Larkin impresses, Vanier gets away with one at Bellator 28
Four-time All-American wrestler and NCAA Division I champ Eric Larkin wrapped up his third straight MMA victory in as many…
Four-time All-American wrestler and NCAA Division I champ Eric Larkin wrapped up his third straight MMA victory in as many tries at Bellator 28 in New Orleans on Thursday night.
Larkin got off to a quick start, dropping Marcus Andrusia with a surprise head kick in the opening seconds, then adding some vicious ground-and-pound as Andrusia struggled to regain his bearings. After taking a beating in the half-guard, Andrusia attempted to sit up and got caught in a tight guillotine choke from Larkin, forcing Andrusia to submit at 2:46 of round 1.
“I actually had a coach text me today and say, ‘Hey, you should throw the head kick. He’ll never expect it.’ And I landed it,” Larkin said after the victory.
The win brings Larkin’s record to 3-0 since beginning his pro MMA career in April. Though he wrestled at 149 pounds, the fight with Andrusia took place at lightweight as a precursor to Larkin moving down to featherweight to compete in Bellator’s 145-pound tournament.
“I’m excited,” said Larkin. “I weighed in at like 153 or 154. I actually got down there pretty light, so that’s not going to be that bad to get down to 145.”
Make every story count.
Join XP Passport to earn XP as you read and build your martial arts profile.
