PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ed Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scotty McGruber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larson comes to the cage accompanied by Headstrong by Trapt. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Larson
vs
McGruber

190 cm
22
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ed Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Scotty McGruber!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGruber throws a right and a left that both miss.

Larson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Larson lands in his opponent's guard.

Larson has gone for a leg lock! McGruber slips out almost immediately though and dives into Larson's guard.
Larson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Larson tries to get out of the position.
McGruber throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Larson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Larson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McGruber cracks Larson with a solid left hand.
McGruber throws a big right hand that misses.
McGruber throwing strikes from guard but Larson blocks nicely.
McGruber trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McGruber in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Larson working for a triangle but McGruber defends it easily.
McGruber thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGruber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McGruber throwing strikes but missing.
McGruber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Larson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McGruber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Larson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McGruber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larson is looking for a triangle but McGruber pushes his legs off easily.
Larson is breathing heavily.
McGruber works over Larson with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McGruber accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

McGruber gets to his feet - Larson follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGruber misses with a few strikes there.
McGruber tries to land a leg kick but Larson saw it coming and moves away.
McGruber throws a nice inside leg kick.
McGruber scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Ed Larson has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Larson avoids the body shot from McGruber.
Scotty McGruber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McGruber misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A swing and a miss from McGruber.
McGruber fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Larson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McGruber throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Scotty McGruber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGruber lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

McGruber rushes Larson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McGruber is trying to force a seperation but Larson has the dominant position.
McGruber is trying to break the clinch but Larson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGruber scores with a nice hook to the head.
McGruber is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

McGruber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larson moves out of range of the strikes.
McGruber lands a nice shot that snaps Larson's head back.
McGruber looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McGruber misses with a double jab.
McGruber throws a right hand that Larson ducks under and follows up with a left that Larson also avoids with ease.
McGruber throws a right hand that Larson ducks under and follows up with a left that Larson also avoids with ease.
McGruber lands a body shot.
Larson blocks a leg kick.
McGruber scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Larson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from McGruber.
Nice takedown defense from McGruber. No joy for Larson on that attempt.
McGruber paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McGruber throws a series of punches but Larson moves out of range.
McGruber throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Larson.
McGruber lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Ed Larson's cut is getting worse.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGruber will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGruber misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scotty McGruber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ed Larson's cut.
That's time! Larson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Larson fails to land the takedown.
Larson avoids a punch combination nicely.
McGruber throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGruber misses with a double jab.
McGruber misses with a wild combination.

Larson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Larson wants to pass the guard but McGruber is keeping the position.

Larson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McGruber is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McGruber has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruber throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larson keeping moving, preventing McGruber from controlling successfully.

Larson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McGruber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McGruber is looking to work some ground and pound but Larson has wrist control.
McGruber postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Larson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGruber manages to get himself to full guard.
McGruber has Larson pulled in close to control his posture.

Larson has gone for a leg lock! McGruber slips out almost immediately though and dives into Larson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGruber trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
Larson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGruber makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McGruber thows a big elbow that misses.

Larson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McGruber is aware though and is defending well.
McGruber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McGruber throwing strikes but missing.

McGruber 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.

McGruber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McGruber throwing strikes from guard but Larson blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGruber trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGruber lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Larson circles away quickly and effectively.

McGruber clinches up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
McGruber gets through Larson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Larson goes for a takedown in the clinch but McGruber prevents it.
McGruber is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

McGruber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McGruber lands a really nice looking cross but Larson seems unphased.
Larson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Larson is defended easily by McGruber.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGruber's corner calls for a 1-2. McGruber obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McGruber throws a right and a left that both miss.

McGruber drives through and clinches with Larson against the cage.

McGruber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McGruber fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Larson on the side of the head.
Larson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McGruber throws a right hand that Larson ducks under and follows up with a left that Larson also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scotty McGruber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ed Larson's cut.
That's time! 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.

Larson blocks a jab.
Larson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McGruber.
Larson closes this distance looking for a takedown but McGruber circles away.
McGruber motions for Larson to come forward. McGruber throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McGruber throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fighters circling - McGruber throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Larson blocks a jab.
Larson defending well as McGruber loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGruber scores with a nice head shot.
Larson tries for a takedown but McGruber sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McGruber leaves Larson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruber misses with a series of wild punches.
Larson fails with the takedown.
McGruber rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Larson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McGruber misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McGruber lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
McGruber paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Ed Larson's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
McGruber looks to land a combination but Larson avoids it well.
Larson slips a jab and a cross from McGruber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson slips a straight right by McGruber.
McGruber misses with a series of wild punches.
Ed Larson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGruber misses with a double jab.
McGruber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larson was well out of range. Poor timing from McGruber.
Larson shoots in but McGruber avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A combination from McGruber does no damage.
McGruber misses with the combination.

Larson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McGruber is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Larson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McGruber rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Larson's guard! Nice work there by McGruber!

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

McGruber tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McGruber has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McGruber misses with the ground and pound.
Larson is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Larson defending against the ground and pound.
McGruber throws a strike aimed at the side of Larson's head but Larson avoids it well.
McGruber landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Larson tries to improve position but can't.
Larson on the wrong end of 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.
McGruber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Larson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McGruber lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Larson circles away quickly and effectively.

Larson feints and as McGruber raises his hands in defense, Larson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McGruber is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Larson has gone for a leg lock! McGruber slips out almost immediately though and dives into Larson's guard.
Ed Larson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGruber throwing strikes from guard but Larson blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scotty McGruber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McGruber 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scotty McGruber!