PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jenson Rawlins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luciano kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Mechanic. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Luciano
vs
Rawlins

194 cm
22
183 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
29
181 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charlie Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jenson Rawlins!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rawlins swats away the attempt to clinch by Luciano.
A right-left combo lands from Luciano.

It looks like Jenson Rawlins has been cut.
Rawlins misses with a combination
and Luciano counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rawlins is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Rawlins dives in and scores a takedown into Luciano's guard.
Rawlins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luciano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rawlins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rawlins trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano 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.
Rawlins is fighting to break Luciano's control of his arms but Luciano is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rawlins advances to half guard.
Rawlins trying to control from Luciano's half guard. Luciano has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rawlins trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Rawlins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rawlins looking to sit in guard and control but Luciano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rawlins is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Luciano is aware though and is defending well.

Rawlins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luciano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlins is trying to keep Luciano in close.
Luciano slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rawlins wants to sweep but no luck.
Rawlins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rawlins with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rawlins wants to control but Luciano is keeping him busy.
Luciano looks like he's trying to stand up.

Rawlins seems to be working for a kimura but Luciano defends the submission attempt.
Rawlins is looking to advance position but Luciano won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luciano is refusing to be controlled, as Rawlins sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jenson Rawlins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jenson Rawlins's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Luciano jabs at Rawlins's body.
Jenson Rawlins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luciano showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rawlins.
Luciano connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rawlins drives through with a takedown into Luciano's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Rawlins postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Luciano is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rawlins, into his guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luciano won't allow Rawlins to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawlins looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Luciano passes into side control.
Luciano wants to stand but Rawlins has his arm trapped.
Rawlins is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Luciano's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.
Luciano controlling the pace.
Rawlins tries to roll over but Luciano keeps him under control.
Luciano stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Charlie Luciano has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rawlins throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Luciano was covering up waiting for the punch and Rawlins finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Luciano controlling Rawlins's posture.
Rawlins content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawlins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luciano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rawlins trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rawlins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Jenson Rawlins has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rawlins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Luciano as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jenson Rawlins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jenson Rawlins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Rawlins throws a left and a right that both miss
and Luciano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rawlins throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Luciano counter with a right hand.
Rawlins misses with a left hand
and Luciano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rawlins tries to land a body kick
and Luciano counters with a one-two to the body.
Rawlins throws a sloppy head kick
and Luciano counters with a good low kick that Rawlins was not able to check.
Luciano attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Luciano misses

and Rawlins counters with a shoot takedown. Luciano fights it but they end up in guard.
Luciano pulls Rawlins in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlins trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Luciano pulls Rawlins in close to prevent any damage.
Rawlins wants to pass the guard but Luciano is keeping the position.
Rawlins showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Charlie Luciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Charlie Luciano.
Rawlins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rawlins misses with a shot to the body
letting Luciano counter with a right hand.
Rawlins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Luciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rawlins looks for a takedown but Luciano sprawls well.
Charlie Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jenson Rawlins.
Rawlins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Luciano counters with a leg kick.
Rawlins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Luciano defends it nicely.
Rawlins swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Luciano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jenson Rawlins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rawlins falls off balance throwing a combination
and Luciano counters with an outside leg kick.
Rawlins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Luciano is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Luciano. That's going to slow Rawlins down.
Luciano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rawlins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Luciano is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Rawlins shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Luciano's guard.
Luciano thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rawlins trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rawlins 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jenson Rawlins!