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.”