PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 25076 p4p, 6448 weight class) and Ray Lawris (ranked 733 p4p, 660 weight class). Ray Lawris has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aldo
vs
Lawris

188 cm
26
205
0 - 2 - 0

167 cm
27
205
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Lawris!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawris avoids the head kick by Aldo.
Aldo slips a jab and a cross from Lawris.
Lawris moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Aldo throws a head kick that Lawris semi-blocks.
Lawris will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawris throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aldo throws a head kick but Lawris moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Lawris misses with a few strikes there.
Lawris moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
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!
Aldo misses with a head kick.
Lawris lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aldo.
Lawris goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Aldo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Lawris shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Lawris decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawris avoids the head kick by Aldo.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Aldo throws a head kick but Lawris moves out of range.
Aldo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lawris.
Lawris is working the combinations to good effect here.
Aldo dodges the punch combination from Lawris.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lawris unleashes a big counter combination but Aldo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lawris walks forward, straight into a front kick from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a body kick.
Lawris looks to land a combination but Aldo avoids it well.
Aldo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawris misses with a combination
and Aldo counters with a big head kick but Lawris shrugs it off.
Aldo tries to land a front kick but Lawris steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aldo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Despite the aggression on Lawris's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawris throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lawris looks to land a combination. Aldo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Lawris fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aldo to the ground. Lawris is now in Aldo's guard.
Lawris won't allow Aldo to get back to his feet.

Lawris stands up from Aldo's guard - Lawris perhaps looking for a knockout.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Aldo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Lawris fails to land with a series of punches.
Aldo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Lawris shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lawris was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Lawris decides to stand back up.
A right-left combo lands from Lawris.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lawris!
Aldo misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawris looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aldo lands with a kick to the temple. Lawris shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Aldo scores with a head kick.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses.
Lawris moves in looking to clinch but Aldo pushes him off.
Lawris scores with a one two! Aldo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lawris misses with a double jab.

Lawris decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Lawris stands up and beckons Aldo to join him on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Aldo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Lawris throws a nice looking combination but Aldo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aldo throws a quick counter head kick but Lawris was just out of range.
Aldo scores with a head kick.
Lawris misses with a double jab
and Aldo counters with a solid body kick.
Lawris throws a series of strikes that have Aldo backpedaling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Aldo throws a head kick that half lands.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Lawris moves out of range easily.
A head kick from Aldo lands but Lawris takes it in his stride.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid body kick from Aldo.

Lawris closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lawris keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aldo's efforts to push away.
Lawris wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aldo has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Lawris will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lawris will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aldo lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Lawris moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Lawris shoots in.
Aldo slips a jab and a cross from Lawris.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lawris lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lawris.
Lawris throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lawris avoids the head kick by Aldo.
Aldo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lawris crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Aldo - the referee stops the clock and Lawris gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Aldo. Lawris manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lawris stalks Aldo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Aldo's face. Aldo staggers backwards, shaken.
Aldo misses with a body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Aldo. Lawris shrugs it off though.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Aldo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Lawris has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Aldo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lawris throws a combination that misses
and Aldo counters with a big head kick but Lawris shrugs it off.
Ray Lawris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Lawris. Those never looked like landing.
Aldo misses with a head kick.
Lawris lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aldo circles away quickly and effectively.
Aldo misses with a kick to the body.
Lawris throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawris misses with the combination.
Lawris fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ray Lawris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aldo pushes Lawris away with a front kick.
Lawris throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aldo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo lands with a nice body kick.
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!
Aldo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lawris!

Lawris rushes Aldo and presses him up against the cage.
Lawris is trying to break free.
Aldo is trying to break free.
Aldo tries to circle away but Lawris has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Lawris's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawris tries to break free but Aldo pushes him back against the cage.
Aldo tries to break free but Lawris pushes him back against the cage.
Aldo keeps control of Lawris as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Aldo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aldo is trying to push Lawris away but Lawris has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lawris working hard to break the clinch.
Lawris is trying to push Aldo away but Aldo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aldo can't break the clinch.
Aldo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lawris working hard to break the clinch.
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 Jose Aldo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lawris throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aldo.
Aldo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ray Lawris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawris shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aldo eats them both and turns towards Lawris to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Aldo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lawris misses with a wild combination.
Lawris swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lawris fails to land with a series of punches.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aldo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lawris.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aldo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo lands a head kick. Lawris smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawris throws a right hand that Aldo ducks under and follows up with a left that Aldo also avoids with ease.
Lawris throws a series of punches but Aldo avoids them all with ease.
Aldo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawris has a takedown stuffed.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawris throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawris tries for a takedown but Aldo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lawris misses with a wild combination.
A solid body kick from Aldo.
Aldo scores with a head kick. Lawris tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Aldo thows a body kick. Lawris tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lawris blocks a head kick by Aldo.

Lawris looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Lawris decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Lawris moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawris avoids the head kick by Aldo.
Lawris misses with a two punch combination.

Lawris shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lawris was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Lawris stands up.
Lawris fails with the takedown
and Aldo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Lawris.
Aldo throws a head kick but Lawris moves out of range.
Aldo slips a jab and a cross from Lawris.
Aldo dodges the punch combination from Lawris.
Both fighters circling a little - Aldo finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawris takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A head kick from Aldo lands but Lawris takes it in his stride.
Aldo throws the kick towards the body but Lawris avoids it.
Lawris misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo lands a front kick.
Lawris closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Aldo scores with a kick to the midsection.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aldo.
Aldo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lawris looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aldo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lawris closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lawris lands in his opponent's guard.

Aldo is working an open guard so Lawris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Aldo lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lawris takes a step back to recover.
Aldo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses.
Lawris misses with a wild combination.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Lawris moves out of range easily.
Some wild striking there from Lawris.
Aldo lands a head kick!
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Lawris moves out of range easily.
Aldo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawris.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

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 Jose Aldo.
I think Aldo 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Aldo!