PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fermin Vasquez (ranked 5410 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeake Lawson (ranked 5411 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.

Vasquez
vs
Lawson

212 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fermin Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zeake Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez misses with a head kick.

Lawson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vasquez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lawson is in Vasquez's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vasquez looking for a guillotine here but Lawson defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasquez trying to strike off his back.

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

Vasquez working for a triangle but Lawson defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Vasquez, not yet.
Vasquez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lawson postures up.

Vasquez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lawson is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Vasquez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lawson controls the pace.
Vasquez trying to strike off his back.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lawson scoring with some ground and pound.
Lawson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lawson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vasquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lawson passes into half guard.
Vasquez is breathing heavily.

Lawson seems to be working for a kimura but Vasquez defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lawson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lawson wants to stand up but Vasquez is controlling the position.
Lawson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Vasquez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lawson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Vasquez is looking for a sweep. Lawson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vasquez is working hard here to advance position.

Lawson decides to stand and escape the position.

Lawson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vasquez napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson controls the position from side control.
Vasquez is trying to get back to half guard.
Vasquez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Lawson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Lawson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vasquez is striking from the bottom but Lawson uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Lawson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lawson wants to control but Vasquez is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson blocks the strikes from Vasquez.
Vasquez is trying to stand up here but Lawson is controlling him well.
Vasquez trying to hold on to Lawson's head to control him but Lawson postures up.
Lawson blocks the strikes from Vasquez.
Vasquez trying to hold on to Lawson's head to control him but Lawson postures up.
Lawson is keen to just control but Vasquez is a slippery customer.
Vasquez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vasquez.
Vasquez trying to strike off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vasquez is on top in guard.

Lawson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeake Lawson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lawson clinches.
Vasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lawson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vasquez misses with a head kick.

Lawson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Vasquez kicks off Lawson and gets to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vasquez tries to sprawl but Lawson drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Vasquez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lawson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vasquez to the mat! Vasquez manages to get full guard.

Vasquez is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez working a defensive guard here.
Oh Vasquez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vasquez 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lawson stopping the sweep attempt from Vasquez.

Lawson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vasquez seems to have got his legs back now.

Vasquez is looking for a triangle but Lawson pushes his legs off easily.

Vasquez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lawson trying to control but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Lawson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zeake Lawson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vasquez lands a decent punch to the body there.

Lawson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lawson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lawson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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.

Vasquez looking for a guillotine here but Lawson defends easily.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.
Vasquez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Vasquez lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Vasquez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Lawson gets to his feet - Vasquez follows without any prompting.

Lawson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Lawson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lawson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Vasquez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is looking to reverse the position.
Lawson scores with punches from side control.
Vasquez wants to control but Lawson postures up.
Vasquez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vasquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lawson is concentrating on defense, preventing Vasquez from advancing position.
Lawson is pressing down on Vasquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Lawson looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vasquez won't allow Lawson to sweep him here.
Vasquez is working Lawson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Vasquez stands up and waves to Lawson to follow him.

Lawson feints and as Vasquez raises his hands in defense, Lawson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Vasquez has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Lawson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lawson to keep the fight standing.

Vasquez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fermin Vasquez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lawson drives through and clinches with Vasquez against the cage.
Lawson is looking to break free of the clinch but Vasquez has double underhooks.
Vasquez has Lawson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lawson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vasquez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Lawson manages to break the clinch.
Lawson tries a head kick but it misses.
Zeake Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lawson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Vasquez kicks Lawson off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasquez quickly recovers to half guard.

Vasquez pushes Lawson off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson throws the kick towards the body but Vasquez avoids it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vasquez enables Lawson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vasquez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Vasquez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Vasquez tries to sprawl but Lawson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasquez is holding on to half guard well.
Lawson wants to take a breather but Vasquez is having none of it.
Lawson blocks the strikes from Vasquez.
Lawson wants to pass to mount but Vasquez is defending the position.
Vasquez is looking to control Lawson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vasquez avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Lawson is working for a submission of some sort.
Lawson wants to take a breather but Vasquez is having none of it.
Vasquez lands with a few short shots to the body.
Lawson wants to take a breather but Vasquez is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lawson avoids the head kick by Vasquez.

Lawson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vasquez to the ground. Lawson is now in Vasquez's guard.
Lawson chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Vasquez keeping full guard, as Lawson tries to pass.
Vasquez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Vasquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.

Vasquez has his foot on Lawson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lawson works his way back into a safe position though.
Lawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lawson postures up and lands a big shot to Vasquez's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vasquez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Vasquez is striking off his back. Lawson thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Vasquez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Lawson is working for a kimura but Vasquez is defending it quite comfortably.
It looks like Lawson is going to stand back up.
Vasquez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Vasquez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fermin Vasquez.
I think Vasquez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fermin Vasquez!