PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Butch Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Punisher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Punisher will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Larson
vs
Punisher

187 cm
27
234 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

190 cm
26
250 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Butch Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, The Punisher!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Punisher fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Punisher connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Punisher misses with a wild combination.
Punisher stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Punisher lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Larson at a distance.
Punisher scores with a jab to the body.
The Punisher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Punisher ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Larson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Punisher swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Punisher. No joy for Larson on that attempt.
Punisher misses with a hook. Larson ducked under it nicely.
Punisher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Punisher misses the body punch

so Larson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Punisher has his foot on Larson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Larson works his way back into a safe position though.
Punisher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larson is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Larson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Punisher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Punisher is looking for a triangle but Larson pushes his legs off easily.
Larson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Larson passes Punisher's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Larson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Larson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two 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.

Punisher actively working from the bottom here.
Larson thows a huge punch but Punisher dodges it nicely.
Punisher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Larson.
Still in half guard, Larson seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punisher is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larson pulls his head out easily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Larson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Larson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Punisher is trying to escape the position but Larson is controlling the position.
Larson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Punisher can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punisher is letting Larson control him for a moment.
Punisher prevents Larson from improving position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larson works to advance to full mount. Punisher defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Punisher is working to get back to half guard.
Larson avoids the attempt from Punisher to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Butch Larson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Punisher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larson was well out of range. Poor timing from Punisher.

Larson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Larson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Larson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Punisher for as long as he can get away with.
Larson works his way into full mount!
We've been hearing good reports from Larson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punisher wants to hold on but Larson pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Punisher manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Larson not doing much here.
Larson continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Punisher wants to sweep but Larson has passed to side control!
Larson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Larson is working Punisher over with some ground and pound from side control.
Larson controls the position.
Punisher can't do much from the bottom here.
Larson controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butch Larson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Larson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Larson happy to just control the position for now.
Punisher wants to control but Larson postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Larson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Larson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Larson advances nicely into full mount.
Larson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Punisher can do to turn this around?
Larson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Punisher is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Larson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Larson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Larson 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!

Punisher with a jab.
Punisher throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Larson on the side of the head.
Punisher connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Punisher misses with a body shot.

Larson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Punisher's guard.

Punisher working for submissions but it's allowed Larson to get to half guard.
Punisher is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson controlling the action here.
Larson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punisher wants to improve his position but Larson is controlling well.
Larson wants to pass the guard but Punisher is defending well.
Larson trying to control the pace.
Larson trying to mount his opponent but Punisher defends it.
Larson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Larson controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Larson avoids the attempt from Punisher to control.
Larson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Larson with good strikes from the mount here!
Larson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Larson wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Punisher wants to control but Larson is having none of it.
Larson controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson avoids the attempt from Punisher to control.
Larson controlling the position easily from mount.
Further stalling from Larson.
The Punisher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Punisher tries to lock up and control but Larson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Butch Larson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Larson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Larson!