PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Pounds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cooper Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper Lawson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Pounds
vs
Lawson

168 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tanner Pounds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cooper Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson scores with a nice right hand.
Lawson connects with a single shot there.
Lawson throws a series of strikes that have Pounds backpedaling.
Pounds takes a swing at Lawson's ribcage but misses.
Pounds takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lawson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A punch lands to the side of Pounds 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A big right from Pounds misses.
Lawson with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pounds closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lawson did well to prevent Pounds getting side control.
Pounds has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Pounds is looking to advance position but Lawson won't allow it.
Pounds not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pounds thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pounds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pounds lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pounds thows a huge punch but Lawson dodges it nicely.
Pounds looks to land a strike but Lawson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lawson pulls Pounds in close to prevent any damage.
Pounds 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.
Pounds pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lawson is keeping the position for now.
Pounds is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lawson wants to get back to his feet but Pounds passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pounds.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pounds.
Pounds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lawson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pounds wants to control but Lawson is keeping him busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pounds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cooper Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pounds throws an off balance right hand
and Lawson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pounds takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lawson with a hook.
Cooper Lawson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Pounds scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pounds working the ground and pound but Lawson is defending the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounds working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Pounds creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lawson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Pounds is trying to get an arm triangle but Lawson is defending well.
Sloppy strikes there by Pounds.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawson tries to escape but Pounds is in control.
Pounds working the head with strikes.
Pounds creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The strikes coming from Pounds are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Pounds fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Lawson is trying to control Pounds's posture but Pounds avoids it.
Pounds is working Lawson over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Pounds seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Pounds working the body and head with strikes.
Pounds creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lawson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Lawson is being controlled here.
Lawson stops Pounds from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pounds walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lawson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Lawson moves away from the strike by Pounds.
Lawson lands a jab-cross combination.
Lawson misses with a series of wild punches.
Pounds tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lawson stalks Pounds and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pounds's face. Pounds staggers backwards, shaken.
Pounds takes a swing at Lawson's ribcage but misses.
Pounds throws a looping overhand right but Lawson ducks down to avoid it.
Lawson jabs Pounds right on the nose. Pounds blinks but takes it well.
Lawson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Pounds fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lawson sprawls well initially but Pounds persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pounds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pounds wants to take a breather but Lawson is having none of it.
Pounds is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pounds is looking for a kimura here.
Pounds lands strikes from half guard.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pounds.
Pounds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lawson keeps working.
Pounds throwing shots but Lawson is blocking nicely.
Pounds working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lawson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pounds.
Lawson has hold of Pounds's hands but Pounds slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pounds is nestled in close to Lawson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pounds is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Lawson is rocked!
Pounds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lawson keeps working.
Pounds thows a huge punch but Lawson dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pounds sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lawson defending well though.
Pounds throwing shots but Lawson is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounds thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lawson's head.
Pounds throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Lawson to regain full guard.
Lawson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pounds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lawson throws a combination. Pounds tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pounds tries to score with a low kick but Lawson moves his leg out of the way.
Lawson lands with a slapping head kick.
Pounds walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pounds looks to throw the jab but Lawson is out of range.
Lawson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Lawson.
Lawson cracks the inside of Pounds's front leg.
Lawson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pounds moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pounds throws a hook but Lawson blocks it.
Lawson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson misses with a low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lawson.
Lawson throws a combination. Pounds tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pounds tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pounds dodges the punch combination from Lawson.
Lawson throws a hook to the side of Pounds's head but Pounds sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pounds throws a body shot but no joy.
Pounds tries to land a leg kick but Lawson saw it coming and moves away.
Lawson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lawson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Pounds throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lawson was covering up waiting for the punch and Pounds finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pounds controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cooper Lawson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pounds jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pounds. Lawson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawson is looking for the big counter here.
Lawson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pounds back to the cage. Lawson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A slow jab from Pounds misses its intended target.
Lawson slips a jab from Pounds.
Lawson works Pounds's body with a nice hook.
Lawson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Pounds drives through with a takedown into Lawson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pounds throws a big elbow that misses.
Pounds scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lawson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pounds accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pounds postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds working some strikes from top position.
Pounds preventing the sweep.
Pounds scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pounds pushes down on Lawson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pounds is keen to just control but Lawson is a slippery customer.
Pounds thows a huge punch but Lawson dodges it nicely.
Pounds throwing shots but Lawson is blocking nicely.
Pounds is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pounds lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is staying active underneath Pounds, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pounds.
Pounds working Lawson over with strikes.
Lawson tries to roll over but Pounds keeps him under control.
Pounds not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pounds scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pounds lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Pounds there.
Lawson is still in real trouble! Can Pounds finish him?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pounds lands a nice short elbow.
Pounds working Lawson over with strikes.
Pounds not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pounds missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Pounds there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds lands a big elbow - Lawson is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Pounds!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tanner Pounds!