PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Issac Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Velasquez
vs
Lawson

158 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
136 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Issac Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lawson gets a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lawson.
Lawson landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lawson obliges.
Lawson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.

Lawson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Velasquez is looking to get back to is feet but Lawson passes into side control.
Lawson has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Palace of Pain Gym - VCL - Rio. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
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 misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Velasquez's face as Lawson controls the position.
Lawson misses with the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here.
It looks like Lawson might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lawson throws a head kick but Velasquez moves out of range.

Lawson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Velasquez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lawson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Velasquez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lawson lands a hook that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.

Lawson decides to pull guard.
Velasquez stops Lawson from standing up.
Lawson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Velasquez throws a strike but Lawson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lawson is looking to work some ground and pound but Velasquez has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lawson is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lawson 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.
A punch lands to the side of Velasquez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawson throws a sloppy head kick and Velasquez moves out of range easily.
A quick step to the side and Velasquez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Lawson rushes Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lawson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A solid leg kick lands there for Lawson.
Lawson feints and then cracks Velasquez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Velasquez down.

Lawson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Velasquez kicks Lawson off and gets back to his feet.
Matt Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lawson instigates a clinch.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Lawson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Velasquez's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez wants to stand but Lawson is controlling the position.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez has a closed guard, preventing Lawson from standing up.
Lawson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lawson wanted to stand there but Velasquez had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lawson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Lawson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lawson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Velasquez bucks up and tries to throw Lawson off but instead Lawson has got his back!
Lawson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Velasquez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Velasquez for a finish.
Velasquez has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Lawson.

Lawson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Velasquez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Velasquez for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Matt Lawson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velasquez trying to control the hands but Lawson breaks the grip.
Lawson keeps control of the position easily here as Velasquez tries to buck him off.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lawson controlling the position well here. Velasquez rolled but Lawson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Velasquez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lawson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Velasquez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lawson on the side of the head.
Velasquez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lawson.
A head kick misses from Lawson.
Lawson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velasquez.

Lawson closes the distance and clinches.
A right hand to the body from Lawson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Lawson.
Velasquez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Lawson clinches up with Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Lawson avoiding damage.
Lawson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Velasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lawson has closed the distance and engaged Velasquez in a clinch.

Lawson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lawson has closed the distance and engaged Velasquez in a clinch.
Velasquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lawson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.

Velasquez tries to keep at a distance but Lawson has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lawson.

Lawson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Lawson closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawson tries to land knees in the clinch but Velasquez avoids the damage to the body.
Velasquez lands a damaging elbow.
Velasquez looking to slow down the pace here.

Lawson successfully pulls guard.
Lawson looking for a sweep. Not yet Lawson, not yet.
Velasquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.
Lawson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
Lawson has Velasquez pulled in close to control his posture.
Lawson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lawson trying to keep a closed guard but Velasquez is proving a slippery customer.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lawson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lawson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Velasquez moves into the clinch.
Lawson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matt Lawson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Velasquez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Velasquez up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Lawson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matt Lawson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Lawson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Lawson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velasquez keeps working.
Velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.
Issac Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez desperately trying to maintain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Lawson!
Matt Lawson decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.