PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Liam Lawrence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Kolev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lawrence's entrance music is Gonna Fly Now. A fine choice. Kolev has chosen Wake me up inside-Evanescence as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lawrence
vs
Kolev

193 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Demonic Steel Clothing

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nikola Kolev!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawrence connects with a single shot there.
Lawrence throws a head kick that misses.
Kolev stuffs the takedown attempt from Lawrence. Lawrence gets slowly back to his feet.
Kolev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lawrence finds it's way round the side to connect with Kolev's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kolev.
Kolev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lawrence counters with a left and a right that stings Kolev.

Kolev lands a left and a right that send Lawrence crashing to the mat, dazed. Kolev thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Liam Lawrence has been cut.
Lawrence really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lawrence shoots in and bounces Kolev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lawrence is stalling in the full guard.

Lawrence avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolev looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lawrence puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lawrence tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kolev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lawrence content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kolev wants to control but Lawrence is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kolev kicks off Lawrence and gets to his feet.
Kolev checks a low kick from Lawrence.
Lawrence fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolev lands a nice looking body kick.
Lawrence lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kolev shoots in but Lawrence avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kolev closes the distance and pushes Lawrence back into the cage.
Good body shot from Kolev.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kolev breaks from the clinch.
Kolev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lawrence but Lawrence pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Liam Lawrence has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikola Kolev.
Lawrence shoots in but no luck this time.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but Kolev avoids it well.
Lawrence misses with a head kick.
Lawrence is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawrence connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kolev. Kolev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kolev wants to clinch up but Lawrence keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Kolev does no damage.
Lawrence throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kolev tries to clinch up.
Lawrence misses with a takedown attempt - Kolev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lawrence misses with a wild combination.
Kolev lands with a kick to the temple. Lawrence shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolev tests Lawrence's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lawrence fails to land the takedown.

Kolev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lawrence looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kolev working the head and body with strikes.

Kolev stands up and beckons Lawrence to his feet.
Kolev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawrence is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kolev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kolev wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Kolev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Liam Lawrence's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lawrence looks to land a combination but Kolev avoids it well.
Lawrence tries to clinch there but Kolev circles away.
Kolev moves in looking to clinch but Lawrence pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kolev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawrence keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kolev throws a nice looking combination but Lawrence bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Kolev.
Lawrence goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kolev is looking to clinch but Lawrence is avoiding it.
Kolev is looking to clinch.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but Kolev avoids it well.

Kolev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lawrence tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kolev throws an elbow but Lawrence slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Kolev crashes against the mat.
Kolev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lawrence keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kolev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Liam Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kolev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lawrence is fending him off so far but Kolev persists. Nope, Lawrence circles away and we're back to standing.
Kolev is breathing heavily.
Lawrence shoots in but no luck this time.
Lawrence leaves Kolev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
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!
Lawrence misses with a wild combination.
Kolev tries to clinch up but Lawrence circles away and keeps his distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lawrence.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence working away.
Kolev is trying to improve his position.

Lawrence decides to stand back up. Lawrence steps back and let's Kolev get back to his feet.
Nikola Kolev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kolev tries to clinch there but Lawrence circles away.
Lawrence throws a nice looking combination but Kolev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lawrence enables Kolev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lawrence manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Lawrence pushes Kolev off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lawrence lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence lands with a nice combination. Kolev backs away looking to recover.
Nikola Kolev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kolev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kolev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lawrence has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kolev moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kolev jumps guard but Lawrence stands there with Kolev around his waist. Kolev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kolev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lawrence decides to pull guard.
Lawrence will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kolev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lawrence has a closed guard, preventing Kolev from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nikola Kolev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Liam Lawrence's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Lawrence circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kolev tries to clinch but Lawrence is having none of it.
Kolev moves out of range as Lawrence throws a body kick.

Kolev drives through and clinches with Lawrence against the cage.

Kolev breaks from the clinch.
Kolev shoots in looking for a takedown. Lawrence tries to sprawl out of it but Kolev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lawrence manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Some bone on bone action there as Kolev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kolev is looking to clinch.
Kolev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lawrence.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lawrence circles away.
Kolev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A combination from Kolev does no damage.
Kolev avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kolev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawrence throws a right hand that Kolev ducks under and follows up with a left that Kolev also avoids with ease.
Kolev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lawrence looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kolev lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolev shoots for a takedown but Lawrence saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Liam Lawrence has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikola Kolev.
Lawrence throws a body kick that misses.
Lawrence slips a jab and a cross from Kolev.
Kolev tries to clinch but Lawrence is having none of it.
Lawrence displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kolev.
Lawrence fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kolev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lawrence uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kolev has time to react.
Lawrence throws a right hand that Kolev ducks under and follows up with a left that Kolev also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kolev is defended easily by Lawrence.
Lawrence throws out a leg kick but Kolev moves out of range and Lawrence only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kolev sprawls well. Kolev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lawrence gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawrence shoots in but Kolev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kolev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kolev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lawrence counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kolev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kolev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a chopping leg kick but Kolev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lawrence feints a jab promting Kolev to slip. Lawrence then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kolev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kolev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kolev wants it to stay on the feet.
Nikola Kolev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kolev doesn't manage to clinch there - Lawrence circles away.
Lawrence throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kolev fails with a takedown attempt.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but Kolev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Liam Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kolev instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikola Kolev.
Well Kolev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Kolev!
Post fight, Nikola Kolev stared into the camera and said 'He did not see this coming!'.