Pyle is game for two minutes but can't last with Larson
Mike Pyle has been working for a long time to make it to the big show. It had to be frustrating since he's based at Xtreme Couture just a few miles from the two big arenas in Las Vegas that house the UFC events. Pyle finally got his opportunity tonight but it was under ridiculous circumstances. He got the official call yesterday as Chris Wilson was dumped from the card when the Nevada State Athletic Commission couldn't clear his medicals.
It was no surprise when Pyle had difficulty making the welterweight limit. After seeing Pyle badly dehydrated on Friday afternoon around 4 p.m. PT, the NSAC doctor wouldn't allow him to cut anymore weight. It was a bad sign as he weighed in three pounds over at 173.
Larson scored a takedown about 30 seconds into the first round. Pyle was actually dangerous on the bottom trying to work a triangle, an armbar and a heel hook. His guard was active but he ran out of energy after about two minutes. Larson moved comfortably into half guard where he started to work an arm-triangle choke. The WEC veteran popped his leg out and scored the mount where Pyle had to tap from the pressure of the arm-triangle at 3:06 of the first. It was Larson's 18th win by submission. He moves to 27-2 and 3-1 in the UFC.
"It feels great. I had a great training camp," Larson told Joe Rogan. "I needed to work on my patience because I didn't know a whole lot about him. I needed to be technical and take my time."
Pyle (17-6-1) should get another shot in the UFC after helping out the promotion on such short notice. Joe Silva told Cagewriter that anytime someone steps up and takes such a big chance, they'll be rewarded down the road.
