PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joao Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shannon Larratt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Araujo comes to the cage accompanied by This time its war. Larratt has chosen Cannibal Corpse - Stripped, Raped and Strangled as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Araujo
vs
Larratt

175 cm
20
150 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
159 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joao Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shannon Larratt!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo punishes Larratt's body with a nice straight punch.
Araujo connects with a body shot that sends Larratt's belly button to the back.
Araujo just misses with a punch to the body.
Larratt has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Araujo misses with a body shot.
Larratt with the counter takedown but Araujo avoids it easily.
Araujo misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Larratt counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Araujo wants to get back to full guard.
Larratt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Araujo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Larratt is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Araujo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Araujo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Larratt has picked Araujo up and slammed him! Araujo can't keep hold of the triangle and Larratt manages to pass to side control!
Araujo is trying to work for a sweep but Larratt has mounted him!
Larratt takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo wants to hold on but Larratt pushes him away.
Araujo is trying desperately to improve position.
Araujo tries to hold on but Larratt postures up.
Araujo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Araujo tries to get out of the position.
Larratt content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo tries to hold on but Larratt postures up.
Larratt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Araujo is looking to escape.
Larratt looking to control and managing it successfully.
Araujo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Araujo tries to lock up and control but Larratt gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Larratt is trying to control here but Araujo has managed to regain half guard.
Araujo wants to sweep but Larratt has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larratt tries to stand but Araujo is controlling his head.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larratt tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Araujo tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Larratt prevents Araujo from getting the reversal.
Larratt content just to control the position here.

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.
Araujo tries to lock up and control but Larratt gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Larratt looking to control and managing it successfully.
Araujo is trying desperately to improve position.
Araujo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Larratt escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Araujo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larratt sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Larratt tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Larratt's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Araujo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Larratt scrambles back to his feet.
Araujo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Larratt counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Larratt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Larratt dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Araujo connects with a body shot.
Araujo misses with an uppercut

and Larratt counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Araujo 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.

Araujo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Larratt is aware though and is defending well.
Larratt wanted to stand there but Araujo had control of the position.

Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Larratt postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larratt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Araujo's head.

Araujo looking for subs off his back but Larratt has passed one foot through into half guard.
Larratt prevents Araujo from improving his position.
Araujo is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Petersen's Party Place, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larratt performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Araujo is pressing down on Larratt's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Larratt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Araujo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Larratt escapes and throws Araujo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Araujo is looking to reverse the position.
Araujo is letting Larratt control him for a moment.

That's two 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.
Araujo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Araujo looking for a sweep but Larratt has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Larratt trying to control but Araujo is having none of it.
Araujo tries to lock up and control but Larratt gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Araujo is working to get back to half guard.
Araujo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back.
Araujo trying to control from the bottom.
Araujo gets full guard.

Araujo working for submissions but it's allowed Larratt to get to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Larratt in particular looking to stall.
Araujo is holding on to half guard well.
Araujo tries to get to full guard but Larratt has control of the leg.

That's four 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Araujo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Araujo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Larratt has passed into half guard!
Araujo is trying to get back to full guard.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back.
Shannon Larratt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Larratt seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Larratt wants to stand but Araujo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Larratt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Araujo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Araujo looks to land a right hand but Larratt moved out of range.
Shannon Larratt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Araujo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larratt was well out of range. Poor timing from Araujo.
Larratt with the counter takedown but Araujo avoids it easily.
Araujo takes a swing at Larratt's ribcage but misses.
Larratt feints the counter takedown.
Araujo throws a big shot that misses.
Larratt dodges the punch combination from Araujo.
Araujo misses with a wild body shot.
Araujo swings for the body but Larratt moves out of range.
Larratt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Araujo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Araujo misses.
Araujo misses with a wild body shot.
Larratt is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Joao Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larratt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Araujo.
Larratt with the counter takedown but Araujo avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larratt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And Larratt tries to counter it with a takedown but Araujo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Araujo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Larratt feints the counter takedown.
Araujo misses the shot to the body.
Larratt changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Araujo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Larratt.
Larratt changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Araujo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Larratt defends well and Araujo ends up having to push Larratt into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Larratt drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Araujo defends it well.
Araujo misses the shot to the body.
Araujo looks to score with a jab to the body but Larratt is just out of range.
Larratt tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Araujo misses with a body shot.
Larratt with the counter takedown but Araujo avoids it easily.
Araujo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Larratt as he avoids it easily.
Larratt tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Araujo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Araujo duly obliges.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Araujo.
Larratt drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Araujo defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Araujo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Araujo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larratt moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Larratt counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Araujo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Araujo is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larratt in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Araujo wants to control but Larratt postures up.
Larratt wants to control for a moment but Araujo uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Larratt content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larratt is thwarting Araujo's attempts to control the position.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Joao Araujo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Araujo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Araujo moves into full guard.

Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larratt passes into side control.

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.
Araujo is looking for a sweep.
Larratt controlling the position from side mount.
Araujo tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Araujo taking a bit of punishment here - Larratt scoring with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larratt just content to control the position.
Araujo tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joao Araujo.
I think Larratt 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shannon Larratt!