PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Larkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bong Ripper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Larkin
vs
Ripper

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elijah Larkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bong Ripper!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ripper looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Larkin!
Larkin wants to control but Ripper is having none of it.
Larkin is trying desperately to improve position.
Ripper looking to ground and pound but Larkin is blocking nicely.
Ripper tries to control but Larkin wriggling away.
Larkin tries to hold on but Ripper postures up.
Ripper breaks from Larkin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ripper looking to finish Larkin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Larkin!

It looks like Elijah Larkin has been cut.
Larkin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ripper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Larkin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin tries to lock up and control but Ripper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ripper cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Larkin throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Larkin wants to hold on but Ripper pushes him away.
Ripper controlling his opponent.
Ripper throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Larkin really wants to buck Ripper off and get back to his feet.
Ripper controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ripper avoids the attempt from Larkin to control.
Larkin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Larkin is looking to improve his position but Ripper isn't that keen on the idea.
Larkin tries to hold on but Ripper pushes him away.
Ripper controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
I looks like Ripper might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is bucking up trying to escape but Ripper cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ripper controlling his opponent.
Ripper's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Larkin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Well, if Ripper is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bong Ripper has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Ripper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Larkin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ripper is trying to control the position but Larkin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bong Ripper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elijah Larkin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Good shot there by Ripper.

Larkin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Larkin wants to sweep but no luck.
Larkin is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larkin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ripper trying to control but Larkin is working from the bottom.
Ripper wants to pass the guard but Larkin is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larkin seems keen to control Ripper's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bong Ripper was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Larkin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ripper lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ripper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ripper tries to clinch there but Larkin circles away.

Larkin gets caught flat footed, as Ripper shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larkin trying to keep a closed guard but Ripper is proving a slippery customer.
Ripper thows a big elbow that misses.

Larkin manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin tries to clinch there but Ripper circles away.
Ripper staying out of range there.
Ripper looks to land a combination but Larkin avoids it well.
Ripper wants to clinch.
Larkin leaves Ripper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

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

Larkin stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Larkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Ripper circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ripper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ripper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ripper throws a head kick but Larkin moves out of range.
Ripper displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Larkin.
Ripper with a hook.
Ripper scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ripper misses with a head kick.

Ripper shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Larkin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Larkin can't do much from the bottom here.
Larkin tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larkin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bong Ripper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larkin is trying to control Ripper's posture but Ripper avoids it.
Ripper trying to control the position but Larkin is working away.
Larkin trying to remain calm as Ripper controls from the top position.
You can see the frustration on Larkin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ripper is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Larkin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bong Ripper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Elijah Larkin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Ripper with that takedown attempt.
Ripper pushes Larkin away with a front kick.
Ripper closes the distance looking to clinch

and Larkin counters with a takedown into side control.
Larkin tries to advance to mount but can't.
Larkin wants to control but Ripper is keeping him busy.
Ripper avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Larkin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larkin stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Ripper moves into the clinch successfully.

Ripper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ripper scores with a takedown into Larkin's guard.
Ripper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Larkin looking to control.
Larkin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ripper's guard.
Larkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Ripper is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larkin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ripper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Larkin is controlling him.
Larkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ripper swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripper keeping moving, preventing Larkin from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Elijah Larkin.
Nice uppercut there from Ripper.
Ripper dives in and grabs Larkin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Larkin pushes down on Ripper's head and hops out.
Ripper tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Larkin fails with the takedown
and Ripper counters with a head kick.
Elijah Larkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Larkin closes the distance and pushes Ripper back into the cage.

Ripper breaks the clinch.
Ripper throws a head kick that misses.
Ripper misses with a double jab.

That's four 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.
Larkin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Larkin connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Ripper. No joy for Larkin on that attempt.
Ripper scores with a head kick.
Ripper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Larkin circles away.
Elijah Larkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bong Ripper.
Larkin has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ripper throws a head kick that misses.
Larkin wants to clinch up but Ripper keeps it at a distance.
Ripper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Ripper.
Larkin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ripper throws a sloppy head kick and Larkin moves out of range easily.
Elijah Larkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bong Ripper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ripper blocks a head kick by Larkin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elijah Larkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ripper 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bong Ripper!