PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lawrence (ranked 972 p4p, 1243 weight class) and Mauro Carnera (ranked 134 p4p, 171 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Lawrence might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to No Surrender. Carnera has chosen Bad Religion - Infected as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lawrence
vs
Carnera

180 cm
27
195
16 - 9 - 0

190 cm
30
201
17 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mauro Carnera!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Carnera manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Carnera is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Carnera misses with the head strike.

Carnera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Carnera tries to land a front kick but Lawrence steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
John Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawrence has a takedown stuffed.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lawrence!
Carnera has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lawrence lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Carnera has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Carnera and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lawrence needs to keep his hands up - Carnera had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawrence looks to land a right hand but Carnera moved out of range.
Lawrence throws a looping overhand right but Carnera ducks down to avoid it.
Lawrence misses the jab.
Carnera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lawrence.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lawrence lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Carnera has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Carnera and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Carnera misses with a jab to the body
and Lawrence counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence dives in for a single leg takedown but Carnera sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lawrence throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Carnera misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawrence misses with a straight left.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but Carnera avoids it well.
Carnera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carnera tries to bum rush Lawrence with a series of wild strikes but Lawrence uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lawrence ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lawrence avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carnera connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Carnera lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lawrence tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Carnera swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a right hand that Carnera ducks under and follows up with a left that Carnera also avoids with ease.
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!
Some wild striking there from Carnera.
Lawrence throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Carnera digs a good hook to Lawrence's body.
Lawrence throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Carnera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Carnera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A punch combination from Carnera misses.
Lawrence tries to counter with a takedown but Carnera is quick to defend against it.
Carnera needs to keep his hands up - Lawrence had a free shot at his head there.
Carnera throws a poor cross that misses
letting Lawrence counter with a right hand.

Lawrence gets the takedown into side control.
Carnera wants to get back to his feet but Lawrence drags him back down.
Lawrence passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Carnera!
Lawrence postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Carnera looks a forlorn figure.
Lawrence sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence with the ground and pound from mount.

Lawrence goes for an armbar but Carnera turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Carnera.
Lawrence controls Carnera momentarily but Carnera frees himself.
Carnera won't allow Lawrence to sweep him here.
Lawrence is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lawrence looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lawrence wants to hit a sweep here but Carnera passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Lawrence there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence regains half guard.
Lawrence is trying to control but Carnera passes into side control!
Lawrence manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lawrence makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lawrence.
Lawrence not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carnera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Lawrence has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carnera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lawrence is trying to keep Carnera in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauro Carnera will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lawrence bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Carnera's head.

It looks like Mauro Carnera has been cut.
Carnera pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Lawrence back to the cage. Carnera follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Carnera cracks a nice hook into Lawrence's ribs.
Carnera on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Carnera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lawrence was well out of range. Poor timing from Carnera.
Carnera misses with a leg kick
and Carnera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lawrence tries a low kick but Carnera avoids it.
Lawrence throws a right hand that misses
and Carnera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lawrence throws a body kick that misses
and Carnera counters with an outside leg kick.
Lawrence throws a hook to the side of Carnera's head but Carnera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carnera has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lawrence connects with a single shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice combination there by Carnera.
Lawrence tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Carnera swivels and escapes.
Lawrence uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carnera.
Lawrence works Carnera's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carnera slips a jab from Lawrence.
Mauro Carnera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawrence ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lawrence fails with the takedown.
Lawrence fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Carnera misses with an uppercut
and Lawrence counters with a right hand to the body.
Lawrence throws a front kick aimed at Carnera's knee but Carnera avoids it well.
Carnera misses the shot to the body.
Carnera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawrence.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carnera's corner calls for a 1-2. Carnera obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lawrence misses with a combination
and Carnera counters with a left to the body.
Carnera throws a body shot but no joy.
Carnera's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lawrence under the eye.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but Carnera shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lawrence throws a leg kick
and Carnera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Good work by Carnera as he checks the leg kick.
Lawrence dips to his left and cracks Carnera with an uppercut!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from Carnera misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lawrence throws a hook but Carnera blocks it.
Lawrence throws a hook to the side of Carnera's head but Carnera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carnera swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Carnera's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Carnera duly obliges.
Lawrence throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Carnera doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Carnera misses with an uppercut. Lawrence saw that one coming.
Lawrence shoots for a takedown but Carnera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lawrence throws a right hand that misses
and Lawrence takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sloppy strikes from Carnera. Those never looked like landing.
Lawrence will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Carnera only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Carnera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawrence manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Carnera avoids them all with ease.
Carnera looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Carnera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawrence.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lawrence. That's going to slow Carnera down.
Lawrence thows a left - swing and a miss!
Carnera doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Lawrence slips under a jab.
Carnera throws a right hand that Lawrence ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawrence also avoids with ease.
Carnera slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Carnera misses with an uppercut.
Lawrence takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lawrence slips under a jab.
Carnera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Carnera throws a leg kick that misses.
Lawrence misses with a kick to the body.
Despite the aggression on Carnera's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lawrence misses with a two punch combination.
The fighters circling - Lawrence throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence ducks under a wild hook from Carnera.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carnera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Carnera if he has to take too many more of those.
Lawrence goes for a double leg but Carnera avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Carnera continues to drive forward.
Lawrence walks into a left hand.
Lawrence fails with the takedown
and Carnera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carnera sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Lawrence comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lawrence looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lawrence lunges at Carnera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Carnera's hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawrence misses with a body kick.
Mauro Carnera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lawrence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Lawrence wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Carnera fails to land with a series of punches.
Carnera displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauro Carnera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mauro Carnera's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Carnera misses the shot to the body.
Lawrence misses with a body shot.
Carnera lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lawrence comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lawrence swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mauro Carnera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lawrence manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Carnera on his heels. He'll look to pass Carnera's guard now, I'm sure.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Carnera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carnera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lawrence.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Carnera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawrence in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carnera is keeping the position for now.
Lawrence is working hard here to advance position.
Carnera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Carnera is looking to stand up but Lawrence isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Carnera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lawrence was well out of range. Poor timing from Carnera.
Carnera staying out of range there.
Lawrence shoots in but Carnera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Carnera misses with a straight left.
Carnera takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Carnera throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lawrence with a poor takedown
and Carnera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carnera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carnera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Carnera ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Carnera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carnera misses with a few strikes there.
Lawrence throws a body kick that misses.
Lawrence shoots in looking for a takedown. Carnera tries to sprawl out of it but Lawrence keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carnera manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carnera scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
John Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lawrence looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Carnera makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Carnera.
A low kick from Lawrence misses
and Lawrence takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lawrence looks to land a left hand but Carnera moved out of range nicely.
Carnera scores with a shot to the body.
Carnera throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Carnera misses with a hook to the body
and Lawrence makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Carnera throws a body shot but no joy.
Carnera connects with a right hand. Lawrence shakes it off.
Carnera misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lawrence misses with a looping right.
Carnera throws a right and a left that Lawrence avoids nicely.
Carnera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab from Lawrence.
Mauro Carnera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence swings widly with a right hand
and Carnera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Carnera connects with a solid leg kick.
Carnera throws a hook but Lawrence blocks it.
A little feinted left hand from Lawrence on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Carnera chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A telegraphed right hand from Lawrence misses the target.
Lawrence walks into a jab.
Lawrence throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Carnera counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lawrence's knee momentarily.
Carnera scores with a punch to the head.
Carnera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lawrence missing with a left hand there. Carnera was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Carnera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lawrence moves away.
Lawrence throws a big shot that misses.
Carnera throws out a counter right but Lawrence avoids it with no problem.
Carnera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lawrence is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Carnera.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauro Carnera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Carnera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauro Carnera!
A relieved looking Mauro Carnera thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated John Lawrence had this to say: 'Cobra Kai Rules!! Ill be back. No retreat! No surrender! Strike First! Strike Hard!'.