PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Reed (ranked 2006 p4p, 232 weight class) and Donnie Larkin (ranked 2176 p4p, 245 weight class). Ben Reed has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Reed
vs
Larkin

200 cm
23
198 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

181 cm
23
188 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Big Tree's Vintage Wear
Conviction

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Reed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donnie Larkin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reed bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Reed swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Larkin blocks a low kick nicely.
Reed defending well as Larkin loads up on a big left hand.
A nice combination there by Larkin.
Larkin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Reed is out of range and Larkin settles back down.
Reed throwing a counter right hand but Larkin manages to avoid it.
Larkin looks to land a combination but Reed avoids it well.
Larkin shoots for a takedown but Reed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reed throws a body punch but Larkin moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Reed.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Larkin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Larkin darts in looking for a takedown but Reed gets double underhooks and turns Larkin into the ropes.
Larkin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larkin throws a leg kick but Reed checks it.
Reed throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reed scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Larkin doesn't seem bothered though.
Reed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reed throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin throws out a powerful jab.
A low kick from Larkin misses
and Reed counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Reed defending well as Larkin loads up on a big left hand.
Reed feints and then cracks Larkin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Larkin down.
Larkin defending well as Reed loads up on a big left hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Reed.
Larkin connects with a leg kick. Reed looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Larkin. Reed does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reed throwing a counter right hand but Larkin manages to avoid it.
Reed looks to land a right hand but Larkin moved out of range.
Reed takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Reed misses with the body kick

and Larkin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Reed!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reed avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Larkin.
Larkin is working Reed over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larkin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Reed, who protects the arm well.
Larkin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Reed!
Larkin breaks from Reed's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Larkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reed is looking to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Larkin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin looking to control but Reed is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Reed really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Larkin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Larkin looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Reed's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Larkin looking to finish Reed with some ground and pound. This is bad for Reed!
Larkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Reed?
Larkin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Reed because Larkin loaded up on that one.
Larkin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Larkin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Reed because Larkin loaded up on that one.
Larkin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Reed can't escape the position.
Larkin looking to control but Reed is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Larkin landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Larkin is working for a guillotine from mount but Reed frees his head quite easily.
Larkin throws some wild stikes that Reed manages to avoid easily.
Reed avoids a strike by Larkin and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Larkin's guard! Fantastic escape!
Reed sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Larkin dominated that round.
That's time! Reed's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Larkin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Reed misses with a body kick.
Larkin feints the counter takedown.
Reed displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Larkin throws out the jab.
Reed lands a jab.

It looks like Donnie Larkin has been cut.
Reed throws a predictable looking body shot
and Larkin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Reed.
Larkin lands with a cross.
Larkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Reed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larkin misses with a body shot.
Larkin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Reed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reed lands a leg kick that knocks Larkin off balance momentarily.
Larkin gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Reed.
Larkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Larkin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Reed takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reed moves forwards but Larkin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A leg kick checked by Larkin.
Larkin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Reed counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Larkin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A left lands for Larkin.
Reed throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Reed on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Larkin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reed regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Larkin.
Reed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larkin.
Larkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Reed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Reed is retaining full guard.
Larkin is looking to work some ground and pound but Reed has wrist control.
Larkin throws a big elbow that misses.
Larkin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Larkin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Reed's guard.
Larkin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Reed's head.
Larkin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Larkin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Larkin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Reed defends it well.
Larkin throwing shots but Reed is blocking nicely.
Reed is staying active underneath Larkin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Larkin trying to mount his opponent but Reed defends it.
Larkin throws a strike but Reed avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is in close to Reed's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Larkin looking to pass the guard.
Larkin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Larkin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Reed knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Larkin is looking to take a break and control but Reed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Larkin trying to control from Reed's half guard. Reed has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Larkin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Reed's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Larkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Donnie Larkin'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Larkin connects with a body shot that sends Reed's belly button to the back.
Reed loads up on a big right hand but Larkin slips the punch.
Reed stuffs the takedown attempt from Larkin. Larkin gets slowly back to his feet.
Reed walks into a jab.
Larkin ducks under a wild hook from Reed.
Reed misses with a hook to the body

and Larkin counters with a takedown into side control.

Larkin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The strikes coming from Larkin are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Donnie Larkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reed keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed trying to remain calm as Larkin controls from the top position.
Larkin misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Reed is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Larkin off and has taken his back!
Larkin just trying to survive but Reed is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Larkin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Reed passes to side control.
Larkin is trying to work for a sweep but Reed has mounted him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reed wants to take his opponent's back but Larkin doesn't allow it.
Larkin is trying desperately to improve position.
Larkin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reed being controlled here, momentarily.
Larkin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Larkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Larkin pushes down on Reed's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Reed is trying to control but Larkin manages to pass to mount!
Reed is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin throwing strikes here but Reed is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Larkin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Larkin lands a nice shot to the head.
Larkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reed is looking to escape.
Larkin with shots to the head and body - Reed looks very uncomfortable down there.
Larkin landing punches.
Ben Reed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larkin scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie Larkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Larkin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Franklin scores the fight for Donnie Larkin!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Donnie Larkin!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Donnie Larkin!

Donnie Larkin wins by unanimous decision!