PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dean Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Diol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dean Larson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Larson
vs
Diol

169 cm
23
133 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

187 cm
22
134 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dean Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Diol!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diol shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Diol thows a huge punch but Larson dodges it nicely.
Larson taking some punishment here, with Diol in his half guard.

Larson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Diol is working for a submission of some sort.

Diol is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Larson defends it well.
Diol stalling away here and it's allowed Larson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Diol trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diol looking to sit in guard and control but Larson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Larson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diol utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diol looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Diol is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Diol keeping moving, preventing Larson from controlling successfully.
Diol looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Diol 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.

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.
Larson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larson is breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larson shoots and misses

and Diol counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larson won't be happy with that.

Diol is trying to get an arm triangle but Larson is defending well.
Larson seems a little lost for a moment, as Diol dominates the positioning.
Diol connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Larson some visible discomfort.
Diol trying to control the position but Larson is working away.
Diol creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Larson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Diol is keen to just control but Larson is a slippery customer.
Larson is looking for a sweep. Diol is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Diol lands a nice short elbow.
Diol is nestled in close to Larson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Diol trying to control the action but Larson is working from the bottom.
Larson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diol looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Larson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diol seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Larson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Diol changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Larson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Diol trying to control the action but Larson is working from the bottom.
Larson taking a bit of punishment here - Diol scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Diol connects with a decent elbow.
Larson is trying to get back to half guard.

Diol tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diol has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Diol lands a few punches from side control.
Larson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Diol is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Larson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Diol wants to control but Larson is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Diol dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Diol gets the takedown into side control.
Diol wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larson keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larson tries to buck Diol off but Diol is having none of it.
Larson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Diol works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Larson is not content to let Diol control the position.
Diol scoring with punches from side control.
Larson is not content to let Diol control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Diol is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Larson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is trying to control Diol's posture but Diol avoids it.
Diol connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Larson some visible discomfort.
Diol cracks Larson with a big elbow.
Larson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diol tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diol wants to lay and pray for a moment but Larson keeps working.

Diol looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Diol scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Larson to see if he's OK.
Diol tries to advance to mount but can't.
Diol lands a few punches from side control.
Diol wants to control but Larson is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Diol shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Diol was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson tries to lock up and control but Diol gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diol lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Diol controlling the position easily from mount.
Larson working to try and regain half guard.
Larson is working hard here to advance position.
Diol tries to control but Larson wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diol cracks Larson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Diol trying to control but Larson is having none of it.
Diol dominating with strikes here.
Diol controlling the pace for now.
Diol prevents Larson from getting the reversal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Diol showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diol drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diol must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Larson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diol's guard.
Larson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Diol gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Diol is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Larson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Larson's back!

Diol is persistently looking for the submission but Larson is defending it well.
Larson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diol landing strikes from the mount and Larson is in trouble!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson tries to improve his position but instead Diol has taken his back!
Diol cracks Larson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Larson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Larson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Diol's guard. Nice work there by Larson.
Diol 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.
Diol throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Diol keeping moving, preventing Larson from controlling successfully.

Diol had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Larson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Diol Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Larson's back instead.
Larson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Larson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Diol looking for the RNC.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Diol patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Diol not allowing Larson to control his hands.
Diol is riding his opponent, not letting Larson buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diol tries to keep control of the position but Larson is staying busy.
Larson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Diol's guard. Nice work there by Larson.
Diol looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larson is one step ahead there.
Larson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Diol shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Diol wants to control but Larson is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson missing with punches from the bottom.
Larson is trying to control but can't.
Diol looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Diol is nestled in close to Larson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Larson tries to roll over but Diol keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Larson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Diol comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diol 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Diol!