PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malachi Lawrence (ranked 2307 p4p, 1714 weight class) and Robert Munson (ranked 333 p4p, 259 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lawrence
vs
Munson

180 cm
25
174
10 - 8 - 0

184 cm
26
178
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

The Stuff
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Munson!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Munson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Munson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lawrence doesn't seem bothered though.
Munson throws an overhand right that lands on Lawrence's shoulder, as Lawrence tries to avoid the shot.
Munson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lawrence. Lawrence circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Munson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Munson connects with a body shot.
Lawrence misses with a straight left.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but Munson avoids it well.
Munson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Munson ducks right into an uppercut from Lawrence.
Lawrence rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Munson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Munson scores with a body shot.
Munson sizes up Lawrence with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawrence lands a nice hook to Munson's body. Munson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lawrence takes a swing at Munson's ribcage but misses.
Munson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lawrence.
Munson scores with a nice right hand.
Lawrence fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Munson manages to avoid it.
Lawrence throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Munson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lawrence lands a nice shot to the body.
Lawrence misses with a wild body shot.
Lawrence ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lawrence swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Munson counter with a right hand.
Munson looks to score with a jab to the body but Lawrence is just out of range.
Lawrence misses with a looping right.
Robert Munson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawrence misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Munson.
Lawrence slips a jab from Munson.
The fighters circling - Munson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lawrence tries to bum rush Munson with a series of wild strikes but Munson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lawrence throws a sloppy body shot
and Munson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lawrence on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Crunch! Munson slams his shin into Lawrence's torso.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Munson looks to land a body kick but Lawrence moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Munson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lawrence has time to react.
A combination from Lawrence does no damage.
Lawrence drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Munson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lawrence swinging wildly here.
Munson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Lawrence had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but Munson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Munson tries a quick counter leg kick but Lawrence is wise to it.
Lawrence misses the shot to the body.
Munson throws a body punch but Lawrence moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Munson. Lawrence does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawrence misses with a body shot.
Jab by Munson.
Munson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lawrence throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Munson's waist but Munson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lawrence off to one side.
Munson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Munson scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lawrence walks forward, straight into a front kick from Munson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Munson. Lawrence does a little dance to reset his feet.
Munson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Lawrence on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Munson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lawrence scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Lawrence is looking to wear down Munson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nice defenses there by Lawrence.
Munson throws a lazy right hand but Lawrence sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lawrence misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawrence takes one to the chin there.
Munson scores with a punch to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawrence jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Munson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Lawrence feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Munsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Munson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lawrence slips under a jab from Munson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence thuds a left hand into Munson's body.
Lawrence works over Munson's head and body with a nice combination.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Munson moves out of range.
Munson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Munson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Munson looks to land a right hand but Lawrence moved out of range.
Lawrence cracks Munson with a right hand to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Lawrence.
Munson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lawrence looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lawrence swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Munson counters with a nice uppercut.
Lawrence takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawrence pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Munson scores with a nice body kick.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Munson avoids them all with ease.
Munson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lawrence throws a right hand that Munson ducks under and follows up with a left that Munson also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Munson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lawrence keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That kick from Munson tenderised Lawrence's leg. Lawrence is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lawrence lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Munson at a distance.
Munson looks to land a body kick but Lawrence moved away.
Munson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lawrence avoids the body shot from Munson.
Munson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lawrence stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Lawrence might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Lawrence will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Robert Munson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice cross by Munson.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Munson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Munson loads up on a big right hand but Lawrence slips the punch.
Munson misses with a leg kick
and Lawrence counters with a straight right hand.
Munson just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence misses with an uppercut
and Munson counters with a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Lawrence misses.
Lawrence keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Munson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Munson misses with a wild body shot.
Munson throws a body punch but Lawrence moves out of range.
Munson throws a lazy uppercut
and Lawrence counters with a left and a right that stings Munson.
Lawrence displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Munson throws out the jab.
Lawrence scores with a nice right hand.
Munson lands a nice looking body shot.
Munson misses with a wild combination.
Munson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A telegraphed right hand from Munson misses the target.
Munson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence scores with a crisp jab that stopped Munson in his tracks.
Munson throws a body shot but no joy.
Malachi Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence takes one to the chin there.
Lawrence throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Munson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lawrence scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lawrence lands a nice looking body shot.
Lawrence throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Munson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Munson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Munson lands a body shot.
Lawrence takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Munson throws a body punch but Lawrence moves out of range.
Lawrence thuds a left hand into Munson's body.
Lawrence throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lawrence looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Munson swings for the body but Lawrence moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lawrence.
Munson is looking to slow Lawrence down with leg kicks.
Decent striking displayed by Munson there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Munson, as that shot connected.
Munson throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Lawrence.
Lawrence just misses with a punch to the body.
Lawrence lands with a shot to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Lawrence 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Munson lands a jab.
Lawrence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Munson circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice uppercut lands for Lawrence. That snapped Munson's head back.
Munson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lawrence makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lawrence takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Munson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawrence. Munson does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Munson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Munson.
Lawrence fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Munson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lawrence misses with a lunging right hand
and Lawrence takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munson just misses with a punch to the body.
Lawrence misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Munson.
Munson takes a swing at Lawrence's ribcage but misses.
Munson scores with a nice strike.
Munson misses with a body shot.
Munson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Munson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Munson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Munson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lawrence moves away.

Lawrence shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Munson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lawrence postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawrence is in close to Munson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Munson has Lawrence pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Munson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lawrence's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Munson lands a head kick!
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Munson dips to his left and cracks Lawrence with an uppercut!
A shot to the liver by Munson. Beautiful body shot.

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

Munson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lawrence doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lawrence manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lawrence postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lawrence is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lawrence is working Munson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Munson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Munson looking for a guillotine here but Lawrence defends easily.
Lawrence stands up over Munson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lawrence working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Munson's head.
Munson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lawrence is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lawrence has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Munson trying to control but Lawrence is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawrence looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Munson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawrence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Munson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Munson preventing the sweep.
Munson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Munson is keen to just control but Lawrence is a slippery customer.
Lawrence has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lawrence tries to roll over but Munson keeps him under control.
Munson trying to control from half guard but Lawrence is working away.
Lawrence controlling the position for now.
Lawrence is looking to improve his position.
Malachi Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is working hard here to advance position.
Lawrence has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Munson is working away from the top position though.
Munson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Robert Munson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lawrence is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lawrence feints and as Munson raises his hands in defense, Lawrence changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Munson trying to control the position here.
Lawrence works over Munson with some ground and pound from guard.
Malachi Lawrence overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Munson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawrence postures up.
Munson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lawrence.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Munson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lawrence throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lawrence throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Malachi Lawrence.
I think Munson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Munson!
A relieved looking Robert Munson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.