PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Adam Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kane
vs
Larson

175 cm
21
135 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

169 cm
22
133 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Kane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dean Larson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kane misses with the combination.

Kane moves into the clinch successfully.

Larson drags the fight down to the ground.
Kane tries to free his leg and advance position but Larson is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kane trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kane won't allow Larson to sweep him here.
Larson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Larson is trying to work for a kimura but Kane is defending well.
Larson is pressing down on Kane's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kane is holding on for now.

Larson is trying to work for a kimura but Kane is defending well.

Larson is trying to work for a kimura but Kane is defending well.
Kane is looking for a sweep. Larson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson wants to free his trapped foot but Kane is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Larson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larson shoots for a double leg takedown but Kane sprawls well. He's pushed Larson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Larson tries for a takedown but Kane sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Larson looks gassed!
Larson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Adam Kane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Larson.
Larson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Larson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane misses with a body kick.
Kane throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kane lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kane throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kane with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Kane has closed the distance and engaged Larson in a clinch.
Kane is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Larson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Kane successfully pulls guard.
Larson wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.

Kane has his foot on Larson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Larson works his way back into a safe position though.
Larson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.
Kane trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kane wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane is working hard here to advance position.
Kane throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Larson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kane has his takedown stuffed

and Larson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Larson.
Kane working a defensive guard here.
Kane wants to stand up but Larson is controlling him.
Kane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larson is one step ahead there.
Larson advances to half guard.
Larson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kane is trying to maintain the position but Larson is very close to passing his half guard.
Larson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Larson tries to control but Kane wriggling away.
Larson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kane can't escape the position.
Larson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Larson dominating with strikes here.

Larson looking for a guillotine from mount but Kane is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Larson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kane scores with a crisp jab that stopped Larson in his tracks.

Larson 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.
Larson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kane is looking to improve his position.
Kane is trying to control but Larson passes into side control!
Larson trying to control the action but Kane is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Larson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kane tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Larson presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Larson cracks Kane with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Larson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kane is trying desperately to improve position.

Larson looking to secure an arm triangle but Kane defends it well.
Kane is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Larson works his way into side control.
Larson advances to full mount.
Larson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Larson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Larson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kane working to try and regain half guard.
Larson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Larson wants to take Kane's back but he can't do it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane tries to control Larson's body but Larson pushes him off. Kane squirms to his side and now Larson has his back!

Larson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Larson is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Kane rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Larson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kane is looking for a sweep. Larson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Larson trying to control but Kane is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Larson.
Kane is desperately trying to improve his position but Larson has a good base and remains in mount.
Larson controlling the position easily from mount.
Kane sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Larson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kane counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Larson's guard now.
Kane preventing the sweep.
Kane throws a big right hand that misses.
Larson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kane controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kane really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Kane drops back, looking for a kneebar! Larson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Larson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Larson!
Kane tries to bench press Larson off him but Larson keeps the position.

Larson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Larson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larson trying to control the position but Kane is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane tries to improve position but can't.
Larson landing strikes.
Kane is not content to let Larson control the position.
Kane sneaks back into half guard.
Kane throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Kane looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Larson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kane counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larson won't be happy with that.
Dean Larson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson struggling a bit here.
Larson is looking to reverse the position.
Kane landing a few strikes.
Larson stops Kane from passing to mount.
Kane misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Larson prevents Kane from moving into mount.
Kane tries to score with some ground and pound. Larson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The strikes coming from Kane are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kane tries to clinch but Larson moves away

and Larson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Larson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Larson prevents Kane from standing back up.
Kane is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Kane wants to stand up but Larson is controlling him.
Kane keeping moving, preventing Larson from controlling successfully.
Larson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Larson shoots and misses
and Kane counters with a nice leg kick.
Adam Kane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Larson.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kane.
Adam Kane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larson misses with a takedown
and Larson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Larson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kane counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Kane fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Larson, pushing him back against the cage.

Larson wants the takedown. Kane is fighting it off but Larson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kane's guard against the cage.
Larson stays in close to Kane's body and controls the position.
Kane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kane is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kane lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Adam Kane.
I think Larson 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Larson!