PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Meite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Lawrence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Meite
vs
Lawrence

184 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Solomon Meite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meite closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lawrence circles away.
Meite takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Meite takes a swing at Lawrence's ribcage but misses.
Nice takedown defense from Lawrence. No joy for Meite on that attempt.
Meite tries to clinch but Lawrence is having none of it.
Lawrence closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Solomon Meite has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meite buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lawrence tries to bum rush Meite with a series of wild strikes but Meite uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lawrence throws a series of strikes that have Meite backpedaling.
Meite fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Meite. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Meite is breathing heavily.

Lawrence closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Meite. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Lawrence's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lawrence thuds a left hand into Meite's body.
Lawrence will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawrence drops Meite with a right and a left! Lawrence comes rushing in but Meite regains his composure and manages to keep Lawrence in guard.

Meite is rocked!

Lawrence stands and steps away. Meite gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lawrence will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawrence misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Lawrence finds it's target.
A nice combination there by Lawrence.
Lawrence drops Meite with a left right combo! Lawrence follows him down to the ground into side control.
Oh Meite is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Lawrence decides to stand back up. Lawrence steps back and let's Meite get back to his feet.
Meite seems to have got his legs back now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd cheers as Lawrence lands an impressive looking overhand right. Meite doesn't seem phased though.
Lawrence is working the combinations to good effect here.
Lawrence fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawrence swinging wilding here.
Meite keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lawrence.
Lawrence connects with a jab.
Kevin Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Meite shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lawrence's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawrence is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lawrence keeping moving, preventing Meite from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence wants to get back to his feet but Meite is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Meite wants to control from the top but Lawrence keeps moving.

Lawrence working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Meite has passed into half guard!
Lawrence pushes Meite off looking to stand but Meite dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lawrence avoids the head kick by Meite.
A combination from Lawrence does no damage.
Meite fails with a takedown attempt.
Meite takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Meite tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lawrence swivels and escapes.
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawrence looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Meite scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lawrence is staying active underneath Meite, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Meite decides to return to a standing position.
Lawrence scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lawrence stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence misses with a few strikes there.
Lawrence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Meite circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Lawrence, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but Meite avoids it well.
Lawrence circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawrence moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lawrence swats away the attempt to clinch by Meite.
Lawrence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Meite circles away quickly and effectively.
Meite fails with the takedown.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lawrence, as that shot connected.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice combination there by Lawrence.
Meite dodges the punch combination from Lawrence.
Meite tries to bum rush Lawrence with a series of wild strikes but Lawrence uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Lawrence dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Solomon Meite's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lawrence throws a left and a right that both miss

and Meite counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lawrence wants to stand but Meite is controlling the position.
Meite working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lawrence is striking off his back. Meite thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Meite stands up and beckons Lawrence to join him on the feet.
Meite thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lawrence if he has to take too many more of those.
Meite has a takedown stuffed.
Meite misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lawrence bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Meite's head backwards.
Lawrence scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence falls off balance throwing a combination

and Meite counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Meite sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lawrence doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Meite drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Meite jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Lawrence has an active guard here but Meite has managed to pass into half guard.
Lawrence is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meite looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lawrence is trying to stand back up but Meite is controlling him
Lawrence throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Meite manages to pass to side control.
The referee asks Meite politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Meite prefers to stall for the moment though.
Lawrence is looking for a sweep.

Lawrence is trying to stand and escape here. He's got onto all fours but that's just let Meite take his back! Uh oh - Meite has got a rear naked choke here! Lawrence is forced to tap! It's all over! One monent is all it takes in this sport!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Solomon Meite!