PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skot McDavis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larson
vs
McDavis

155 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rayford Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Skot McDavis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDavis connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Larson momentarily.

It looks like Rayford Larson has been cut.

McDavis drives through and clinches with Larson against the cage.
Larson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Larson successfully pulls guard.
McDavis wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.
McDavis stands up over Larson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Larson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McDavis defends well.
McDavis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDavis trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDavis looking to pass the guard.
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.
McDavis tries to stand but Larson is controlling from the bottom.
McDavis trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDavis preventing the sweep.
McDavis prevents Larson from getting back to his feet.
Larson keeping moving, preventing McDavis from controlling successfully.
Larson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

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.
McDavis wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Larson walks into a jab.

McDavis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Larson on his heels. He'll look to pass Larson's guard now, I'm sure.
Larson controls McDavis momentarily but McDavis frees himself.
Larson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Larson keeping moving, preventing McDavis from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Larson is working for takedown but McDavis is calmly controlling the position for now.
McDavis stops a takedown attempt from Larson.
McDavis lands a knee to the head.
McDavis lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Larson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Larson drags the fight down to the ground.
Larson is breathing heavily.
McDavis trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
McDavis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Larson working for submissions but it's allowed McDavis to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDavis seems to be looking for submissions.
Larson is looking to control McDavis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Larson avoid being mounted?

McDavis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skot McDavis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rayford Larson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McDavis instigates a clinch.
Larson looking to stall.
Larson has McDavis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McDavis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

McDavis breaks the clinch.

McDavis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
McDavis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDavis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Larson defending well though.
McDavis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
McDavis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Larson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Larson pushes McDavis off looking to stand but McDavis dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is staying active underneath McDavis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

McDavis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

McDavis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Larson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Larson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDavis controls the position.
McDavis laying and praying for a moment but Larson takes advantage and regains half guard.
Larson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Larson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
McDavis trying to advance position but Larson counters by regaining guard.
Larson keeping full guard, as McDavis tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDavis is fighting to break Larson's control of his arms but Larson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDavis trying to move into half guard but instead Larson has managed to sweep!

Larson is standing up over McDavis. McDavis looks to escape but Larson dives into side control.
Larson 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.

Larson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, McDavis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Larson but great work by McDavis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Larson is not content to let McDavis control the position.
Larson trying to control but McDavis postures up.
McDavis trying to control from half guard but Larson is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Larson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Skot McDavis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rayford Larson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McDavis clinches up with Larson and pushes him back against the cage.

Larson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Larson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
McDavis wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.
Larson is trying to control the position but McDavis postures up.
McDavis stays in close to Larson's body and controls the position.
McDavis wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson has control of McDavis's left arm, preventing McDavis from doing any damage.
McDavis wants to get up but he can't break Larson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larson uses the cage to get back to his feet.

McDavis clinches.

McDavis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Larson wants to clinch up but McDavis keeps it at a distance.
Larson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDavis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Larson tries a head kick but it misses.

McDavis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Larson manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

McDavis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Larson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McDavis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

McDavis decides to stand up, so the ref orders Larson to his feet.
Larson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McDavis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Larson fails in his attempt to clinch.
McDavis wants to counter with a clinch but Larson pushes him away.

McDavis gets a double leg takedown into Larson's guard.

Larson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. McDavis has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

McDavis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McDavis tries to clinch but Larson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDavis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Larson throws McDavis to one side and escapes!
Larson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

McDavis tries to keep at a distance but Larson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Larson is trying to pull guard but McDavis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
McDavis prevents the takedown attempt.
Larson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
McDavis is trying to stall.

Larson jumps guard and drags McDavis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDavis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

McDavis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Larson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larson is not content to let McDavis control the position.
Larson is trying to control McDavis's posture but McDavis avoids it.
Larson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McDavis off and has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rayford Larson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDavis 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skot McDavis!