PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lacasa Palau (ranked 24834 p4p, 23540 weight class) and Rob Lock (ranked 808 p4p, 837 weight class). Rob Lock is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Palau
vs
Lock

183 cm
19
185
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
19
190
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lacasa Palau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Lock!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lock shoots in looking for a takedown. Palau tries to sprawl out of it but Lock keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Palau manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Palau shoots in but no luck this time.
Lock is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Palau with a body shot.

Palau instigates a clinch.
Palau is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lock is defending well.

Palau breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Palau as Lock shoots in.
A head kick misses from Palau.

Lock shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Palau's guard.

Palau looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palau working a defensive guard here.
Lock controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palau is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Palau is looking for a triangle but Lock pushes his legs off easily.
Lock trying to control but Palau is working from the bottom.
Lock must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lock with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lock forces his way into half guard.
Lock missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lock is thwarting Palau's attempts to control the position.

That's two 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.
Lock trying to control the pace.
Lock trying to control from Palau's half guard. Palau has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Palau looking for a sweep. Not yet Palau, not yet.
Lock loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Palau throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Palau working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lock has passed into half guard!
Lock winds up and cracks Palau with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lock scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Palau tries to roll over but Lock keeps him under control.
Lock throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Palau to regain full guard.
Lock postures up.
Lock is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Palau has Lock pulled in close to control his posture.

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.
Lock postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Palau is looking to sweep but instead, Lock has passed into half guard.
Palau is refusing to be controlled, as Lock sits in half guard.
Lock looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Palau with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Palau has hold of Lock's hands but Lock slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lock prevents Palau from improving his position.
Lock trying to control the action but Palau is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Lock dominated that round.
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.

Lock fails with a takedown attempt.
Palau was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rob Lock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Palau shoots in looking for a takedown but Lock manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Palau's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lock shoots in looking for a takedown but Palau manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lock's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Palau thinks about countering with a body kick.
Palau displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lock.
Palau is looking for a counter combo.
Lacasa Palau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Lock.
Lock fails with a takedown attempt.
Palau throws a series of punches but Lock avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lock.
Lock just content to control the position.
Rob Lock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palau tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palau is trying to control Lock's posture but Lock avoids it.
Lock working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Lock working away.
Lock lands a few punches from side control.
Lock grinds an elbow into Palau's temple.
Palau can't do much from the bottom here.

Lock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Palau is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lock wants to control but Palau is keeping him busy.
Palau pushes Lock away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lock gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lock working the head with strikes.
Palau regains half guard.
Palau is looking to improve his position.
Lock is nestled in close to Palau, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lock working Palau over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lock prevents Palau from improving his position.
Lock controlling the pace.
Lock prevents Palau from improving his position.
Palau is looking to control Lock's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Palau avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lock connects with a nice short shot to Palau's temple.
Palau wants to control but Lock is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Palau is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lock's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lock's back!
Lock tries to break free.
Lock looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Palau controlling well, preventing Lock from escaping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lock keeps trying to improve his position.

Palau is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lock knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lock for a finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rob Lock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Palau tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lock dives in and grabs Palau's left leg, looking for a takedown. Palau pushes down on Lock's head and hops out.

Lock closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Palau to the mat! Palau manages to get full guard.
Palau wants to get back to his feet but Lock passes into half guard.

Palau trying to control from the bottom.
Palau wants to improve his position but Lock is controlling well.
Palau is trying to maintain the position but Lock is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palau tries to get to full guard but Lock has control of the leg.
Palau is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palau manages to get to full guard.
Lock trying to control the position from guard on top but Palau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palau wants to get back to his feet but Lock is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lock wants to pass the guard but Palau is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Lock is working Palau over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Palau throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lock looking to sit in guard and control but Palau gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lock had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Palau defends it easily.
Palau won't allow Lock to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lock has his hands on Palau's head, controlling the position.
Palau throws a big elbow that misses.
Palau sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lock doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lock shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lock dives in and scores a takedown into Palau's guard.
Palau lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Palau advances position into side control!
Lock is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Palau's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lock trying to control from the bottom.
Lacasa Palau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob Lock is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Palau is looking to advance position but Lock won't allow it.

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 Lacasa Palau.
I think Lock has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rob Lock!