PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jd Almanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Almanez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rock Hood by Shinobi Ninja. Lawson has chosen Another Victory as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Eric Lawson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Almanez
vs
Lawson

190 cm
28
190 lbs
17 - 16 - 1

190 cm
27
190 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sparta Fightware

$300

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 17 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jd Almanez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almanez misses with a looping left.
Lawson drops his hands momentarily and Almanez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lawson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Almanez.
Eric Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Almanez misses.
Almanez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Almanez misses with a series of wild punches.
Almanez misses with a wild combination.
Almanez misses with a hook
enabling Lawson to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lawson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lawson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Almanez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawson throws a nice looking combination but Almanez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Almanez lands a jab to the head.
Lawson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lawson thows a leg kick but Almanez checks it
and Almanez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lawson swings for the body but Almanez moves out of range.
Almanez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A left lands for Almanez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Almanez under the eye.
Lawson connects with the punch.
Almanez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lawson.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lawson.
Lawson throws a hook to the side of Almanez's head but Almanez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Almanez blocks a jab.
Nice takedown defense from Lawson. No joy for Almanez on that attempt.
Almanez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lawson takes a step back to recover.
Lawson takes a swing at Almanez's ribcage but misses.
Almanez digs a good body shot into Lawson's ribs.
Almanez walks into a left hand.
Almanez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Almanez misses with a takedown attempt - Lawson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jd Almanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawson thumps Almanez with a low kick.
Lawson misses with a body kick.
Lawson connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Almanez.
Lawson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Almanez.
Lawson throws a jab but it's blocked by Almanez.
Lawson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Almanez had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Lawson lands with an overhand left.
Almanez scores with a spinning back kick!
Lawson drops his hands momentarily and Almanez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Almanez looks to throw the jab but Lawson is out of range.
Lawson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Almanez.
Almanez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lawson's head backwards.
Lawson throws a hook but Almanez avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Almanez or perhaps it was just good defense by Lawson which made him look bad.
Lawson slips a jab from Almanez.
Lawson punishes Almanez's body with a nice straight punch.
Almanez slips a straight right by Lawson.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lawson. Almanez shrugs it off though.
Almanez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Lawson blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lawson dips to his left and cracks Almanez with an uppercut!
Lawson throws a good cross that connects.
Lawson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lawson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Almanez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawson.
Lawson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lawson catches Almanez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lawson walks into a jab.
Almanez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almanez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lawson.
The crowd cheers as Almanez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lawson doesn't seem phased though.
Lawson cracks Almanez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lawson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Almanez's hands.
Lawson misses with a head kick.
Almanez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawson.
Almanez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lawson momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Almanez.
Almanez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Almanez feints and then cracks Lawson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lawson down.
Almanez misses with a straight left.
Almanez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lawson.
A lazy left from Almanez finds it's target.
Almanez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Almanez misses with a body shot.
Almanez looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
A big right from Almanez misses.
Almanez throws a shot from downtown. Lawson moves away and avoids it.
Almanez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Almanez misses with a low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lawson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Almanez can pounce on him.
Lawson lands with a shot to the body.
Almanez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Almanez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lawson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lawson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Lawson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Almanez's guard.
Almanez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lawson.
Lawson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Almanez wants to sweep here but Lawson controlling him for the moment.
Lawson trying to control but Almanez is working from the bottom.
Lawson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Almanez keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.

Almanez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lawson content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Lawson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lawson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Almanez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almanez has momentary wrist control but Lawson slips an elbow through the middle.
Almanez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson stands up over Almanez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Almanez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawson is looking to work some ground and pound but Almanez has wrist control.
Lawson is looking to work some ground and pound but Almanez has wrist control.
Lawson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Almanez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Almanez trying to control the position.
Lawson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawson preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lawson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lawson wants to hold on but Almanez pushes him away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lawson working to try and regain half guard.

Almanez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lawson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lawson is looking to improve his position but Almanez isn't that keen on the idea.
Lawson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lawson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Almanez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lawson throwing strikes from guard but Almanez blocks nicely.
Lawson is in close to Almanez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Eric Lawson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lawson wants to control from the top but Almanez keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lawson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Almanez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lawson, into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almanez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lawson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Almanez throws a body punch but Lawson moves out of range.
Lawson blocks a jab.
Lawson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Almanez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Almanez throws a leg kick but Lawson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Almanez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lawson.
Almanez fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lawson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Lawson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lawson.
Almanez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lawson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lawson cracks a nice hook into Almanez's ribs.
Eric Lawson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Almanez lands a jab to the nose.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawson throws a hook to the side of Almanez's head but Almanez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Almanez throws a jab when Lawson was well out of range.
Lawson cracks Almanez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Almanez scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson misses with a looping left.
Almanez throws a leg kick but Lawson moved away.
Lawson misses with an uppercut.
Lawson throws a looping overhand right but Almanez ducks down to avoid it.
Lawson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice defenses there by Almanez.
Lawson connects with a looping right hand.
Lawson throws a low kick but Almanez moves out of range easily.
Lawson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lawson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Almanez scores with a nice strike.
Almanez throws a combination that misses
and Lawson counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Almanez looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
Almanez moves out of range of the strikes.
Lawson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almanez was well out of range. Poor timing from Lawson.
Lawson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almanez moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almanez with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawson thuds a left hand into Almanez's body.
Lawson throws a looping overhand right but Almanez ducks down to avoid it.
Almanez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Almanez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lawson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Almanez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Almanez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Almanez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Almanez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lawson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Almanez scrambles back to his feet.
Almanez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lawson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Almanez misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Almanez.
Lawson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Almanez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lawson scores with a push kick.
Jd Almanez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson looks for the body kick but Almanez saw that one coming.
Almanez looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
Lawson scores with a leg kick.
Lawson throws a big shot that misses.
Lawson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Almanez at a distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lawson!
Lawson throws a big shot that misses.
Lawson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
No joy there for Lawson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lawson scores with a push kick.
Almanez throws the left hand but Lawson avoids the punch easily.
Almanez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lawson.
Almanez throws a right and a left that Lawson avoids nicely.
Almanez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lawson.
Almanez misses with an uppercut.
Lawson lands a slapping body shot.
Eric Lawson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawson lunges at Almanez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Almanez's hand.
Almanez will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Almanez moves out of range of the body kick from Lawson.
Lawson stuns Almanez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lawson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Almanez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lawson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Almanez.
A jab from Lawson misses.
Nice shot lands for Almanez.
Almanez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lawson can pounce on him.
Almanez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lawson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Almanez misses with a low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almanez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lawson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice body kick there by Lawson.
Lawson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Lawson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lawson 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Lawson!
Eric Lawson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.