PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malachi Lawrence (ranked 2032 p4p, 1953 weight class) and Romulus Gerber (ranked 261 p4p, 252 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lawrence
vs
Gerber

180 cm
31
174
16 - 15 - 0

179 cm
31
182
17 - 14 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romulus Gerber!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Gerber.
And Gerber responds with a good body kick, but Lawrence manages to step out the way in time.
Lawrence misses the jab.
Lawrence has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gerber scores with a jab. Lawrence acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gerber scores with a kick to the midsection.
A left and a right from Gerber both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Malachi Lawrence has been cut.
Lawrence looks to land a right hand but Gerber moved out of range.
Nice defenses there by Gerber.
Lawrence misses with a body punch
and Gerber counters with a three punch combo that has Lawrence backing up. Lawrence nods at Gerber to acknowledge the strikes.
Lawrence misses with a looping left.
Gerber misses the shot to the body.
Lawrence looks to score with a jab to the body but Gerber is just out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gerber slips under a jab.
Gerber misses the shot to the body.
Gerber connects with a nice looking jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Lawrence misses the target.
A nice combination there by Gerber.
Gerber avoids the body shot from Lawrence.
Lawrence takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gerber is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Romulus Gerber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gerber dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence misses with a double jab.
Gerber listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gerber scores with a shot to the body.
Gerber has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Gerber takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A head kick misses from Gerber.
Lawrence jabs Gerber right on the nose. Gerber blinks but takes it well.
Gerber uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lawrence.
Lawrence shoots in looking for a takedown. Gerber tries to sprawl out of it but Lawrence keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gerber manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lawrence takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gerber with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence walks into a straight right hand from Gerber.
Gerber moves out of range as Lawrence strikes.
Lawrence scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lawrence lands with an uppercut that bounces Gerber off the cage and back into range.
Lawrence misses with an uppercut. Gerber saw that one coming.
Lawrence throws a hook but Gerber blocks it.
Gerber doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lawrence fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gerber manages to avoid it.
Lawrence tests Gerber's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Lawrence fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gerber to the ground. Lawrence is now in Gerber's guard.
Gerber utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lawrence works over Gerber with some ground and pound from guard.
Gerber is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lawrence throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gerber works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gerber avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lawrence working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawrence pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gerber is keeping the position for now.
Lawrence postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gerber keeping moving, preventing Lawrence from controlling successfully.
Lawrence won't allow Gerber to sweep him here.
Lawrence keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gerber's head.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence wants to pass the guard but Gerber is keeping the position.
Lawrence postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lawrence postures up in Gerber's guard and throws a big left but Gerber blocks it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lawrence with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
Lawrence throwing strikes from guard but Gerber blocks nicely.
Gerber wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gerber slips a jab and a cross from Lawrence.
Gerber is looking for the big counter here.
Lawrence getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gerber uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lawrence.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Malachi Lawrence will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gerber takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gerber.
Romulus Gerber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Lawrence does it's job there.
Lawrence takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gerber thuds his right hand into Lawrence's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gerber takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Lawrence shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lawrence throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lawrence scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lawrence tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gerber knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lawrence thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerber is looking for a sweep. Lawrence is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lawrence is trying to control the action in half guard but Gerber is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gerber wants to improve his position but Lawrence is controlling well.
Lawrence drops an elbow to the side of Gerber's head.
Lawrence lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gerber is trying to get back to full guard.
Lawrence is pressing down on Gerber's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gerber is holding on for now.
Malachi Lawrence overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gerber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gerber defending well though.
Lawrence trying to control the action but Gerber is working from the bottom.
Lawrence throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lawrence is trying to control the action in half guard but Gerber is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lawrence tries to pass to full mount but Gerber defends it.
Lawrence thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gerber's head.
Lawrence is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lawrence lands a nice short elbow.
Gerber has his hands clasped together around Lawrence's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lawrence.
Lawrence thows a huge punch but Gerber dodges it nicely.
Lawrence looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lawrence is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gerber can do to turn this around?
Lawrence working over Gerber with some ground and pound. Gerber looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lawrence trying to mount his opponent but Gerber defends it.
Gerber keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lawrence is trying to control the action in half guard but Gerber is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lawrence controlling the action here.
Gerber wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lawrence not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gerber manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lawrence postures up and lands a big shot to Gerber's brow.
Lawrence looking to pass the guard.
Gerber pulls Lawrence in close to his closed guard and prevents Lawrence from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gerber is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malachi Lawrence dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gerber tests Lawrence's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Lawrence drives through with a takedown into Gerber's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lawrence in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gerber is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gerber keeping moving, preventing Lawrence from controlling successfully.
Gerber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerber pulls Lawrence in to control the position.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
Lawrence stopping the sweep attempt from Gerber.
Gerber trying to keep a closed guard but Lawrence is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerber ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lawrence pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gerber fails to land with a series of punches.
Lawrence throws a good cross that connects.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but Gerber uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gerber steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lawrence.
Lawrence is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lawrence ducks under a wild hook from Gerber.
Gerber fails to land with a series of punches.
Lawrence lands a body shot.
Lawrence showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gerber.
Gerber uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawrence.
A punch combination from Lawrence misses.

Lawrence drives through with a takedown into Gerber's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawrence wants to control from the top but Gerber keeps moving.
Lawrence distracts Gerber with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Romulus Gerber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gerber works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gerber looking for a sweep. Not yet Gerber, not yet.
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.
Gerber trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawrence lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gerber looking for a sweep. Not yet Gerber, not yet.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gerber is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lawrence tries to roll over but Gerber keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence trying to control here.
Gerber blocks the strikes from Lawrence.
Lawrence is trying to control but can't.

Lawrence looking for submissions off his back.
Gerber tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Lawrence is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gerber's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gerber's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is punishing Gerber with some ground and pound.
Lawrence is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Gerber up.
Gerber can't escape the position.
Gerber breaks Lawrence's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lawrence pulls Gerber in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lawrence is on top in guard.

Lawrence postures up and lands a big shot to Gerber's brow.
Lawrence is looking to work some ground and pound but Gerber has wrist control.
Malachi Lawrence is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malachi Lawrence showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lawrence, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malachi Lawrence!