PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lurppa Korva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Araya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Araya has chosen Tiger Army - Pain as his entrance music. Lars Araya will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Korva
vs
Araya

185 cm
22
195 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lurppa Korva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lars Araya!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Araya darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Araya controlling the action here.
Korva is looking to improve his position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Korva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Korva.

Araya avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Korva will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Araya must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Korva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Araya's guard.
Korva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Korva is working hard here to advance position.

Korva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korva stopping the sweep attempt from Araya.
Korva works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Korva thows a huge punch but Araya dodges it nicely.

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.
Korva trying to control the action but Araya is working from the bottom.
Korva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Korva has his takedown stuffed

and Araya counters with a nice double leg into side control. Korva won't be happy with that.
Araya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Korva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Korva is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Araya is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Korva tries to lock up and control but Araya gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Araya dominated that round.
That's time! Korva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Araya tries to clinch but Korva is having none of it.
Korva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Araya counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Korva is staying active underneath Araya, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Korva is looking to improve his position.
Korva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Araya is working away from the top position though.
Araya is trying to control the action in half guard but Korva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya prevents Korva from improving his position.
Korva trying to control here.
Korva is staying active underneath Araya, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Korva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Araya's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Araya's back!

That's two 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.

Korva has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Araya trying to control the position but Korva manages to sink in the hooks.
Araya looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Araya can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korva looking for the RNC.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korva missing with punches from the back.
Korva doesn't have the hooks in and Araya manages to turn into his guard.
Araya has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Korva is proving hard to escape from.

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.
Araya controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Korva is looking for a triangle but Araya pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Araya wants to control from the top but Korva keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Araya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Araya fails with the takedown

and Korva counters with a shoot takedown. Araya fights it but they end up in guard.
Korva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Korva is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Araya is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Araya tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Korva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya prevents Korva from moving into mount.
Korva controlling from side mount.
Araya is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Araya is not content to let Korva control the position.
Araya is looking to reverse the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Araya with a lazy takedown attempt

and Korva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Araya wants to control but Korva is keeping busy.
Korva is tying to control. Araya wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korva trying to pass the guard but Araya defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Araya is looking to control Korva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Araya avoid being mounted?
Korva prevents Araya from improving his position.
Araya is not content to let Korva control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Korva is really struggling to control Araya but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Lurppa Korva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Korva controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Araya doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Korva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Araya's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lurppa Korva clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Araya shoots in and bounces Korva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Korva trying to control the position.
Araya trying to control but Korva is working from the bottom.
Korva working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Korva wants to hit a switch here but Araya passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Korva there!
Araya cracks Korva with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two 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.
Araya trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Araya wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Korva regains half guard.
Nice strikes from Araya there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araya thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Korva is looking for a sweep. Araya is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Araya throwing shots but Korva is blocking nicely.
Korva is not content to let Araya control the position.
Korva wants to control but Araya is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Araya is trying to control the action in half guard but Korva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Araya steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korva.
Korva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Araya counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Korva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Araya manages to get himself to full guard.
Araya controls Korva momentarily but Korva frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Araya dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Korva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Araya counters with a nice double leg into side control. Korva won't be happy with that.
Korva tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Araya in side control, just content to control the action for now.
You can see the frustration on Korva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korva looking for a sweep but Araya has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Korva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Araya is working for a guillotine from mount but Korva frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Araya sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Korva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Araya trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Araya controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araya can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Korva is looking to escape.
Korva tries to improve his position but instead Araya has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Korva tries to escape but Araya has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Korva rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lurppa Korva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Korva is not content to let Araya control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Araya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Araya 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 46:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Araya!
Lars Araya is the new middleweight champion!