PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kerry Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alan Tsagaraev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Larson
vs
Tsagaraev

155 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

220 cm
24
300 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kerry Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alan Tsagaraev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsagaraev throws a nice looking combination but Larson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Larson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tsagaraev wants to control but Larson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tsagaraev taking some punishment here, with Larson in his half guard.
Larson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tsagaraev tries to roll over but Larson keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tsagaraev defending well though.
Larson looks to land a strike but Tsagaraev avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsagaraev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Larson is controlling him.
Tsagaraev is trying to control the position but Larson postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tsagaraev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Larson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tsagaraev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tsagaraev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Larson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson throws a strike but Tsagaraev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Larson really is a fat lump.
Tsagaraev stops Larson from standing up.
Larson is looking to sweep but instead, Tsagaraev has passed into half guard.
Larson wants to control but Tsagaraev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Larson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Larson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsagaraev stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tsagaraev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tsagaraev's back!
Tsagaraev wants to escape the position.
Tsagaraev trying to control the position but Larson manages to sink in the hooks.
Tsagaraev tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tsagaraev holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Larson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Tsagaraev tries to lock up and control but Larson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson looking to land elbow strikes but Tsagaraev uses the position to regain half guard.
Tsagaraev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Larson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tsagaraev defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tsagaraev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry Larson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tsagaraev falls off balance throwing a combination

and Larson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Larson.
Larson throws a big right hand that misses.
Kerry Larson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larson won't allow Tsagaraev to sweep him here.
Larson throws a big right hand that misses.
Tsagaraev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larson throwing strikes from guard but Tsagaraev blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson postures up in Tsagaraev's guard and throws a big left but Tsagaraev blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson throws an elbow that misses. Tsagaraev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Larson's guard. Nice move by Tsagaraev!

Tsagaraev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Larson wants to get back to his feet but Tsagaraev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tsagaraev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Larson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tsagaraev sprawls and moves away.
Tsagaraev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Larson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsagaraev parries the strikes from Larson easily there. Larson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tsagaraev to escape.
Tsagaraev gets back to half guard.
Larson winds up and cracks Tsagaraev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tsagaraev trying to control but Larson postures up.
Larson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Larson is trying to control the action in half guard but Tsagaraev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Larson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tsagaraev can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsagaraev on the receiving end of some nice 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. Larson connects with a nice short shot to Tsagaraev's temple.
Larson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Larson lands strikes from half guard.
Larson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tsagaraev defending well though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tsagaraev jabs Larson right on the nose. Larson blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Kerry Larson has been cut.
Tsagaraev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Larson feinted with a counter takedown.
Larson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A combination from Tsagaraev does no damage.
Larson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tsagaraev manages to circle out of the way.
Tsagaraev is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsagaraev cracks a nice hook into Larson's ribs.
Alan Tsagaraev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larson dives in for a single leg takedown but Tsagaraev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tsagaraev lands a jab to the head.
Tsagaraev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tsagaraev misses with a jab, cross combination.
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!
Tsagaraev scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Larson.
Larson working the head with strikes.
Larson in side control, throwing shots but Tsagaraev defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kerry Larson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kerry Larson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Larson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tsagaraev.
Tsagaraev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Larson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Tsagaraev looking for subs off his back but Larson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Tsagaraev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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. Larson connects with a nice short shot to Tsagaraev's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsagaraev is looking to improve his position.
Larson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Larson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tsagaraev's head.
Larson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Larson thows a huge punch but Tsagaraev dodges it nicely.
Tsagaraev tries to get to full guard but Larson has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tsagaraev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Larson walks into a straight right hand from Tsagaraev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsagaraev throws a body shot but no joy.
Larson tries to counter with a takedown but Tsagaraev is quick to defend against it.
Good shot there by Tsagaraev.
Tsagaraev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tsagaraev throws a combination that misses

and Larson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Larson working over Tsagaraev with some ground and pound. Tsagaraev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Larson lands a nice short elbow.
Tsagaraev tries to roll over but Larson keeps him under control.
Tsagaraev keeping hold of Larson's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Larson working the head and body with strikes.
Larson winds up and cracks Tsagaraev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tsagaraev is trying to maintain the position but Larson is very close to passing his half guard.
Tsagaraev tries to roll over but Larson keeps him under control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tsagaraev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four 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.
Tsagaraev swinging wildly here.
Larson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tsagaraev throws a poor cross that misses

and Larson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tsagaraev!
Larson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tsagaraev takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
An elbow from Larson crashes against the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larson fails to land a wild elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kerry Larson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Larson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kerry Larson!