PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martyn Lawrence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Thain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thain has chosen Cypress Hill: Insane In The Brain as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Lawrence
vs
Thain

178 cm
22
176 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
179 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martyn Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Todd Thain!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thain tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawrence swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slow jab from Lawrence misses its intended target.
Lawrence throws a right hand that Thain ducks under and follows up with a left that Thain also avoids with ease.
Thain defending well as Lawrence loads up on a big left hand.
Thain tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawrence swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lawrence rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thain fails to land the takedown.
Thain is looking to clinch but Lawrence is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short uppercut from Thain.
Lawrence misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thain is working Lawrence over against the cage.
Thain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thain prevents Lawrence from breaking the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Thain as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence can't break the clinch.
Lawrence has a couple of punches blocked by Thain.
Lawrence wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thain doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Lawrence fails to land.
Thain prevents Lawrence from breaking the clinch.
Lawrence lands with a left to the head.
Lawrence stalling in the clinch but Thain improves position.
Lawrence is looking to break free of the clinch but Thain has double underhooks.
Thain pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lawrence tries to land a knee to the head but Thain blocks with his arms.

Lawrence breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thain throws a sloppy head kick and Lawrence moves out of range easily.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Thain moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lawrence!
Thain tries to close the distance and clinch but Lawrence swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lawrence swinging wildly here.
Thain fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thain closes the distance and clinches.
Thain tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lawrence's elbow.
Lawrence is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thain is keeping busy.

Lawrence escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lawrence waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thain.
Thain fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thain slips a jab and a cross from Lawrence.
Thain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thain misses with a low kick.
Thain takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Todd Thain has been cut.
Lawrence scores with a jab.
Lawrence throws a hook but Thain blocks it.
Lawrence throws a sloppy head kick

and Thain counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Thain postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lawrence is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thain, into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thain pulls Lawrence in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lawrence is one step ahead there.
Thain trying to control the position here.
Lawrence has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thain is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Thain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Todd Thain's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thain showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawrence.
Thain wants to clinch up but Lawrence keeps it at a distance.
Thain shoots for a takedown but Lawrence saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thain fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thain fails with a takedown attempt.
Thain tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawrence swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thain wants to clinch.
Lawrence lands with a hook. Thain tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Lawrence.
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawrence throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thain.

Lawrence tries to keep at a distance but Thain has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lawrence wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thain has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thain lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.
Thain lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thain.
Lawrence wants to get back to striking at distance but Thain won't allow it.
Thain's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lawrence fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Lawrence.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is trying to stall.
Lawrence cracks Thain with a nice body shot.
Lawrence working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Thain.
Thain misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thain doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thain lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lawrence wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lawrence has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lawrence on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thain blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thain creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lawrence's defenses.

It looks like Martyn Lawrence has been cut.
Lawrence doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thain working Lawrence over with knees to the body.
Lawrence trying to control the position but instead, Thain has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lawrence into the cage.
Thain keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lawrence's efforts to push away.
Thain missing with knees to the body.
Thain lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thain blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thain blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lawrence working aggressively here.
Lawrence wants to break free but Thain has control.
Thain tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lawrence avoids it.
Lawrence trying to control the position but instead, Thain has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lawrence into the cage.
Thain wants a takedown but no success here.
Martyn Lawrence has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Thain.
Lawrence on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thain is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lawrence is defending well for now.
Lawrence throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thain keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lawrence's efforts to push away.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thain.
Lawrence is trying to force a seperation but Thain has the dominant position.
Lawrence tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lawrence lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thain has Lawrence pressed against the cage, preventing Lawrence from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thain is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Thain looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thain is leaning against Lawrence and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thain unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lawrence misses with some punches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thain obliges.

Thain lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thain uses his free foot to push down on Lawrence's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lawrence.
Thain is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Lawrence is in real trouble.

Thain is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thain looking for the choke from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Thain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No joy there for Lawrence, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thain fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lawrence keeps the fight on the outside.
Lawrence misses with a hook to the body
and Thain counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Thain throws a sloppy head kick
and Lawrence counters with a one-two to the body.
Lawrence throws a combination. Thain tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lawrence wants to clinch up but Thain keeps it at a distance.
Lawrence tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Thain avoids them all with ease.
Lawrence lands with an uppercut that bounces Thain off the cage and back into rage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lawrence misses.
Lawrence lands with a nice combination. Thain backs away looking to recover.
Thain clinches but Lawrence breaks the clinch
and Lawrence counters with a head kick.
Thain avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thain tries to clinch up
and Thain takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thain shoots in but Lawrence avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thain tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lawrence counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawrence throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thain looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thain closes the distance but Lawrence moves to the side
and Lawrence counters with a left and a right that stings Thain.
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawrence throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lawrence misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawrence throws a sloppy head kick

and Thain counters by moving into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Lawrence.
Todd Thain seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lawrence working hard to break the clinch.
Thain lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lawrence.

Lawrence breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Thain moves out of range.
Thain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lawrence misses with a straight right.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but Thain avoids them all with ease.
Lawrence with a hook.
Martyn Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thain tries to clinch
and Lawrence counters with a right hand to the body.
Thain blocks a head kick by Lawrence.
Thain takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lawrence wants to clinch up but Thain keeps it at a distance.
Lawrence pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lawrence connects with a high kick.
Lawrence is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lawrence throws a sloppy head kick

and Thain counters with a shoot takedown. Lawrence fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thain works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Lawrence looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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 Martyn Lawrence.
I think Thain 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Thain!