PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abu Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Larsson
vs
Rock

180 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Likes comics

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjorn Larsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abu Rock!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rock stuffs the takedown attempt from Larsson. Larsson gets slowly back to his feet.

Larsson clinches with his opponent.
Rock blocks an elbow strike.
Rock on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Larsson is trying to pull guard but Rock has him pressed against the cage.
Rock is pressed up against the cage. Larsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rock down to the mat. Rock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bjorn Larsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rock clinches.

Larsson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rock is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Larsson to the mat. Larsson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Larsson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Larsson tries to get out of the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rock looking to sit in guard and control but Larsson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rock seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rock working for a triangle but Larsson defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock wants to get back to his feet but Larsson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rock escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Larsson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rock looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Larsson has picked Rock up and slammed him! Rock can't keep hold of the triangle and Larsson manages to pass to side control!
Larsson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rock sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Larsson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rock will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rock regains half guard.
Rock wants to control but Larsson is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rock is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larsson pulls his head out easily.
Larsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rock is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Larsson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rock is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bjorn Larsson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rock gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rock prevents Larsson from improving his position.
Larsson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larsson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rock trying to control the action but Larsson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larsson tries to get to full guard but Rock has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Rock 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Abu Rock hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Larsson moves out of range of the body kick from Rock.
Larsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rock counters with a nice body shot.
Rock tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Larsson defends well and Rock ends up having to push Larsson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsson can't get the takedown.
Rock wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Larsson has him pressed against the cage.
Larsson is trying to drag Rock to the mat but Rock just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Rock dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rock fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Larsson sprawls well initially but Rock persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larsson keeps working.
Abu Rock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larsson wants to improve his position but Rock is controlling well.
Larsson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Larsson is in trouble now - Rock has advanced to mount!
Rock lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Larsson wants to control but Rock is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock raining down hammerfists from mount.
Larsson is squirming around, avoiding Rock's attempts to control the action.
Larsson is working to get back to half guard.
Rock trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Larsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rock is landing with some decent strikes but Larsson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rock lands a couple of good shots and Larsson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Larsson rolls, trying to escape but Rock keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson just trying to survive but Rock is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
I really don't envy Larsson right now.
Larsson is trying to stand back up.
Rock looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larsson trying to control the hands but Rock breaks the grip.
Rock controlling from the back.
Rock is landing with strikes. Larsson can't take much more of this.
Will Rock go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
I really don't envy Larsson right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock tries to get the hooks in deep but Larsson pushed the leg off.

Rock is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Larsson trying to control the hands but Rock won't let him.

Rock working for a choke but Larsson is defending well.
Rock has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Larsson.

Rock is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson tries to break free.
I would not like to be Larsson right now.

Rock is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Larsson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Rock is breathing heavily.
Larsson trying to control the hands but Rock breaks the grip.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock wants to control but Larsson is keeping busy.
Larsson trying to control the action but Rock just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Rock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Larsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rock is fending him off so far but Larsson persists. Nope, Rock circles away and we're back to standing.
Rock misses with a wild body shot.
Rock defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Larsson.
Rock circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rock feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Larsson is controlling Rock's posture.
Larsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Larsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larsson controlling the position.
Larsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bjorn Larsson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Larsson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bjorn Larsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rock shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Larsson as he avoids it easily.
Rock looks to land a body kick but Larsson moved away.
Larsson goes for a double leg but Rock avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rock continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bjorn Larsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock jumps guard but Larsson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rock is pressed up against the cage. Larsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rock down to the mat. Rock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Rock clinches.
Rock has Larsson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Larsson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Larsson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rock stops a takedown attempt from Larsson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larsson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rock regains guard.
Larsson looking to sit in guard and control but Rock gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rock wants to control from the top but Larsson keeps moving.
Larsson wants to stand but Rock is controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rock sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Larsson's guard.
Larsson is trying to stand back up but Rock is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock is trying to control the action in half guard but Larsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rock prevents Larsson from improving his position.
Larsson trying to control but Rock postures up.
Larsson won't allow Rock to pass to mount.
Rock is controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Abu Rock was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Larsson fails to land the takedown.
Rock fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bjorn Larsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock shoots in for a double leg but Larsson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rock throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Larsson was covering up waiting for the punch and Rock finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Larsson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Larsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rock is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Larsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abu Rock.
Well Rock 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abu Rock!
A relieved looking Abu Rock thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.