PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Larsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard has chosen Immortality by Pearl Jam as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Larsen
vs
Howard

196 cm
20
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

189 cm
28
215 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ethan Larsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dwayne Howard!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsen fails with a takedown attempt.
Larsen lands a head kick. Howard smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Larsen moves to clinch but Howard breaks away
and Howard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Larsen tries to clinch but Howard moves out of range.
Larsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Larsen is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Larsen tries for a takedown but Howard circles away easily

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard prevents Larsen from standing back up.
Larsen is trying is best to control the position here.
Larsen looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen trying to control from the bottom.
Howard passes to side control.
Larsen struggling a bit here.
Howard controlling from side mount.
Larsen wants to control but Howard postures up.

Larsen throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Larsen looks for a takedown but Howard sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Larsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larsen drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Larsen obliges.
Larsen tries to work over Howard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Larsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Larsen.
Larsen lands with a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice takedown defense from Howard. No joy for Larsen on that attempt.
Larsen looks for a takedown but Howard sprawls well.
Larsen fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Howard does no damage.
Howard keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Howard crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Larsen - the referee stops the clock and Howard gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Larsen. Howard manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Larsen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Howard stuffs the takedown.
Howard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Larsen moves in looking to clinch but Howard pushes him off.
Larsen closes the distance but Howard moves to the side
and Howard counters with a one-two to the body.
Larsen shoots for a takedown but Howard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Larsen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Larsen is breathing heavily.
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!
Howard is pushing Larsen's head away, looking to escape. Larsen manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Larsen is trying to get an arm triangle but Howard is defending well.
Larsen trying to control the action but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Larsen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Larsen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Larsen wants to control but Howard is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Larsen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Larsen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Howard drops Larsen with a left and a right! Oh, Larsen is hurt - Howard dives into side control looking to finish!

Larsen is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Howard has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Oh Larsen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Howard tries to advance to mount but Larsen denies him.
Howard slows the pace down.
Howard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Larsen pushes Howard away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Howard gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Larsen seems to have got his legs back now.
Larsen tries to bench press Howard off him but Howard keeps the position.
A lull in the action here as Howard stalls from top position.
Ethan Larsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard wants to control but Larsen is keeping him busy.

Dwayne Howard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Larsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howard misses with a series of wild punches.

Larsen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Howard can do anything to dispel that myth.

Larsen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Howard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Larsen.

Howard manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen tries to clinch there but Howard circles away.
Larsen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown. Larsen fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larsen wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.
Larsen is adopting a defensive guard.
Larsen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Howard is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.
Larsen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Howard is controlling him.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dwayne Howard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Howard throws a series of punches but Larsen avoids them all with ease.
Larsen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Howard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Larsen works over Howard's head and body with a nice combination.
Larsen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the cage. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Larsen is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Larsen clinches.
Larsen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Howard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Larsen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Larsen is stalling here.
Larsen throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Larsen scores a nice knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Larsen scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Larsen slaps away a takedown attempt from Howard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Larsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Howard lands with a nice combination. Larsen backs away looking to recover.

Larsen clinches.

Larsen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Howard uses from the top position.
Howard content to stall in guard here.
Larsen wants to sweep but no luck.
Larsen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Larsen, not yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Larsen is working hard here to advance position.
Larsen controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Howard.
Dwayne Howard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Larsen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howard is looking to stand up but Larsen isn't so interested in that idea.

Larsen drops back looking for a leg! Howard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howard manages to kick Larsen off! Larsen jumps back into Howard's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larsen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Howard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Howard has escaped and now he's on top!
Howard stops Larsen from standing up.
Howard wants to control from the top but Larsen keeps moving.
Larsen trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larsen manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Larsen's half guard.
Larsen is trying to stand.

Howard decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Howard stuffs the takedown.

Howard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Larsen!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larsen is desperately trying to improve his position but Howard has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard avoids the attempt from Larsen to control.
Larsen is trying to stand.
Larsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Howard controlling his opponent.
Howard looking to control but Larsen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dwayne Howard.
I think Howard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Howard!
Dwayne Howard tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.