PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Volodin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viktor Volodin will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lawson
vs
Volodin

180 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
227 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dustin Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Viktor Volodin!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lawson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Lawson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lawson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Volodin is trying to stand.
Lawson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Volodin on the ground.
Lawson lands strikes from half guard.
Lawson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lawson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Lawson is working for a submission of some sort.
Lawson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Volodin is working to get back to half guard.
Volodin looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volodin wants to control but Lawson is having none of it.
Volodin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Lawson has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Volodin.
Volodin is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Lawson.
Lawson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Volodin for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volodin tries to break free.

Dustin Lawson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Volodin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Volodin closes the distance but Lawson moves to the side

and Lawson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Lawson slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lawson seems to be looking for submissions.

Lawson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lawson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volodin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawson pulls his head out easily.

Volodin has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Lawson escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Lawson!
A lull in the action here.

Lawson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Lawson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Volodin's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Volodin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lawson passes into side control.

Lawson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Volodin, who protects the arm well.
A lull in the action here.
Lawson scoring with punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawson lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volodin is looking to reverse the position.
Lawson tries to move to mount but Volodin blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Lawson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Volodin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Lawson counters by clinching up.

Lawson gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Volodin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lawson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volodin is trying to control but can't.
Lawson wants to pass the guard but Volodin is defending well.
Lawson is nestled in close to Volodin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Lawson is looking for a kimura here.
Lawson is looking to advance position but Volodin won't allow it.
Volodin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volodin trying to hold on to Lawson's head to control him but Lawson postures up.

Volodin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawson pulls his head out easily.
Lawson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lawson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lawson controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volodin is just holding on here. Lawson manages to take his back.

Volodin fending off the submission attempt from Lawson.
Lawson trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Volodin doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volodin prevents Lawson from getting a body triangle.

Lawson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Lawson is not going to allow Volodin to sit and survive in this position.
Volodin wants to escape the position.
Lawson not allowing Volodin to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Volodin's body.
Lawson gets his hands free as Volodin looks to control.

Lawson looking for the RNC.

Volodin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Volodin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Lawson dominated that second round.
That's time! Lawson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Volodin tries to clinch up

and Lawson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lawson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lawson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lawson tries to move to mount but Volodin blocks the move with his legs.
Lawson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Volodin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volodin prevents Lawson from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A control attempt from Volodin but he's now mounted!
Lawson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lawson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Volodin looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volodin wants to try and get back to his feet.
Lawson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Volodin has given up his back here.
Lawson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Volodin's body.
Lawson is hanging on to Volodin's back as he tries to escape.
Lawson avoiding Volodin 's attempts to control his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawson controls the action.
Volodin trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Volodin.
Lawson avoiding Volodin 's attempts to control his hands.
Lawson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volodin can do to turn this around?

Volodin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Volodin is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is punishing Volodin with strikes - can he finish him?!
Volodin is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Lawson trying to control.

Volodin showing good submission defense here.
Volodin trying to control the position but Lawson manages to sink in the hooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lawson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Lawson is not going to allow Volodin to sit and survive in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dustin Lawson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lawson, 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dustin Lawson!