PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Calle Hogerstrom (ranked 1561 p4p, 2778 weight class) and Brendan Lawson (ranked 81 p4p, 158 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hogerstrom
vs
Lawson

157 cm
20
140
6 - 0 - 0

166 cm
19
140
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Calle Hogerstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Brendan Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lawson misses the shot to the body.
Hogerstrom throws a looping overhand right but Lawson ducks down to avoid it.
Lawson feints the counter takedown.
Lawson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hogerstrom scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice shot by Hogerstrom.
Lawson tries for a takedown but Hogerstrom sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Hogerstrom tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hogerstrom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Hogerstrom.
Lawson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lawson takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Brendan Lawson has been cut.
Hogerstrom thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lawson staying out of range there.
Lawson shoots for a double leg takedown but Hogerstrom sprawls well. He's pushed Lawson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Calle Hogerstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Lawson.
Lawson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hogerstrom.
Lawson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hogerstrom counters with a left to the body.
Lawson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hogerstrom counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lawson gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogerstrom tries to roll over but Lawson keeps him under control.
Hogerstrom's coaches at Jorzi GYM have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Hogerstrom is trying to stand up here but Lawson is controlling him well.

Lawson is working for a kimura but Hogerstrom is defending it quite comfortably.
Hogerstrom is refusing to be controlled, as Lawson sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lawson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lawson is working for a kimura but Hogerstrom is defending it quite comfortably.

Lawson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lawson is looking to take a break and control but Hogerstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Lawson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calle Hogerstrom dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brendan Lawson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lawson throws a jab but it's blocked by Hogerstrom.
Lawson tries to clinch up but Hogerstrom circles away and keeps his distance.
Hogerstrom looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
Hogerstrom lunges at Lawson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lawson's hand.
Lawson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hogerstrom avoids it really well and circles away.
Lawson with a poor takedown
and Hogerstrom makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hogerstrom scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lawson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lawson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hogerstrom sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lawson somewhat.
Calle Hogerstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Lawson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hogerstrom, pushing him back against the cage.
Hogerstrom stops a takedown attempt from Lawson.
Hogerstrom is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lawson can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogerstrom lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Hogerstrom breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hogerstrom throws a shot from downtown. Lawson moves away and avoids it.
Hogerstrom misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hogerstrom darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lawson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hogerstrom.
Calle Hogerstrom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawson tries to clinch but Hogerstrom moves away
and Hogerstrom counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hogerstrom thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Calle Hogerstrom is winning the standup battle so far.
Lawson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hogerstrom counters with a straight right hand.
Lawson fails with the takedown
and Hogerstrom counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lawson thinking.
Lawson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogerstrom scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hogerstrom avoids it really well and circles away.
Hogerstrom was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Brendan Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawson fails to land the takedown.
Hogerstrom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lawson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hogerstrom's waist but Hogerstrom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lawson off to one side.
Lawson shoots in but Hogerstrom avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lawson is breathing heavily.
Lawson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hogerstrom counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hogerstrom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lawson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lawson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calle Hogerstrom dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brendan Lawson's cut.
That's time! Hogerstrom's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lawson tries to clinch up.
Hogerstrom sizes up Lawson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Lawson is rocked!
Hogerstrom cracks Lawson with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Lawson falls to his knees and Hogerstrom doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Calle Hogerstrom!