PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Hydraulix 13.5 - D.A.V.E. the Drummer & Alex Calver. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Lawler

183 cm
24
195 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

180 cm
24
197 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Lawler!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lawler looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lawler tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Gracie looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lawler is avoiding damage well.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie trying to control the position but Lawler is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawler is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
Gracie tries to roll but Lawler sticks to his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lawler wants to get back to his feet.
Lawler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lawler prevents Gracie from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lawler wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Lawler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lawler tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gracie.
Lawler stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eric Lawler was stalling too much, according to the referee.
The crowd cheers as Gracie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lawler doesn't seem phased though.
Lawler throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Gracie takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses with a straight left.
Lawler wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Lawler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Eric Lawler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lawler looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Lawler is defending well.
Lawler gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aaron Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lawler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawler throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie misses with a left hand
and Lawler counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Lawler connects with a body shot.
Lawler lands with a good body shot.
Lawler misses with a few strikes there.
A big left from Lawler misses.
Lawler lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Aaron Gracie has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie dips to his left and cracks Lawler with an uppercut!
Lawler tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lawler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Lawler throws a poor cross that misses

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lawler's guard now.
Lawler looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lawler tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lawler looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lawler lands a leg kick that knocks Gracie off balance momentarily.
Gracie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gracie throws a hook but Lawler blocks it.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lawler but Lawler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Lawler.
Lawler's corner calls for a 1-2. Lawler obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lawler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie lands a jab to Lawler's midsection.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Eric Lawler seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lawler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lawler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lawler.
Lawler wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lawler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lawler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawler buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Lawler.
Gracie misses with a hook
letting Lawler counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lawler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aaron Gracie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Lawler.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lawler misses with a hook to the body

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lawler's guard now.
Gracie stops Lawler from standing up.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie postures up in Lawler's guard and throws a big left but Lawler blocks it.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lawler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lawler lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Lawler trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to hold on but Lawler postures up.
Lawler tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie regains half guard.
Lawler seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Lawler trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Lawler gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lawler lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gracie has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gracie and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gracie works the jab nicely.
Lawler misses with a combination
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Lawler as Gracie shoots in.
Lawler moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie misses with an uppercut
and Lawler counters with a nice uppercut.
Lawler is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Lawler fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Lawler moved out of range nicely.
Lawler throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lawler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lawler as he jumps to the side.
Aaron Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler throws a one two combo.
Lawler changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawler tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice straight punches there by Lawler. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lawler.
Lawler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Lawler scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Lawler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lawler 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Eric Lawler!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Eric Lawler!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Eric Lawler!

Eric Lawler wins by unanimous decision!