PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artem Zarencev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrik Larsson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Zarencev
vs
Larsson

170 cm
25
205 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

200 cm
19
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Artem Zarencev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Larsson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zarencev as he jumps to the side.

Zarencev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Larsson trying to hold on to Zarencev's head to control him but Zarencev postures up.
Zarencev wants to take a breather but Larsson is having none of it.
Zarencev thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Larsson to regain full guard.
Zarencev looking to pass the guard.

Larsson is looking for a triangle but Zarencev pushes his legs off easily.
Zarencev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Larsson's guard.
Zarencev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Larsson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarencev tries to stand but can't do so whilst Larsson controls his leg.
Zarencev tries to stand and escape but Larsson actually recovers to full guard.
Larsson trying to strike off his back.

Zarencev gets to his feet. Larsson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Zarencev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zarencev showed some decent athleticism there.

Zarencev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Larsson is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zarencev connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarencev prevents Larsson from getting the reversal.
Larsson looks gassed!
Zarencev dominating with strikes here.
Zarencev content just to control the position here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zarencev wants to control the pace but Larsson is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zarencev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev is landing with some decent strikes but Larsson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Larsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zarencev controlling the position easily from mount.
Zarencev with good strikes from the mount here!
Zarencev looking to control but Larsson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zarencev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zarencev wants to control the pace but Larsson is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zarencev looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Zarencev dominating with strikes here.
Zarencev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarencev avoids the attempt from Larsson to control.
Zarencev looking to finish Larsson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Larsson!
Zarencev in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zarencev with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larsson tries to hold on but Zarencev pushes him away.
Zarencev raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Zarencev dominated 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.

Zarencev dives in and grabs Larsson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Larsson pushes down on Zarencev's head and hops out.

Zarencev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Larsson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Zarencev decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Zarencev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Larsson is trying to keep Zarencev in close.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Larsson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zarencev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Larsson keeping moving, preventing Zarencev from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zarencev stands and steps away. Larsson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Artem Zarencev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Larsson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zarencev shoots in looking for a takedown. Larsson tries to sprawl out of it but Zarencev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Larsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zarencev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Zarencev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zarencev fails with a takedown attempt.
Zarencev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zarencev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Larsson pinned against the cage. Larsson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zarencev tries to avoid it but Larsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zarencev to the ground. Zarencev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Larsson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Larsson wants it to stay on the feet.
Larsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zarencev clinches up with Larsson and pushes him back against the cage.
Larsson wants to break free but Zarencev has control.
Zarencev with a knee to the head.
Zarencev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Larsson up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zarencev.
Larsson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zarencev connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson jumps guard but Zarencev stands there with Larsson around his waist. Larsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zarencev avoiding damage.

Zarencev breaks from the clinch.
Larsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Zarencev circles away.
Zarencev shoots in but Larsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zarencev fails to land the takedown.
Larsson tries for a takedown but Zarencev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Larsson gets caught flat footed, as Zarencev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Larsson working a defensive guard here.

Zarencev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev fails with the takedown.
Zarencev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Larsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zarencev lands with a nice body punch.

Zarencev closes the distance and pushes Larsson back into the cage.
Larsson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zarencev walks away with a smile on his face. Larsson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zarencev tries to clinch up but Larsson circles away and keeps his distance.

Zarencev gets a takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsson is trying to maintain the position but Zarencev is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Zarencev dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zarencev fails with a takedown attempt.
Zarencev shoots in and drives through. Larsson sprawls well.
Zarencev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Larsson can do to turn this around?
Zarencev shoots in but Larsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Zarencev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Larsson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zarencev gets underhooks to prevent Larsson's takedown attempt.

Zarencev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zarencev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Larsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zarencev somewhat.
Larsson tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Larsson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zarencev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Larsson slows the pace down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson is looking to take a break and control but Zarencev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Larsson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A combination from Larsson does no damage.
Nice takedown defense from Larsson. No joy for Zarencev on that attempt.
Larsson tries to clinch there but Zarencev circles away.
Zarencev shoots in for a takedown but Larsson shows good takedown defense.

Larsson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zarencev quickly recovers to half guard.
Larsson wants to control but Zarencev is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson wants to pass the guard but Zarencev is defending well.

Zarencev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zarencev is controlling Larsson's trapped leg to prevent Larsson from advancing to side control.
Zarencev flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Zarencev misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zarencev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Larsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Larsson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zarencev's guard.
Larsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zarencev is looking for a sweep. Larsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zarencev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Larsson wants to free his trapped foot but Zarencev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Zarencev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zarencev is staying active underneath Larsson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zarencev is trying to stand up here but Larsson is controlling him well.
Artem Zarencev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zarencev manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Larsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zarencev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zarencev shoots in but Larsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Larsson misses with a double jab

so Zarencev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zarencev is looking to stand up but Larsson won't let him.
Zarencev trying to control but Larsson is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsson trying to control the position here.
Henrik Larsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Artem Zarencev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zarencev trying to control the position from guard on top but Larsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Henrik Larsson.
Well Zarencev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Zarencev!