PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Burrows (ranked 452 p4p, 1952 weight class) and Brendan Lawson (ranked 24 p4p, 108 weight class). Burrows's entrance music is Baba O'Riley. A fine choice. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Burrows
vs
Lawson

162 cm
24
135
11 - 2 - 1

166 cm
24
140
6 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
HELLBENT

Warrior's Way

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Stuart Burrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Brendan Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lawson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Burrows counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Lawson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Lawson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Burrows is trying to control Lawson's posture but Lawson avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawson is trying to get an arm triangle but Burrows is defending well.

Lawson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Burrows has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lawson but great work by Burrows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson is trying to escape the position but Burrows is controlling the position.
Lawson is trying to control Burrows's posture but Burrows avoids it.
Burrows is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lawson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Lawson has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lawson struggling a bit here.
Burrows just content to control the position.
Lawson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lawson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burrows takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lawson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lawson is squirming around, avoiding Burrows's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burrows takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Burrows dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

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

Lawson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Burrows dives on top into guard.

Burrows pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lawson is keeping the position for now.
Lawson trying to keep a closed guard but Burrows is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrows looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stuart Burrows overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burrows trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burrows sitting in guard here, content to control.

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.
Lawson looking for a sweep. Not yet Lawson, not yet.
Burrows is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lawson keeping full guard, as Burrows tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Lawson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short left from Burrows.
Burrows lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burrows lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lawson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Burrows on the inside.

Burrows pulls guard successfully.
Lawson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burrows swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burrows pulls Lawson in close to prevent any damage.

Lawson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Burrows manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lawson has Burrows in his guard.

Burrows showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows advances to half guard.
Burrows keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Burrows has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Burrows is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lawson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burrows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Burrows dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lawson with a poor takedown
and Burrows cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Burrows lands with a nice body punch.
No luck for Lawson with that takedown attempt.
Burrows stuffs the takedown attempt from Lawson. Lawson gets slowly back to his feet.
Burrows appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Stuart Burrows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Lawson.
Burrows scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nice takedown defense from Burrows. No joy for Lawson on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Burrows. No joy for Lawson on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burrows shoots in and bounces Lawson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lawson is trying to control the position but Burrows postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Lawson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burrows can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Burrows seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Burrows looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lawson shoots in but Burrows avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lawson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Burrows thuds a left hand into Lawson's body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lawson or perhaps it was just good defense by Burrows, which made it look bad.
Burrows lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Burrows counter with a right hand.
Stuart Burrows is winning the standup battle so far.
Burrows wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burrows comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Burrows scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Burrows connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Burrows fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lawson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Burrows looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Burrows circles away from the clinch attempt

and Burrows decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lawson's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lawson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burrows trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson being controlled here, momentarily.
Brendan Lawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burrows stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lawson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Burrows from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stuart Burrows showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burrows has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stuart Burrows!
A relieved looking Stuart Burrows thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.