PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Romulus Gerber (ranked 2204 p4p, 1766 weight class) and Malachi Lawrence (ranked 308 p4p, 243 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gerber
vs
Lawrence

179 cm
29
182
14 - 11 - 1

180 cm
29
174
14 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 14 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romulus Gerber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerber throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lawrence counters with a stiff right hand.
Malachi Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawrence swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gerber counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lawrence scores with a nice right hand.
Gerber has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Lawrence ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lawrence 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.
Gerber turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lawrence throws a sloppy body shot
letting Gerber counter with a right hand.

It looks like Malachi Lawrence has been cut.
A combination from Lawrence does no damage.
Lawrence scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gerber in his tracks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gerber.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gerber misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lawrence lands a nice shot to the body.
Lawrence fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lawrence scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lawrence looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gerber gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lawrence.
Lawrence scores with a hook to the body. Gerber takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A big right from Gerber misses.
Lawrence throws out a counter right but Gerber avoids it with no problem.
A left lands for Lawrence.

Lawrence decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lawrence not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gerber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gerber is controlling Lawrence's trapped leg to prevent Lawrence from advancing to side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawrence lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Lawrence is working for a submission of some sort.
Lawrence not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawrence takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lawrence thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gerber is looking to improve his position.
Lawrence lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Lawrence is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gerber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lawrence.
Lawrence thows a huge punch but Gerber dodges it nicely.

Lawrence is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gerber defends it well.
Gerber blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lawrence.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lawrence is trying to control the action in half guard but Gerber is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lawrence lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lawrence scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lawrence is trying to control. Gerber wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gerber looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lawrence stalling away here and it's allowed Gerber to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Lawrence has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lawrence preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawrence distracts Gerber with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lawrence trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malachi Lawrence dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gerber moves out of range of the body kick.
Lawrence tries for a takedown but Gerber sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gerber is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Lawrence moves away from the strike by Gerber.
Lawrence throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gerber counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lawrence lands a nice looking body shot.
Lawrence wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A telegraphed right hand from Lawrence misses the target.
Lawrence just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lawrence takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lawrence throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gerber throws a quick counter kick to the body but Lawrence avoids it.
Lawrence ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lawrence fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Malachi Lawrence seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence misses with a hook. Gerber ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Gerber misses the target.
Lawrence lands a head shot.
Gerber takes one to the side of the head.
Lawrence throws a nice looking combination but Gerber bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gerber lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lawrence's sensitive parts.
Lawrence closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lawrence has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawrence misses with a kick to the body.
Gerber swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gerber misses the body punch
and Lawrence counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Gerber is looking to counter punch.
Gerber feints a jab promting Lawrence to slip. Gerber then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lawrence slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gerber misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawrence.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Gerber. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gerber.
Lawrence tries to bum rush Gerber with a series of wild strikes but Gerber uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gerber leaves Lawrence with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lawrence lands a head shot.
Lawrence throws a hook but Gerber blocks it.
Lawrence misses with a wild combination.
Gerber walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lawrence checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lawrence.
Gerber is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A jab from Gerber misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gerber.

That has opened up Malachi Lawrence's cut even more.

Gerber lands a big head kick that sends Lawrence tumbling to the mat! Gerber takes a step backwards and waves Lawrence back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Lawrence closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gerber's guard.
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 work some ground and pound but Gerber has wrist control.
Lawrence throwing strikes but missing.
Gerber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lawrence is one step ahead there.
Gerber lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gerber controls the pace.

Lawrence looking for a guillotine here but Gerber defends easily.
Lawrence looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gerber is one step ahead there.
Lawrence not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lawrence pulls Gerber in close to his closed guard and prevents Gerber from doing any damage or advancing position.
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 Romulus Gerber will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gerber gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lawrence misses with a wild body shot.
Gerber thows a leg kick but Lawrence checks it
and Lawrence counters with a nice uppercut.
Gerber gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lawrence.
Lawrence misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lawrence keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gerber counters with a stiff right hand.
Malachi Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawrence misses with an uppercut. Gerber saw that one coming.
Lawrence ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gerber moves away.
Lawrence throws a combination that misses
and Gerber counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gerber.
Lawrence misses with the combination.
A low kick from Gerber is predictable there
and Lawrence counters with a two punch combo.
Lawrence lands with a nice combination. Gerber backs away looking to recover.
Gerber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawrence throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gerber counters with a body kick that stops Lawrence in his tracks momentarily.
Lawrence takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A shot to the body from Lawrence misses
and Gerber counters with a head kick. That will keep Lawrence thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

The cut above Malachi Lawrence's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A telegraphed right hand from Lawrence misses the target.
Lawrence shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gerber counters with a nice uppercut.

Malachi Lawrence's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerber lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerber lands a nice looking body kick.
Lawrence takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gerber bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lawrence misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gerber.
Gerber avoids the body shot from Lawrence.
Gerber throws a leg kick but Lawrence sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Gerber throws a wild body kick that Lawrence sees coming a mile off.
Gerber misses with a series of wild punches.
Gerber lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gerber moves away.
Lawrence throws a nice looking combination but Gerber bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It appears Gerber was looking to counter with a kick there.
Lawrence misses with a wild body shot.
Gerber looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gerber shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Lawrence throws a body punch but Gerber moves out of range.
Gerber lands with an overhand left.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Malachi Lawrence's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Romulus Gerber!
During a confident post fight interview, Romulus Gerber thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.