PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ross Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mandla Sizwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross Lawson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lawson
vs
Sizwe

185 cm
22
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ross Lawson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mandla Sizwe!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sizwe misses with an uppercut. Lawson saw that one coming.
Sizwe stuffs the takedown attempt from Lawson. Lawson gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lawson misses with a takedown attempt - Sizwe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sizwe feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Lawson sprawling to the canvas! Lawson rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Sizwe finish him?!
Lawson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lawson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lawson moves out of range of the strikes.
Lawson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sizwe.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lawson works over Sizwe's head and body with a nice combination.
Sizwe misses with a straight left.
Sizwe loads up on a big right hand but Lawson slips the punch.
Lawson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Lawson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sizwe.
Mandla Sizwe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sizwe swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawson.
Sizwe closes the distance and clinches up with Lawson, looking for a takedown. Sizwe pushes Lawson against the cage but Lawson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sizwe throws out a loose jab but Lawson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson tries to clinch but Sizwe moves out of range.

Lawson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Lawson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sizwe tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Sizwe throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Sizwe pushes Lawson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lawson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lawson tries to score with some ground and pound. Sizwe controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sizwe is letting Lawson control him for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sizwe tries to buck Lawson off but Lawson is having none of it.
Lawson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sizwe down.
Sizwe is looking for a sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Lawson shoots for a takedown but Sizwe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A big right from Sizwe misses.
Sizwe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lawson.
Lawson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lawson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sizwe sprawls well. He's pushed Lawson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lawson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson misses with a two punch combination.

Lawson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sizwe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lawson is controlling him.
Sizwe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sizwe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lawson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sizwe wants to sweep but no luck.
Sizwe is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lawson dives into side control.
Sizwe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Lawson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Lawson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sizwe to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson fails with a takedown attempt.
Sizwe is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

Lawson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lawson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sizwe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawson advances to half guard.
Lawson is pressing down on Sizwe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sizwe is holding on for now.
Sizwe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lawson.
Sizwe is looking to escape.
Sizwe pushes Lawson off but Lawson dives into side control.
Lawson advances to full mount.
Lawson 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.
Sizwe is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson trying to control but Sizwe is having none of it.
Sizwe is working to get back to half guard.
Sizwe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sizwe is looking to escape.
Sizwe is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Lawson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sizwe throws a big shot that misses.
Lawson lands a head kick!
Sizwe misses with an uppercut. Lawson saw that one coming.
Sizwe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lawson has a takedown stuffed.
Lawson misses with a takedown attempt - Sizwe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lawson shoots in for a double leg but Sizwe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sizwe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lawson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lawson.
Sizwe keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.
Sizwe wants to stand and escape but Lawson is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson wants to control from the top but Sizwe keeps moving.
Sizwe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lawson is one step ahead there.

Sizwe is working an open guard so Lawson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sizwe lands a lovely overhand right.
Lawson wants to clinch.
Lawson shoots in but Sizwe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fighters circling - Sizwe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lawson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sizwe misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Sizwe misses.
Lawson shoots in but no luck this time.
Sizwe throws a lazy right hand but Lawson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lawson defending well as Sizwe loads up on a big left hand.
Lawson looks for a takedown but Sizwe sprawls well.
Sizwe throws a hook to the side of Lawson's head but Lawson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lawson blocks a jab.
Lawson slips a jab from Sizwe.
Sizwe 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 lands a head kick. Sizwe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sizwe misses the jab.
Sizwe stuffs the takedown.
Lawson slips under a jab.
Lawson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sizwe waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Lawson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Lawson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sizwe circles away.
Lawson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sizwe pinned against the cage. Sizwe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lawson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lawson.
Lawson moves into full mount!
Lawson lands a heavy elbow.
Lawson with good strikes from the mount here!
Sizwe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lawson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lawson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sizwe is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sizwe can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lawson lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sizwe wants to get back to his feet.
Lawson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Sizwe to take his back!
Lawson lands punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sizwe is in bad spot here.
Sizwe rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sizwe is trying to stand back up but Lawson is controlling him
Sizwe is looking for a sweep. Lawson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sizwe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lawson.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lawson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sizwe.
Lawson shoots in for a double leg but Sizwe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lawson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sizwe pinned against the cage. Sizwe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sizwe misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Lawson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sizwe keeps the fight on the outside.
Sizwe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lawson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sizwe.

Lawson scores with a takedown into Sizwe's guard.
Lawson trying to control but Sizwe is working from the bottom.
Sizwe wants to get back to his feet but Lawson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lawson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sizwe is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sizwe tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sizwe tries to roll over but Lawson keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross Lawson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Sizwe as Lawson shoots in.
Lawson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sizwe pinned against the cage. Sizwe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sizwe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sizwe looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
Lawson moves out of range as Sizwe strikes.
Sizwe misses with a straight left.

Lawson rushes Sizwe and presses him up against the cage.
Sizwe has had enough of the clinch but Lawson keeps him there for the moment.

Lawson manages to break the clinch.
Lawson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sizwe but Sizwe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sizwe as he avoids it easily.
Sizwe tests Lawson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mandla Sizwe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lawson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lawson shoots in for a double leg but Sizwe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ross Lawson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sizwe circles away.
Lawson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sizwe throws a hook but Lawson avoids it easily.

Lawson scores a takedown into full mount!
Lawson trying to control but Sizwe is having none of it.

Lawson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sizwe is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson with the ground and pound from mount.
Sizwe throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Lawson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sizwe looks a forlorn figure.
Lawson tries to control but Sizwe wriggling away.
Sizwe is looking to improve his position but Lawson isn't that keen on the idea.
Sizwe tries to improve his position but instead Lawson has taken his back!

Lawson working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Sizwe is doing well to defend. Lawson seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Sizwe is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ross Lawson!
Ross Lawson retains his featherweight title!