PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Az Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ali
vs
Lawson

191 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

RIOT Fightwear
RIOT Fightwear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Az Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ali scores with a jab. Lawson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ali is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lawson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ali has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ali there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ali falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lawson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Az Ali has been cut.
Ali shoots in for a double leg but Lawson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ali darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lawson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lawson throws a jab when Ali was well out of range.
Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lawson counters with a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Ali, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ali shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lawson sprawls well. Lawson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ali gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Az Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lawson counters with a left and a right that stings Ali.
Ali throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lawson's waist but Lawson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ali off to one side.
Lawson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ali throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lawson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson avoids the head kick by Ali.
Ali throws a combination that misses
and Ali takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ali throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lawson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ali lands with a nice body kick.
Lawson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ali.
Lawson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lawson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lawson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice sprawl there from Lawson as Ali shoots in.
Ali shoots for a double leg takedown but Lawson sprawls well. He's pushed Ali's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ali misses with a right hand
and Lawson counters with a stiff right hand.
Ali shoots in and drives through. Lawson sprawls well.
Ali is breathing heavily.
Ali lands a head kick. Lawson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ali misses with a double jab
and Lawson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson connects with a right hand. Ali shakes it off.
Ali throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lawson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ali blocks a jab.
A jab from Lawson misses.
Lawson throws a big shot that misses.
Lawson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Az Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali slips under a jab.
Lawson misses with a straight right.
Ali shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lawson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lawson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lawson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ali on the side of the head.
Ali misses with a head kick.
Ali misses with a double jab
and Lawson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali misses with a combination
and Lawson counters with a stiff right hand.
Lawson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ali had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Ali throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Lawson to counter with a crisp jab.
Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lawson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ali on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ali tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A nice combination there by Lawson.
Ali looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ali throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Lawson to counter with a crisp jab.
Eric Lawson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ali throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lawson counters with a nice uppercut.
Lawson misses with a looping right.
Ali misses with a double jab
and Lawson counters with a three punch combo that has Ali backing up. Ali nods at Lawson to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawson lands with a nice combination. Ali backs away looking to recover.
Ali misses with a left hand
and Ali takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lawson lands with a nice combination. Ali backs away looking to recover.
Ali throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lawson's waist but Lawson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ali off to one side.
Decent striking displayed by Lawson there.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Ali. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Lawson clobbers Ali with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Az Ali's cut is getting worse.
Ali slips under a jab from Lawson.
Lawson tries to bum rush Ali with a series of wild strikes but Ali uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ali shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lawson defends it nicely.
Ali throws a sloppy head kick and Lawson moves out of range easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lawson stalks Ali and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ali's face. Ali staggers backwards, shaken.
Ali takes one to the chin there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lawson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Az Ali's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lawson misses with a looping left.
Ali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lawson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ali throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lawson counters with a straight right hand.
Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lawson counters with a straight right hand.
Lawson cracks Ali with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lawson throws a lazy uppercut
and Ali counters with a one-two to the body.
Lawson scores with a sloppy right hand. Ali should have avoided that one.
Ali misses with a combination
and Lawson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lawson throws a hook but Ali blocks it.
Ali fails with a takedown attempt.
Ali throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Lawson to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawson misses with a wild combination.
Lawson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawson throws a shot from downtown. Ali moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali misses with a combination
and Lawson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ali looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ali throws a combination that misses
and Lawson counters with a nice uppercut.
Ali misses with a double jab
and Lawson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Az Ali's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Ali throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lawson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lawson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lawson scores with a hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ali is defended easily by Lawson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Az Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali takes one to the side of the head.

Jeez, Az Ali's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Ali shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawson cracks Ali with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ali staying out of range there.
Ali moves away from the strike by Lawson.
Lawson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ali takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Az Ali's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Eric Lawson!