PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maki Tantor (ranked 2331 p4p, 2560 weight class) and Malachi Lawrence (ranked 320 p4p, 344 weight class). Malachi Lawrence has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tantor
vs
Lawrence

182 cm
28
180
16 - 9 - 0

180 cm
29
174
13 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hardcore Alchemy

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Maki Tantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tantor lands a high kick!

It looks like Malachi Lawrence has been cut.
Tantor throws a head kick but Lawrence moves out of range.
Tantor fails to land with a series of punches.
Tantor scores with a shot to the body.
Tantor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tantor lands a head kick!
Lawrence is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tantor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses.
Lawrence feints the counter takedown.
We've been told by Tantor's head coaches at Shut Up & Train! {$1000} that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but Tantor shows good takedown defense.
Lawrence jabs at Tantor's body.
Tantor is looking to chop away at Lawrence's legs.
Tantor plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor throws a leg kick

and Lawrence counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Tantor has his feet on Lawrence's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lawrence was well out of range. Poor timing from Tantor.
Tantor keeps Lawrence at a distance using the push kick.
Tantor throws a lazy uppercut

and Lawrence counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tantor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lawrence.
Lawrence wants to control from the top but Tantor keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tantor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lawrence with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor is looking to stand up but Lawrence isn't so interested in that idea.
Lawrence working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lawrence accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tantor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tantor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tantor wants to stand but Lawrence is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maki Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawrence lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor wants to land a leg kick but Lawrence is out of range.
Tantor throws the kick towards the body but Lawrence avoids it.
Lawrence doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Tantor on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tantor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lawrence misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawrence takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tantor.
Tantor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tantor throws a lazy head kick

and Lawrence counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
Lawrence stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tantor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a big elbow that misses.
Lawrence distracts Tantor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawrence working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawrence is looking to advance position but Tantor has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Tantor tries to control but Lawrence wriggling away.
Lawrence gets back to half guard.
Lawrence tries to roll over but Tantor keeps him under control.
Tantor seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maki Tantor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lawrence jabs at Tantor's body.
Tantor takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tantor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawrence looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tantor throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Lawrence counters with a takedown into side control.

Tantor throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but Tantor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor is looking for a counter combo.
Lawrence comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tantor connects with a leg kick.
Tantor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A good leg kick by Tantor.
Tantor lands with a thumping leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lawrence. That's going to slow Tantor down.
Tantor misses with a low kick as Lawrence jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tantor throws a lazy head kick

and Lawrence counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tantor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tantor is trying to maintain the position but Lawrence is very close to passing his half guard.
Malachi Lawrence has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lawrence thows a huge punch but Tantor dodges it nicely.

Lawrence seems to be working for a kimura but Tantor defends the submission attempt.
Lawrence looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tantor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence with the ground and pound but Tantor uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lawrence throws an elbow that misses. Tantor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lawrence's guard. Nice move by Tantor!

Lawrence is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lawrence has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lawrence looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tantor is one step ahead there.

Lawrence throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lawrence looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lawrence throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Tantor gets to his feet. Lawrence looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tantor tries to land a body kick

and Lawrence decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tantor's guard.

Tantor is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lawrence looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lawrence being controlled against the cage.
Lawrence drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tantor breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence misses the shot to the body.
Lawrence throws a good cross that connects.
A head kick misses from Tantor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawrence fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lawrence is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tantor rather than just go for the knockout.
Lawrence bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lawrence falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tantor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tantor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lawrence lands a body shot.
Tantor throws a head kick but Lawrence moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maki Tantor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lawrence throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tantor.
Lawrence with a hook.
Maki Tantor is winning the standup battle so far.
Lawrence moves out of range as Tantor throws a body kick.
Tantor throws a front kick aimed at Lawrence's knee but Lawrence avoids it well.
Tantor throws the kick towards the body but Lawrence avoids it.
Tantor lands a head kick!
Tantor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A lazy left from Lawrence finds it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawrence misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tantor.
Tantor lands a high kick!
Lawrence avoids the head kick by Tantor.
Lawrence doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That has opened up Malachi Lawrence's cut even more.
Lawrence scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tantor misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawrence swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tantor.
Tantor throws a sloppy head kick
and Lawrence counters with a left and a right that stings Tantor.
Lawrence shoots in but Tantor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses

and Lawrence decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tantor's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawrence working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lawrence scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lawrence chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence postures up in Tantor's guard and throws a big left but Tantor blocks it.
Lawrence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lawrence works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lawrence is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lawrence seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lawrence missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lawrence scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Malachi Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence working the head and body with strikes.
Lawrence not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lawrence lands with a punch from half guard.
Lawrence thows a huge punch but Tantor dodges it nicely.
Lawrence not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lawrence working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lawrence missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lawrence lands with a punch from half guard.
Lawrence thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tantor's head.
Lawrence throwing shots but Tantor is blocking nicely.
Maki Tantor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tantor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lawrence.
Lawrence is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Lawrence is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tantor sees it coming and defends easily.
Tantor wants to get back to full guard.
Tantor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tantor scores with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Tantor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malachi Lawrence comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tantor 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Malachi Lawrence!