.
Ryan Larkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elliot Saunders.
Larkin defending well as Saunders loads up on a big left hand.
Larkin misses with a head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Larkin.
Saunders throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Larkin takes one on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Larkin, right into the meat.
Larkin misses with a head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Larkin.
Saunders throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Larkin on the side of the head.
Saunders throws a hook but Larkin avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders throws a poor cross that misses
and Larkin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Larkin scores with a head kick.
Elliot Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larkin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saunders lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larkin scores with a head kick. Saunders tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Larkin tries to score with a low kick but Saunders moves his leg out of the way.
Saunders checks a leg kick.
Saunders just misses with a punch to the body.
Larkin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Larkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Larkin fails to land with a series of punches.
Larkin fakes the leg kick and cracks Saunders in the body.
Saunders takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Larkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saunders.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saunders.
Larkin connects with a high kick.

That has opened up Elliot Saunders's cut even more.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saunders throws out the jab.
Saunders will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saunders is trying desperately to land a takedown but Larkin is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Saunders.

Saunders decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Larkin wants to get back to his feet.
Saunders prevents Larkin from improving his position.
Saunders misses with a head shot. Larkin uses the momentum to regain guard.
Larkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saunders is controlling him.
Saunders throws a big elbow that misses.
Saunders with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin wants to stand up but Saunders is controlling him.
Larkin is controlling Saunders's posture.
Saunders loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Larkin holds on and takes a little breather.
Larkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Larkin, not yet.
Saunders prevents Larkin from getting back to his feet.
Larkin keeping moving, preventing Saunders from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ryan Larkin.
Saunders will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Saunders darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Saunders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders not doing much here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saunders missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Larkin looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Saunders is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Larkin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Saunders.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larkin wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Larkin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elliot Saunders's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saunders.
Saunders closes the distance and clinches up with Larkin, looking for a takedown. Saunders pushes Larkin against the cage but Larkin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Larkin lands with a kick to the ribs.
Saunders shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Larkin pinned against the cage. Larkin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan Larkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elliot Saunders.
Larkin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saunders.
Saunders scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Larkin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Larkin bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Larkin throws a sloppy head kick and Saunders moves out of range easily.
Larkin moves away from the strike by Saunders.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Saunders.
Saunders blocks the body kick.
Saunders shoots and misses
and Larkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saunders shoots in for a takedown but Larkin shows good takedown defense.
Saunders is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin scores with a kick to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Larkin.
Larkin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Larkin lands a nice looking body kick.
Larkin pushes Saunders away with a front kick.
Larkin lands with a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larkin scores with a kick to the body.
Larkin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Saunders.
Decent striking displayed by Larkin there.
Larkin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Larkin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Saunders if he has to take too many more of those.
Larkin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Larkin.
Larkin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Saunders doesn't seem bothered though.
Saunders might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Saunders chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Larkin can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larkin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saunders looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Larkin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Saunders backs up against the cage.
A combination from Saunders does no damage.
Larkin fakes the leg kick and cracks Saunders in the body.
Saunders has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Larkin.
A head kick from Larkin lands but Saunders takes it in his stride.
Saunders on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Larkin. Larkin obviously looking to wear him down.
Saunders's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Saunders takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ryan Larkin is winning the standup battle so far.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Larkin.
Saunders takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A nice inside leg kick there by Larkin. That's going to slow Saunders down.
Larkin throws a head kick but Saunders moves out of range.
Larkin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saunders is defended easily by Larkin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larkin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Larkin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saunders can do to turn this around?
Larkin lands with a left to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Larkin.
Larkin swings wildly with an uppercut but Saunders uses good head movement to avoid it.
Larkin lands a body punch.
Larkin lands with a left to the head.
Larkin can't find room to land a body shot as Saunders controls the action.
Saunders tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Larkin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Larkin lands with a left to the head.
Saunders tries to break free but Larkin pushes him back against the cage.
Larkin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Larkin pushes Saunders back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larkin lands a nice shot to the body.
Larkin lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin lands a nice uppercut.
Larkin lands a shoulder strike.

The cut above Elliot Saunders's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A body shot lands from Larkin.
A body shot lands from Larkin.
Larkin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Larkin.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saunders.
Ryan Larkin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Larkin on the inside.

Larkin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Larkin misses with a body kick.
Larkin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Saunders tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Larkin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Larkin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Larkin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Saunders. That did some damage!
Larkin tries a head kick but it misses.
Saunders shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Larkin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Elliot Saunders's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Larkin clobbers Saunders with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Saunders moves out of range as Larkin throws a body kick.
Saunders takes a swing at Larkin's ribcage but misses.
Larkin looks for the body kick but Saunders saw that one coming.
Saunders misses with a wild body shot.
Larkin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larkin throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Larkin tries to clinch but Saunders moves out of range.
Saunders misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saunders throws a looping overhand right but Larkin ducks down to avoid it.
Larkin digs a good body shot into Saunders's ribs.
Larkin scores with a spinning back kick!
Saunders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saunders misses with an uppercut. Larkin saw that one coming.
Larkin scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Larkin throws a leg kick which misses Saunders's front leg but catches the back leg as Saunders tries to avoid it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Larkin, right into the meat.
Larkin lands a body shot.
Saunders misses with a straight right.
Saunders has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Larkin.
Saunders takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Larkin misses with a few strikes there.
Saunders throws a jab when Larkin was well out of range.
Saunders stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Larkin.
Larkin lands with a kick to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Larkin throws a head kick that half lands.
Larkin misses with a wild body shot.

Larkin darts in and clinches Saunders up against the cage.
Saunders wants to break the clinch but can't.
Elliot Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders has a couple of punches blocked by Larkin.
Larkin misses with some punches.
Larkin gets through Saunders's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Larkin has him pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Larkin.

Saunders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saunders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Larkin tries to avoid it but Saunders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Larkin to the ground. Larkin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Larkin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Larkin throws a head kick but Saunders moves out of range.
Saunders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Larkin tries to avoid it but Saunders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Larkin to the ground. Larkin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ryan Larkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elliot Saunders.
Larkin throws a nice inside leg kick.
Saunders misses the shot to the body.
Saunders stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Larkin.
Saunders on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Elliot Saunders's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Larkin looks to land a body kick but Saunders moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saunders darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Larkin has his hands clasped together around Saunders's back. He's all about the action.
Larkin is looking to escape.

Larkin is defending against the submission attempts here by Saunders.
Saunders tries to pass to full mount but Larkin defends it.
Larkin is looking to control Saunders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Larkin avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saunders.
Larkin pushes Saunders off looking to stand but Saunders dives back in and keeps control.
Saunders sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Larkin defending well though.
Larkin is trying to stand.
Saunders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Saunders has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Larkin defend it? Saunders steps over the head and cranks it - Larkin is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Saunders!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Elliot Saunders!
A very excited looking Elliot Saunders made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.