Lorenz Larkin looked excellent at Bellator 237, shutting down fellow UFC veteran Keita Nakamura on the feet over the course of three rounds.
Former UFC fighters Lorenz Larkin and Keita Nakamura battled at Bellator 237. Larkin is on a three-fight win streak after starting his Bellator run at 0-2. Nakamura was 4-4 in the UFC and is making his promotional debut.
Keita Nakamura dashed in with strikes quickly then threw up a head kick that Larkin blocked. Larkin countered with a combination and got comfortable on the feet. Larkin began firing away with kicks. A head kick connected followed by a smooth uppercut for Larkin. He kept the jab in the face of Nakamura, but Nakamura landed a slick left straight soon after. Larkin was putting on a clinic on the feet, varying up his strikes against an outmatched opponent. He closed out the round with an uppercut and a combination.
Nakamura took the center of the cage, but Larkin backed him up with several kicks. A right straight landed cleanly for Larkin, who continued to fire away. Nakamura was able to back Larkin up and landed a four-punch combination successfully. Larkin got right back to work though, taking the center of the cage. Nakamura was limiting the damage until a big knee landed up the middle from Larkin. Several clean punches landed for Larkin, who was ahead by a mile heading into the final round.
It was more of the same in the third round outside of a blitz from Nakamura early. Larkin opened up with strikes and was connecting with beautiful punches. A pair of big knees landed and Nakamura had no choice but to desperately shoot for a takedown. Larkin defended and delivered hammerfists to Nakamura, who was clinging onto his leg. Larkin pulled away and pumped the jab to a bloody Nakamura. Larkin landed a combination to close out the fight with a big straight to put a stamp on the contest.
Lorenz Larkin def. Keita Nakamura by Unanimous Decision (30-26 x2, 30-27)
