PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donnie Larkin (ranked 1940 p4p, 227 weight class) and Wilky Pierre (ranked 3437 p4p, 360 weight class). The key to victory for Donnie Larkin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Larkin
vs
Pierre

181 cm
25
188 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
186 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donnie Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Wilky Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pierre tries to clinch but Larkin is having none of it.
Larkin misses with a hook. Pierre ducked under it nicely.
Pierre is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pierre is looking to clinch but Larkin is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Larkin.

Larkin breaks the clinch.
Larkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Pierre.
Larkin clobbers Pierre with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pierre is looking to clinch but Larkin is avoiding it.
Larkin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larkin throws a leg kick which misses Pierre's front leg but catches the back leg as Pierre tries to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pierre closes the distance but Larkin moves to the side
and Larkin counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre wants to clinch.
Larkin scores with a one two! Pierre had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Pierre is looking to clinch.
Larkin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larkin missing with a left hand there. Pierre was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pierre tries to clinch up.
Larkin is looking to counter punch.
Pierre closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pierre is countered with a crisp right hand from Larkin that sends him to the canvas! Larkin follows him to the mat into side control.

Pierre is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larkin controls the position from side control.
Pierre is still in real trouble! Can Larkin finish him?
Pierre tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pierre looking for a sweep but Larkin has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pierre seems to have recovered his senses.
Larkin prevents Pierre from getting the reversal.
Larkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Larkin controlling from the full mount.
Pierre is looking to get to half guard.
Pierre wants to hold on but Larkin pushes him away.
Larkin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pierre is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Larkin avoids the attempt from Pierre to control.
Larkin controlling from the full mount.
Pierre tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pierre keeps trying to improve his position.
Pierre is squirming around, avoiding Larkin's attempts to control the action.
Larkin content just to control the position here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pierre bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Larkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Larkin is looking for a triangle but Pierre pushes his legs off easily.

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

Pierre is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Pierre is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Larkin keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Larkin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pierre has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pierre lands a left hand that snaps the head of Larkin backwards.
Larkin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Larkin is trying to force a seperation but Pierre has the dominant position.
Larkin can't find room to land a body shot as Pierre controls the action.

Pierre ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pierre no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Larkin tries to stand but Pierre is controlling from the bottom.
Pierre working a defensive guard here.
Larkin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Pierre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Larkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Donnie Larkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierre is trying to control the position but Larkin postures up.

Pierre had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Larkin defends it easily.

Pierre throws his legs up looking for a submission but Larkin uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre is looking to regain half guard here but Larkin keeps moving and retains side control.
Pierre gets back to half guard.
Larkin stalling.
Larkin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Pierre.
Pierre is staying active underneath Larkin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pierre manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pierre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Larkin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Pierre is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pierre is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Larkin defends well.

Pierre looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larkin passes into half guard.
Larkin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pierre wants to improve his position but Larkin is controlling well.
Larkin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pierre can do to turn this around?
Pierre won't allow Larkin to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre regains full guard. Nicely done.
Larkin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pierre is proving hard to escape from.

Pierre 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.
Pierre keeping moving, preventing Larkin from controlling successfully.
Larkin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Larkin forces his way into half guard.
Larkin prevents Pierre from improving his position.
Pierre wants to control but Larkin is keeping busy.
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.

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.
Larkin wants to get back to his feet.
Pierre moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Larkin wants to get up but he can't break Pierre's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Pierre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Larkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Pierre had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Larkin defends it easily.
Larkin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larkin is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wilky Pierre will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Larkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Pierre.
Larkin throwing a counter right hand but Pierre manages to avoid it.
Larkin lands with a right hand.

Pierre has closed the distance and engaged Larkin in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierre.
Pierre is looking to take this one to the mat.
Larkin scores with a shoulder strike.

Larkin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Larkin scores with a nice right hand.
Pierre fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierre tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Larkin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Larkin gets tackled into the ropes by Pierre. Pierre maintains the clinch.

Pierre decides to pull guard.

Pierre is looking for a triangle but Larkin pushes his legs off easily.
Larkin wants to stand but Pierre has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin controlling from the top position.
Larkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pierre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Larkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Larkin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pierre is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Larkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larkin is stalling in the full guard.
Wilky Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pierre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Larkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Larkin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pierre's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pierre tries to clinch there but Larkin circles away.

Pierre has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Larkin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pierre throws a head punch that misses.
Larkin can't find room to land a body shot as Pierre controls the action.
Pierre blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Larkin scores with a shoulder strike.
Larkin misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is pressed up against the ropes. Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Larkin down to the mat. Larkin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Donnie Larkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wilky Pierre.
Pierre darts in trying to clinch
and Pierre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pierre throws a sloppy body shot
and Larkin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Larkin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pierre takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Pierre clinches.
Larkin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Pierre lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Larkin blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Larkin.
Larkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pierre tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Larkin's elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pierre.

Larkin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wilky Pierre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierre scores with the left hand. Larkin knows he should have avoided that one.
Pierre steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Larkin.

Pierre forces Larkin back against the ropes and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Larkin.
Larkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pierre.
A short right from Pierre on the inside.
Larkin blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Larkin.
Pierre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pierre misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierre tries a body shot but Larkin blocks it.
Pierre tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Larkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Larkin lands a right hand.
Pierre misses with a punch on the inside.
Pierre throws a punch but it's blocked by Larkin.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Larkin.
Pierre misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wilky Pierre seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Larkin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie Larkin showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Gregory Folan scores the fight for Donnie Larkin!
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Donnie Larkin!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight for Donnie Larkin!

Donnie Larkin wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Donnie Larkin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.