PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Lawl (ranked 4560 p4p, 2909 weight class) and Ron Sandulf (ranked 0 p4p, 361 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lawl
vs
Sandulf

180 cm
24
177
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom Lawl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ron Sandulf!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Chris Dean and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawl is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sandulf.
Lawl scores with a nice head shot.
Lawl throws a leg kick but Sandulf sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sandulf throws a right hand that Lawl ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawl also avoids with ease.
Lawl fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sandulf is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lawl rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sandulf moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lawl fails with a takedown attempt.
Lawl ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandulf swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lawl.
Sandulf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawl swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandulf misses with a head kick.

Sandulf has managed to clinch.
Sandulf jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lawl walks away with a smile on his face. Sandulf gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Lawl rushes Sandulf and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sandulf tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lawl smiles and moves away.

Sandulf rushes Lawl and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Lawl's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sandulf breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sandulf tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lawl defends well and Sandulf ends up having to push Lawl into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tom Lawl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron Sandulf.
Sandulf takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A clash of legs there as Lawl blocks the low kick.
Lawl throws a combination. Sandulf tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawl fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lawl gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sandulf tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lawl manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Lawl rushes Sandulf and presses him up against the cage.

Sandulf breaks from the clinch.
Sandulf looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tom Lawl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sandulf avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lawl doesn't manage to clinch there - Sandulf circles away.
Sandulf darts in looking for a takedown but Lawl gets double underhooks and turns Sandulf into the cage.
Sandulf shoots in looking for a takedown but Lawl manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sandulf's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lawl lands with a right hand.

Lawl darts in and clinches Sandulf up against the cage.
Lawl works on Sandulf's body with a couple of short punches.
Sandulf tries to pull guard but Lawl holds him up against the cage and eventually Sandulf drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawl managing to block the knees to the body from Sandulf.
Lawl leaning against his opponent.
Sandulf throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lawl blocks it with crossed arms.
Lawl doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sandulf prevents a body shot from Lawl.
Sandulf is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lawl to keep the fight standing.
Sandulf fails to pull guard.
Sandulf blocks a body shot from Lawl.
Lawl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lawl has Sandulf pressed against the cage.
Lawl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lawl lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawl taking a breather.
Lawl struggles to land a body shot inside as Sandulf controls his hands.
Lawl will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sandulf up against the cage.
Lawl stalling the fight.
Sandulf has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lawl avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lawl prevents the takedown attempt.
Sandulf being controlled against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tom Lawl.
Lawl throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Lawl dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sandulf is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Lawl has closed the distance and engaged Sandulf in a clinch.
Sandulf jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lawl walks away with a smile on his face. Sandulf gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lawl throws a body punch but Sandulf moves out of range.
Ron Sandulf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lawl closes the distance and pushes Sandulf back into the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lawl.
Tom Lawl has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Sandulf breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sandulf takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sandulf doesn't manage to clinch there - Lawl circles away.
Lawl connects with a body shot that sends Sandulf's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawl takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawl. Sandulf does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawl slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sandulf throws a series of punches but Lawl avoids them all with ease.
Lawl is looking to wear down Sandulf with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
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!
Lawl lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawl tries to clinch but Sandulf moves out of range.

Lawl tries to keep at a distance but Sandulf has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lawl digs a right hand underneath Sandulf's ribcage. Sandulf let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lawl.
Sandulf prevents a body shot from Lawl.
Lawl has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sandulf is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lawl is defending well for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lawl creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lawl being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawl is stalling here.
Sandulf misses with a knee to the head.
Lawl prevents a takedown attempt there.

Sandulf breaks from the clinch.
Lawl blocks a head kick by Sandulf.
Nice shot lands for Lawl.
Sandulf looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lawl is fending him off so far but Sandulf persists. Nope, Lawl circles away and we're back to standing.
Tom Lawl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron Sandulf.
Sandulf shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lawl as he jumps to the side.
Sandulf is breathing heavily.
Sandulf on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawl jabs at Sandulf's body.
Sandulf walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sandulf looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sandulf dodges the punch combination from Lawl.
Lawl misses with a wild body shot.
Lawl is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sandulf can do to turn this around?
Sandulf misses with a wild body shot.
Lawl stuffs the takedown attempt from Sandulf. Sandulf gets slowly back to his feet.
Sandulf tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lawl manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lawl.
Sandulf shoots in for a double leg but Lawl sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawl tries to land a leg kick but Sandulf saw it coming and moves away.
Despite the aggression on Sandulf's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lawl scores with a hook.
Lawl fails with a takedown attempt.
Lawl throws a looping overhand right but Sandulf ducks down to avoid it.
Lawl lands with a good body shot.
Sandulf tries to clinch but Lawl is having none of it.
Lawl ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sandulf moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Lawl. No joy for Sandulf on that attempt.
Lawl scores with a jab to the body.
A punch combination from Lawl misses.
Lawl throws a series of strikes that have Sandulf backpedaling.
Sandulf wants to clinch
and Lawl counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Lawl dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Sandulf has his takedown stuffed
and Lawl counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lawl throws a low kick, looking for Sandulf's leg but Sandulf calmly moves out of range.
Lawl defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sandulf.
Sandulf bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lawl swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sandulf counters by moving into the clinch.
Sandulf is looking for a takedown.
Tom Lawl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron Sandulf.
Lawl wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sandulf prevents a body shot from Lawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawl tries a body shot but Sandulf blocks it.
Sandulf prevents the takedown attempt.
Lawl is pressed up against the cage. Sandulf has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lawl down to the mat. Lawl avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lawl works the jab nicely.

Lawl instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandulf tries to pull guard but Lawl won't allow it.
Sandulf tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sandulf takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lawl takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lawl tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sandulf's elbow.
Lawl slowing the pace effectively.

Sandulf breaks the clinch.
Lawl scores with a hook to the body. Sandulf takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sandulf will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lawl cracks a nice hook into Sandulf's ribs.
Sandulf moves to clinch but Lawl breaks away
and Lawl cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Lawl rushes Sandulf and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lawl manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sandulf keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lawl's efforts to push away.
Sandulf jumps guard but Lawl turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sandulf is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lawl gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sandulf tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lawl just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sandulf tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lawl avoids it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lawl - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sandulf blocks a body shot from Lawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandulf changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lawl fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lawl misses the shot to the body.

Lawl gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lawl tries a body shot but Sandulf blocks it.
Lawl tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sandulf's elbow.
Sandulf wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lawl lands with a light punch inside.
Lawl lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lawl manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sandulf taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawl pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lawl works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lawl tries to work over Sandulf's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lawl presses Sandulf against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The referee calls for Sandulf to work.
Lawl stalling the fight.
Sandulf wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawl just leaning against Sandulf, taking a breather.
Sandulf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ron Sandulf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lawl blocks an uppercut.
Sandulf trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Lawl showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lawl 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 Winston Howard scores the fight for Tom Lawl!
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight for Tom Lawl!
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight for Tom Lawl!

Tom Lawl wins by unanimous decision!