PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donat Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Larkin
vs
Simon

182 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shawn Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donat Simon!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larkin.

Larkin moves into range and clinches up with Simon.
Nice body punch from Simon - that landed with a thud.
Larkin has had enough of the clinch but Simon keeps him there for the moment.
Larkin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Simon smiles and moves away.
Larkin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Larkin shoots in and bounces Simon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Simon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Simon looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larkin passes into side control.
Simon prevents Larkin from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin is working hard here to advance position.
Larkin tries to score with some ground and pound. Simon controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Larkin tries to advance to mount but Simon denies him.
Simon is looking to reverse the position.

Larkin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Simon, who protects the arm well.
Simon struggling a bit here.
Simon is looking for a sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Simon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larkin misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Larkin connects with a jab.
Larkin throws a big shot that misses.
Larkin tries to clinch but Simon is having none of it.
Simon wants to clinch.
Larkin shoots in but no luck this time.
Larkin looks to land a left hand but Simon moved out of range nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Simon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Simon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Larkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Simon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Larkin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Larkin lands with a cross.
Simon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Larkin.
Larkin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Simon's head.

Simon clinches.
Larkin tries to break the clinch but Simon is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Simon prevents it.
Larkin jumps guard but Simon stands there with Larkin around his waist. Larkin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Larkin can't break the clinch.

Larkin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Simon is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Larkin to the mat. Larkin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Simon trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.

Larkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Larkin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Larkin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Larkin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Simon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Simon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Larkin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Larkin swings for the body but Simon moves out of range.
Larkin throws a jab but it's blocked by Simon.
Simon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Larkin.
Shawn Larkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Simon has Larkin up against the cage in a clinch.
Larkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simon leaning against his opponent.
Simon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Larkin tries to pull guard but Simon won't allow it.
Simon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Larkin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Larkin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Simon walks away with a smile on his face. Larkin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Larkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon blocks a jab.
Larkin looks for a takedown but Simon sprawls well.
Simon avoids the body shot from Larkin.
Larkin shoots in but Simon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Larkin shoots in but no luck this time.
Larkin shoots in looking for a takedown. Simon tries to sprawl out of it but Larkin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Simon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Simon tries to clinch but Larkin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Simon tries to clinch but Larkin is having none of it.
Simon moves in looking to clinch but Larkin pushes him off.
Larkin wants to clinch

and Simon counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Simon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Simon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Larkin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Larkin throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Simon trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin has control of Simon's left arm, preventing Simon from doing any damage.
Simon thows a big elbow that misses.
Larkin keeping moving, preventing Simon from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Simon shoots in but no luck this time.
A big left from Larkin misses.
Larkin throws the left hand but Simon avoids the punch easily.
Larkin throws a leg kick but Simon sees it coming and moves out of range.
Larkin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Simon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Larkin tries to break the clinch but Simon is controlling the position.
Simon tries for a takedown but Larkin manages to get underhooks.
Simon is stalling here.
Larkin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Simon fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Larkin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Simon counters by moving into the clinch.
Larkin letting Simon take a breather here.
Larkin fails to pull guard.
Simon stalling in the clinch.
Larkin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Simon smiles and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larkin connects with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donat Simon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Simon darts in trying to clinch

so Larkin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Larkin postures up.
Simon wants to sweep but no luck.

Larkin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Larkin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Simon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larkin landing a few short strikes.

Simon is working for a submission of some sort.
Larkin is refusing to be controlled, as Simon sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Larkin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simon trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.

Larkin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simon won't allow Larkin to sweep him here.
Larkin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Larkin prevents Simon from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larkin seems to be working for a kimura but Simon defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Simon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Larkin wants to stand but Simon is controlling his posture from full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin wants to pass the guard but Simon is keeping the position.

Larkin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larkin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Larkin passes Simon's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Larkin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Larkin seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Simon manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Larkin throws a strike but Simon rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shawn Larkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Simon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Simonis looking to pass into half guard but Larkin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Larkin is in guard.
Larkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Larkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Simon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Larkin manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Simon wants to pass the guard but Larkin is keeping the position.

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 Shawn Larkin.
I think Larkin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Larkin!