PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Smecker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Lawson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lawson
vs
Smecker

185 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

184 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Determined

Fight Club Clothing™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, William Smecker!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smecker throws a head kick but Lawson moves out of range.
Lawson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smecker has time to react.
Smecker swinging wildly here.
Smecker connects with a high kick.
Lawson slips a jab and a cross from Smecker.
Smecker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawson fails to land the takedown.
Smecker misses with a two punch combination.
Smecker throws a sloppy head kick and Lawson moves out of range easily.
Lawson's corner calls for a 1-2. Lawson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lawson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smecker swivels and escapes.
Lawson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smecker can pounce on him.
Lawson misses with an uppercut.
Smecker misses with a hook.
Lawson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smecker momentarily.
A low kick from Lawson is predictable there

and Smecker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smecker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smecker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lawson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lawson throws a head punch that misses.

Smecker breaks from the clinch.
Smecker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson looks to land a combination but Smecker avoids it well.
Smecker defending well as Lawson loads up on a big left hand.
Smecker misses with a two punch combination.
Lawson shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawson tries to clinch up.
Smecker explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Jab, jab by Lawson - just one landing.
Lawson looks to clinch
and Smecker counters with a body kick.
Lawson stuffs the takedown attempt from Smecker. Smecker gets slowly back to his feet.
Smecker scores with a jab.
Lawson throws a jab but it's blocked by Smecker.
Matt Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smecker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Smecker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lawson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smecker.
Smecker is just content to waste time from the top position. Lawson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson striking off his back but it's not causing Smecker any problems.
Smecker tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawson is retaining full guard.
Smecker passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smecker sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lawson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Smecker working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smecker working away.
Smecker misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Lawson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smecker on the ground.
Smecker works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smecker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lawson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sloppy strikes there by Smecker.
Lawson tries to improve position but can't.
Smecker looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lawson is avoiding damage well.

Smecker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lawson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smecker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lawson prevents Smecker from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lawson can't do much from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Smecker.
Smecker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawson as he avoids it easily.
Lawson wants to clinch
and Smecker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lawson's knee momentarily.
Smecker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lawson blocks the body kick.
Lawson lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Smecker dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lawson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smecker throws a right hand that Lawson ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawson also avoids with ease.
Smecker cracks the inside of Lawson's front leg.
Lawson wants to clinch.
Lawson scores with a jab. Smecker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
William Smecker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smecker moves out of range as Lawson strikes.
Lawson stuns Smecker with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Smecker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawson.
Lawson throws a big shot that misses.
Smecker lands with a slapping head kick.
Lawson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smecker has time to react.
Lawson dodges the punch combination from Smecker.
Smecker keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Smecker circles away from the clinch attempt

and Smecker counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lawson!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smecker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smecker thowing shots but they're missing.
Smecker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawson wants to hold on but Smecker pushes him away.
Smecker thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

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 throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.

Smecker tightening his grip on Lawson, looking for the choke.
Lawson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Lawson tries to hold on but Smecker postures up.
Smecker landing shots from mount.
Smecker with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is in a horrible position here. Smecker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smecker scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lawson?

Lawson is rocked!
Lawson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Lawson reaches up to try and control the position but Smecker seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Lawson rolls and tries to escape and now Smecker has his back!
Will Smecker go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Smecker lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Lawson trying to control the hands but Smecker won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is keeping busy.
Smecker gets his hands free as Lawson looks to control.
Smecker biding his time, controlling Lawson.
Smecker cracks Lawson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Lawson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Smecker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smecker.
Lawson misses with an uppercut. Smecker saw that one coming.
Lawson slips a jab from Smecker.
Smecker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lawson's sensitive parts.
Smecker defending well as Lawson loads up on a big left hand.
Lawson lands a really nice looking cross but Smecker seems unphased.
Nice takedown defense from Smecker. No joy for Lawson on that attempt.
Lawson defending well as Smecker loads up on a big left hand.
Smecker circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smecker makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Smecker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lawson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smecker counters with a slapping leg kick.
Smecker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smecker throws a series of punches but Lawson avoids them all with ease.
Lawson looks to land a left hand but Smecker moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Smecker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lawson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smecker counters with a series of strikes. Lawson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawson lands with an overhand left.
Smecker throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lawson.
Lawson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lawson throws a hook but Smecker blocks it.
Lawson throws a hook but Smecker avoids it easily.
Smecker shoots in for a takedown but Lawson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
William Smecker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smecker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smecker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lawson misses with a looping right.
Lawson throws a hook but Smecker avoids it easily.
Lawson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smecker looks to land a combination but Lawson avoids it well.
Lawson throws a looping overhand right but Smecker ducks down to avoid it.
Smecker stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smecker preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Lawson trying to control from Smecker's half guard. Smecker has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Smecker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smecker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smecker unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smecker looking to finish with strikes here!
Smecker landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lawson is squirming around, avoiding Smecker's attempts to control the action.
Lawson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Smecker.
Smecker lands a heavy elbow.
Smecker is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lawson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Smecker punishing his opponent with strikes.
Lawson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Smecker tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Smecker.
Matt Lawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Smecker swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Lawson is now in Smecker's guard. A big mistake from Smecker there, giving up the dominant position!
Lawson postures up in Smecker's guard and throws a big left but Smecker blocks it.
Lawsonis looking to pass into half guard but Smecker pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Smecker is in guard.
Smecker wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Smecker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smecker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Smecker!