PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Becak Lawu (ranked 4380 p4p, 206 weight class) and James Sullivan (ranked 6470 p4p, 274 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lawu
vs
Sullivan

190 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Becak Lawu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Sullivan!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lawu gets caught napping as Sullivan dives in and scores a takedown. Lawu manages to retain guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Lawu manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Lawu looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Sullivan decides to pull guard.
Lawu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sullivan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sullivan striking off his back but it's not causing Lawu any problems.

Lawu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sullivan fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Lawu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Sullivan gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan just leaning against Lawu, taking a breather.
Sullivan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lawu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sullivan cracks Lawu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lawu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sullivan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lawu was well out of range. Poor timing from Sullivan.
Lawu is looking for a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sullivan.
Becak Lawu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sullivan.
Sullivan throws a lazy head kick
and Lawu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses
and Lawu counters with a series of strikes. Sullivan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sullivan dives in and grabs Lawu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lawu pushes down on Sullivan's head and hops out.
As Sullivan looks to move away, Lawu throws a big counter combo but Sullivan just gets out of the way.

Sullivan has closed the distance and engaged Lawu in a clinch.

Sullivan pulls guard.

Sullivan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lawu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lawu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lawu stands and steps away. Sullivan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sullivan tries to clinch
and Lawu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Lawu gets tackled into the cage by Sullivan. Sullivan maintains the clinch.
Sullivan slows down the pace here.
Lawu tries to pull guard but Sullivan won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lawu smiles and moves away.
Sullivan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lawu defends it nicely.
Lawu seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sullivan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lawu is looking for a counter combo.
Sullivan misses with a head kick.
Lawu seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sullivan moves in looking to clinch but Lawu pushes him off.
Lawu throws a big counter combination but Sullivan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Becak Lawu will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sullivan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lawu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lawu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sullivan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lawu counters with a series of strikes. Sullivan will be more careful next time no doubt.

Sullivan pushes Lawu up against the cage in a clinch.
Sullivan is trying to break the clinch but Lawu is controlling him.
Lawu prevents the takedown attempt.
Lawu tries to pull guard but Sullivan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sullivan pulls Lawu into guard.
Sullivan trying to control the position.
Lawu wants to get up but he can't break Sullivan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan trying to control the position.
Sullivan is controlling Lawu's posture.

Sullivan is working an open guard so Lawu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lawu slaps away a takedown attempt from Sullivan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As Sullivan looks to move away, Lawu throws a big counter combo but Sullivan just gets out of the way.
Sullivan throws a lazy head kick
and Lawu counters with a one-two to the body.

Sullivan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lawu, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan fails to pull guard.
Becak Lawu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sullivan.
Sullivan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lawu after a bit of a struggle.
Sullivan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lawu pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Lawu pulls Sullivan into guard.
James Sullivan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sullivan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Sullivan. Those never looked like landing.
As Sullivan looks to move away, Lawu throws a big counter combo but Sullivan just gets out of the way.
Sullivan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawu stuffs the takedown attempt from Sullivan. Sullivan gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawu appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sullivan moves to clinch but Lawu breaks away
and Lawu counters with a three punch combo that has Sullivan backing up. Sullivan nods at Lawu to acknowledge the strikes.

Sullivan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lawu quickly recovers to half guard.
Sullivan is looking to stall here but Lawu recovers full guard.

Lawu manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawu ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lawu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sullivan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lawu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sullivan can do to turn this around?
Sullivan trying to control but Lawu is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sullivan gets to his feet. Lawu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Becak Lawu dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sullivan darts in looking for a takedown but Lawu gets double underhooks and turns Sullivan into the cage.
Lawu throws a big counter combination but Sullivan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Lawu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
James Sullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sullivan moves into the clinch.
Lawu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan tries to score a body lock takedown but Lawu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Becak Lawu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Sullivan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawu blocks the elbow strike.

Sullivan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lawu sprawls well. Lawu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sullivan gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawu appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Lawu. No joy for Sullivan on that attempt.
As Sullivan looks to move away, Lawu throws a big counter combo but Sullivan just gets out of the way.
Lawu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sullivan.
Sullivan throws a head kick but Lawu moves out of range.
Lawu is looking for a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt
and Lawu counters with a series of strikes. Sullivan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sullivan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lawu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sullivan somewhat.
Lawu appears to be looking for a big counter.
Becak Lawu is winning the standup battle so far.
Sullivan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lawu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sullivan goes for a double leg but Lawu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lawu continues to drive forward.
Sullivan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lawu counters with a three punch combo that has Sullivan backing up. Sullivan nods at Lawu to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but Lawu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Lawu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but Lawu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Lawu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sullivan shoots for a takedown but Lawu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lawu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sullivan looks to land a combination but Lawu avoids it well.
Lawu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sullivan.
As Sullivan looks to move away, Lawu throws a big counter combo but Sullivan just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan fails with the takedown
and Lawu counters with a two punch combo.
Sullivan with a poor takedown
and Lawu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but Lawu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Lawu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sullivan misses with a combination
and Lawu counters with a left and a right that stings Sullivan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lawu but Lawu pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Becak Lawu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lawu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Becak Lawu!