PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zane Mutambe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrik Larsson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Mutambe
vs
Larsson

180 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
147 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zane Mutambe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henrik Larsson!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Mutambe takes the fight into the clinch.

Larsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mutambe scores with a nice right hand.
Larsson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Mutambe closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mutambe lands in his opponent's guard.
Larsson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Larsson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Larsson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Mutambe has worked his arm free - good work by Mutambe!
Mutambe is looking to reverse the position.
Mutambe gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutambe is pressing down on Larsson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Larsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larsson advances position into side control!
Mutambe tries to bench press Larsson off him but Larsson keeps the position.

Larsson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mutambe to his feet.

Mutambe has Larsson up against the cage in a clinch.

Larsson breaks from the clinch.
Mutambe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Larsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mutambe to the mat! Mutambe manages to get full guard.
Larsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larsson looks gassed!
Larsson passes Mutambe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mutambe wants to improve his position but Larsson is controlling well.

Larsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mutambe lands with a few short shots to the body.
Mutambe is staying active underneath Larsson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mutambe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Larsson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Larsson's back!
Mutambe loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Larsson hold on?
Mutambe really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Larsson.
Mutambe tries to get the hooks in deep but Larsson pushed the leg off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mutambe is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Larsson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Larsson avoids the strikes from Mutambe.
Larsson trying to control the position but Mutambe manages to sink in the hooks.
Larsson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Larsson tries to escape the position.

Mutambe tightening his grip on Larsson, looking for the choke.
Larsson prevents Mutambe from getting a body triangle.
Mutambe is landing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Mutambe working for the choke.
Mutambe throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Larsson!
Mutambe scores with punches and elbows.
Mutambe lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Larsson is rocked!
Mutambe lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Larsson.
Larsson is still in real trouble! Can Mutambe finish him?

Mutambe is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Larsson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Larsson for a finish.
Larsson is trying to break free.
Larsson seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mutambe throwing damaging strikes from the back! Larsson could be in trouble here!
Mutambe is working the ground and pound. Can Larsson escape?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zane Mutambe dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mutambe tries to land a front kick but Larsson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Mutambe forces Larsson back against the cage and clinches.

Larsson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Mutambe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mutambe working a defensive guard here.
Mutambe looking for a sweep. Not yet Mutambe, not yet.
Mutambe is trying to control the position but Larsson postures up.
Larsson stopping the sweep attempt from Mutambe.

Larsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mutambe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larsson is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mutambe is trying to control the position but Larsson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Mutambe rushes Larsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mutambe wants to break the clinch but can't.

Mutambe manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Larsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mutambe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Larsson 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.

Larsson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mutambe is looking to clinch.
Mutambe throws a series of punches but Larsson avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mutambe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Larsson as Mutambe shoots in.

Larsson shoots in and bounces Mutambe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mutambe is keeping the position for now.
Larsson looking to sit in guard and control but Mutambe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mutambe is pushing down on Larsson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Larsson is fighting to maintain full guard but Mutambe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mutambe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mutambe lands with a punch from half guard.
Larsson has hold of Mutambe's hands but Mutambe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mutambe drops an elbow to the side of Larsson's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mutambe connects with a nice short shot to Larsson's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mutambe connects with a nice short shot to Larsson's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutambe trying to pass the guard but Larsson defending well.
Larsson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mutambe scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mutambe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mutambe trying to control from half guard but Larsson is working away.
Mutambe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mutambe throwing shots but Larsson is blocking nicely.
Larsson trying to control but Mutambe postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larsson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mutambe moves into the clinch successfully.
Larsson is pressed up against the cage. Mutambe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Larsson down to the mat. Larsson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mutambe is looking to clinch.
Mutambe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Larsson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mutambe counters with a shoot takedown. Larsson fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutambe throws a big right hand that misses.
Larsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mutambe.

Larsson is looking for a triangle here but Mutambe uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Larsson sneaks out the side door and pushes Mutambe away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A combination from Mutambe does no damage.
Larsson tries to clinch

and Mutambe counters by clinching up.

Larsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Larsson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Larsson scores with a four punch combination!
Zane Mutambe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mutambe tries to clinch there but Larsson circles away.
Larsson looks to land a combination but Mutambe avoids it well.

Mutambe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larsson is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zane Mutambe dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mutambe shoots in but no luck this time.
Mutambe tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Larsson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Larsson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mutambe tries to bench press Larsson off him but Larsson keeps the position.
Zane Mutambe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mutambe regains half guard.
Larsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mutambe keeps working.
Larsson is thwarting Mutambe's attempts to control the position.
Larsson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Mutambe actively working from the bottom here.
Larsson is keen to just control but Mutambe is a slippery customer.
Mutambe tries to roll over but Larsson keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Larsson both land. Nice combination.

Larsson has closed the distance and engaged Mutambe in a clinch.
Mutambe is trying to break the clinch but Larsson has him pressed against the cage.

Larsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mutambe moves in looking to clinch but Larsson pushes him off.

Larsson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Larsson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mutambe controls his leg.
Mutambe tries to roll over but Larsson keeps him under control.

Larsson stands up from half guard.
Mutambe tries to clinch

and Larsson counters by moving into the clinch.
Larsson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short uppercut from Mutambe.
Larsson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mutambe is looking to break free of the clinch but Larsson has double underhooks.
Larsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Larsson manages to break the clinch.
Mutambe closes the distance looking to clinch

and Larsson counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Mutambe.
Mutambe has had enough of the clinch but Larsson keeps him there for the moment.
Mutambe gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Larsson.
Mutambe lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Larsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mutambe tries to keep at a distance but Larsson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mutambe wants to break the clinch but can't.

Larsson breaks from the clinch.
Larsson throws an overhand right that lands on Mutambe's shoulder, as Mutambe tries to avoid the shot.
Larsson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mutambe rushes Larsson and presses him up against the cage.
Larsson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Larsson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Larsson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Larsson is on top in guard.
Mutambe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larsson is one step ahead there.
Mutambe is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutambe throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mutambe lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Larsson trying to control but Mutambe is working from the bottom.
Larsson is working Mutambe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Mutambe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mutambe wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mutambe misses with the combination.
Larsson fails with the takedown.
Larsson throws a right hand that Mutambe ducks under and follows up with a left that Mutambe also avoids with ease.
Larsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Larsson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Mutambe rushes Larsson and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutambe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Larsson jumps guard and drags Mutambe to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Larsson looking to control.
Henrik Larsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mutambe's guard.

Larsson 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.
Larsson wants to pass the guard but Mutambe is keeping the position.

Larsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mutambe wants to sweep here but Larsson controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mutambe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mutambe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henrik Larsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mutambe 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zane Mutambe!