PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Solomon Zook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Solomon Zook has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Eric Lawler's chin.

Lawler
vs
Zook

180 cm
35
197 lbs
30 - 13 - 0

177 cm
36
196 lbs
23 - 12 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Eric Lawler!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Solomon Zook!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lawler tries to score with a low kick but Zook moves his leg out of the way.
Lawler lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zook has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lawler.
Lawler misses with a body shot

and Zook counters with a single leg into guard. Lawler didn't expect that.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Zook tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawler is retaining full guard.
Lawler is pulling down on Zook's head. It's preventing any offense from Zook, at least for the moment.
Zook with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lawler wants to stand and escape but Zook is having none of it.
Zook lands a couple of digs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zook won't allow Lawler to sweep him here.
Zook tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawler is retaining full guard.
Lawler is looking to stand up but Zook isn't so interested in that idea.
Lawler is pulling down on Zook's head. It's preventing any offense from Zook, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zook trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zook throws a big right hand that misses.
Zook stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lawler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zook trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zook throwing strikes from guard but Lawler blocks nicely.
Zook trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lawler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zook has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lawler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zook in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zook tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawler is retaining full guard.
Lawler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lawler is trying to control the position but Zook postures up.
Zook trying to move into half guard but instead Lawler has managed to sweep!
Lawler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zook is keeping the position for now.
Lawler passes Zook's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zook's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lawler is looking for a kimura here.
Zook is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Lawler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zook is staying active underneath Lawler, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zook has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Lawler is on him like a limpet, forcing Zook back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Lawler - that landed with a thud.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zook throws an elbow but misses.
Zook tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lawler's elbow.
Zook looking to throw knees to the head but Lawler is blocking nicely.
Lawler lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zook or not.
Zook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lawler has him pressed against the cage.
Lawler is trying to drag Zook to the mat but Zook just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lawler dodges an elbow strike from Zook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Lawler avoids the damage to the body.
Lawler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lawler is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zook is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lawler pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Zook dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zook lands a nice shot that snaps Lawler's head back.
Lawler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawler misses with a straight left.
A shot to the liver by Lawler. Beautiful body shot.
Zook uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawler.
Zook looks to land a left hand but Lawler moved out of range nicely.
Lawler misses with a wild body shot.
Lawler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zook moves away.
Lawler thows a body shot but no joy.
Lawler misses with a kick to the body.
Lawler throws a leg kick that is checked

and Zook counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zook.
Lawler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zook is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zook throwing strikes from guard but Lawler blocks nicely.
Zook throws a big elbow that misses.
Zook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zook postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zook throwing strikes from guard but Lawler blocks nicely.
Zook won't allow Lawler to get back to his feet.
Zook is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawler seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zook throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler pulls Zook in close to prevent any damage.
Zook throwing strikes but missing.
Lawler keeping full guard, as Zook tries to pass.
Lawler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zook is one step ahead there.
Lawler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zook throws a sloppy strike and Lawler has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Zook is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Lawler!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Eric Lawler!
Eric Lawler is the new middleweight champion!
Eric Lawler thanked the fans post fight for their support.