PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darken Rahl (ranked 880 p4p, 909 weight class) and Magnus Larsen (ranked 119 p4p, 128 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rahl
vs
Larsen

168 cm
39
146
22 - 15 - 2

175 cm
28
157
10 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Savage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Darken Rahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 2, fighting out of London, Magnus Larsen!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ron Honeybunn and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsen takes a swing at Rahl's ribcage but misses.
Larsen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Larsen misses with a series of wild punches.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Larsen but Larsen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rahl.
Rahl takes a jab right on the kisser.
Larsen scoring well with a low kick there.
Larsen moves out of range as Rahl strikes.
Rahl is looking to clinch.

Rahl throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Larsen was covering up waiting for the punch and Rahl finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Larsen has control of Rahl's left arm, preventing Rahl from doing any damage.
Rahl stopping the sweep attempt from Larsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rahl wants to control from the top but Larsen keeps moving.
Larsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rahl engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Larsen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rahl controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rahl misses with a two punch combination.

Rahl shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rahl working the head and body with strikes.
Larsen tries to get to full guard but Rahl has control of the leg.
Rahl with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rahl is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Larsen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Larsen trying to control but Rahl postures up.
Larsen is not content to let Rahl control the position.

Rahl is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rahl keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Larsen manages to get to full guard.
Larsen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rahl trying to control the position from guard on top but Larsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rahl in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rahl throws a jab but it's blocked by Larsen.
Rahl definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Larsen slips under a jab from Rahl.
And Larsen responds with a good body kick, but Rahl manages to step out the way in time.
A chopping leg kick lands by Larsen.
Rahl will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Larsen tries to move into range but Rahl moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rahl is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Larsen can do to turn this around?
Rahl takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rahl comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rahl slips under a jab from Larsen.
Larsen ducks under a wild hook from Rahl.
A slow jab from Rahl misses its intended target.
Rahl tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rahl just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Larsen misses with a two punch combination.
Rahl looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Larsen throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larsen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rahl counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rahl manages to avoid it.
Rahl bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Larsen misses the target.
Rahl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Larsen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Larsen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Larsen blocks a leg kick.
Rahl moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Rahl throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Larsen was covering up waiting for the punch and Rahl finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Larsen keeping moving, preventing Rahl from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl scoring with punches to the head and body.

Rahl drops back looking for a leg! Larsen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Larsen manages to kick Rahl off! Rahl jumps back into Larsen's guard.
Larsen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larsen keeping moving, preventing Rahl from controlling successfully.
Larsen has momentary wrist control but Rahl slips an elbow through the middle.
Larsen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Darken Rahl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larsen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rahl looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larsen connects with an inside leg kick.
Rahl moves away from the strike by Larsen.
Rahl throws a right and a left that Larsen avoids nicely.
Rahl misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rahl thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl misses the jab.
Rahl fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larsen manages to avoid it.
Rahl misses with a wild body shot.
Larsen slips under a jab.
Larsen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Larsen keeps Rahl at a distance using the push kick.
Larsen misses with a looping left.
Nice cross by Larsen.
Rahl looks to land a left hand but Larsen moved out of range nicely.
Larsen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Larsen scores with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larsen misses with a wild combination.
Larsen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rahl takes one to the chin there.
Larsen lands a jab-cross combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Magnus Larsen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

The fighters circle momentarily. Larsen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Larsen gets tackled into the cage by Rahl. Rahl maintains the clinch.
Rahl tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Rahl breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Larsen. No joy for Rahl on that attempt.
It seemed like Larsen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rahl swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rahl takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rahl gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Magnus Larsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Larsen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rahl's sensitive parts.
Rahl throws an off balance right hand
and Larsen counters with a right hand to the body.
Larsen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rahl.
A countering left hand to the body from Larsen misses.
Larsen thows a body kick. Rahl tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rahl misses with a hook
and Larsen counters with an inside leg kick.
Rahl swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
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!
Rahl dodges the punch combination from Larsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Rahl finds it's target.
Larsen lands a nice shot to the body.
Rahl takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Larsen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Larsen throws a jab but it's blocked by Rahl.
Larsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rahl.
Rahl misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larsen.
Larsen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Larsen misses with an uppercut.
Larsen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Larsen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rahl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Larsen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Larsen takes a swing at Rahl's ribcage but misses.
Rahl throws a body punch but Larsen moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen slips under a jab.
Larsen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rahl's sensitive parts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Larsen.
Rahl looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The fighters circling - Rahl throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Larsen throws a series of punches but Rahl moves out of range.
Larsen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rahl.
Larsen misses with a straight left.

Rahl looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rahl postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Larsen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rahl, into his guard.

Rahl wants to stand and escape but Larsen is having none of it.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet but Larsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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.
Larsen tries to free his leg and advance position but Rahl is retaining full guard.
Rahl is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Larsen is controlling him.
Larsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet but Larsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Larsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Larsen 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Magnus Larsen!
A victorious Magnus Larsen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.