PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Egov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Larsson
vs
Egov

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Larsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sasha Egov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Egov lands a nice hook to Larsson's body. Larsson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Egov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Egov controls the position.
Larsson can't do much from the bottom here.
Larsson gets back to half guard.
Larsson is looking to improve his position.
Egov is trying to control the action in half guard but Larsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Larsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Egov is working away from the top position though.
Larsson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Egov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larsson keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson tries to get to full guard but Egov has control of the leg.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sasha Egov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Larsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Egov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Egov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Larsson.

Egov moves into the clinch successfully.
Larsson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Egov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Larsson is trying to drag Egov to the mat but Egov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Larsson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Egov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Larsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larsson stalling in the clinch but Egov improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Larsson lands a takedown into guard.
Egov wants to sweep here but Larsson controlling him for the moment.
Larsson postures up.
Larsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Egov is retaining full guard.

Egov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Egov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Larsson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Henrik Larsson.
Egov misses the jab.
Egov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Larsson if he has to take too many more of those.
Larsson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Egov counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Egov working away.
Larsson is breathing heavily.
Larsson is trying to improve his position.
Larsson manages to get back to half guard.
Larsson keeping control of the position.

Egov is working for a kimura but Larsson is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Egov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Larsson manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Egov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Egov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Egov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Larsson trying to control but Egov postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Larsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Larsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Egov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Egov trying to control the position from guard on top but Larsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Egov stays in close to Larsson's body and controls the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Larsson managing to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Henrik Larsson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Larsson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Egov trying to remain calm as Larsson controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larsson decides to stand back up. Larsson steps back and let's Egov get back to his feet.
No luck for Larsson with that takedown attempt.
Larsson throws a lazy uppercut

and Egov counters with a shoot takedown. Larsson fights it but they end up in guard.
Egov wants to stand but Larsson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Egov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
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!
Egov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Larsson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Larsson pushes Egov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Egov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Larsson just leaning against Egov, taking a breather.
Egov trying to control the position but instead, Larsson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Egov into the cage.
Larsson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Egov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Larsson jumps guard but Egov stands there with Larsson around his waist. Larsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Larsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Egov keeps control of Larsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Egov gets underhooks to prevent Larsson's takedown attempt.
Larsson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Egov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Larsson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Larsson gets underhooks to prevent Egov's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Larsson.
Egov is trying to push Larsson away but Larsson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Egov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Larsson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Larsson has hold of one of Egov's legs. Egov is fighting the takedown attempt but Larsson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Larsson postures up.

Egov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Larsson defends well.
Larsson looking to sit in guard and control but Egov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Larsson is looking to sweep but instead, Egov has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sasha Egov 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!

Egov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Egov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Egov looking to pass the guard.
Larsson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Egov!

Larsson get's back to his feet.
Larsson fails to land the takedown.

Larsson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Egov's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Larsson gets to his feet - Egov follows without any prompting.

Larsson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Larsson throws an elbow but Egov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Larsson looking to control but instead Egov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Egov is positioning himself well to prevent Larsson advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larsson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Larsson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Larsson tries for a takedown but Egov circles away easily

and Egov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Larsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Larsson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Egov has picked Larsson up and slammed him! Larsson can't keep hold of the triangle and Egov manages to pass to side control!
Egov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Egov landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egov wants to control for a moment but Larsson uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Larsson is trying to stand back up but Egov is controlling him
Egov wants to take a breather but Larsson is having none of it.
Larsson is trying to stand.
Egov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Larsson defending well though.
Larsson is looking to control Egov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Larsson avoid being mounted?
Larsson trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Egov 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.
Larsson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Egov is keen to just control but Larsson is a slippery customer.
Larsson trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Egov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Larsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Larsson kicks off Egov and gets to his feet.

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 Henrik Larsson.
Well Egov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasha Egov!