PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin Handwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Handwood comes to the cage accompanied by The Road of Lords. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Handwood
vs
Lauzon

195 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 Montreal, Martin Handwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Lauzon!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lauzon manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Handwood on his heels. He'll look to pass Handwood's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Handwood is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lauzon is controlling him.
Handwood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Handwood looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lauzon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lauzon connects with a couple of short punches.
Handwood really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Lauzon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Handwood has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lauzon has managed to get both his arms back between Handwood's legs - danger averted.
Lauzon preventing the sweep.
Lauzon trying to control the position from guard on top but Handwood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Handwood trying to keep a closed guard but Lauzon is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lauzon advances to half guard.

Lauzon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Handwood doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lauzon.
Lauzon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Handwood's head.
Handwood avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lauzon.
Lauzon works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lauzon working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Handwood is in a horrible position here. Lauzon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Handwood wants to control but Lauzon is having none of it.
Lauzon landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lauzon scoring with strikes but Handwood is staying in there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lauzon putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Lauzon looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lauzon has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Handwood's face.

Handwood is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handwood keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Handwood is breathing heavily.
Handwood taking shots to the head.
Oh Handwood is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Lauzon working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Handwood seems to have got his legs back now.

Handwood defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Lauzon.
A nice elbow there by Lauzon.

Lauzon with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Handwood tries to reverse the position but Lauzon maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Handwood can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
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!
Lauzon with a couple of short strikes.
Lauzon lands a big shot there that rocks Handwood but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lauzon wants to control the pace but Handwood is squirming around nicely.
Lauzon unloading with bombs!
Lauzon tries to control but Handwood wriggling away.
Lauzon scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Handwood?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lauzon dominating with strikes here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lauzon cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lauzon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Lauzon dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lauzon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Handwood sprawls well. Handwood wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lauzon gets slowly back to his feet.
Lauzon tries for a takedown but Handwood circles away easily

and Handwood counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lauzon's guard now.
Joe Lauzon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lauzon has a closed guard, preventing Handwood from standing up.

Lauzon is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Handwood tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lauzon avoids it.

Handwood breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Handwood throws a poor cross that misses

so Lauzon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Handwood looking for a sweep. Not yet Handwood, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon postures up and lands a big shot to Handwood's brow.
Lauzon wants to pass the guard but Handwood is keeping the position.
Lauzon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lauzon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Handwood will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lauzon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Handwood keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.
Handwood working a defensive guard here.
Handwood tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lauzon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Handwood is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lauzon landing some decent shots from guard.

Lauzon is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Handwood is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Handwood has escaped and now he's on top!
Handwood thows a big elbow that misses.

Lauzon pushes Handwood off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lauzon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Handwood enables Lauzon to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Handwood manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon slips nicely into half guard.
Lauzon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lauzon working over Handwood with some ground and pound. Handwood looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lauzon is nestled in close to Handwood, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Handwood wants to get back to full guard.
Handwood wants to control but Lauzon is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lauzon in particular looking to stall.
Lauzon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lauzon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lauzon frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Handwood is in a horrible position here. Lauzon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Lauzon working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lauzon scoring with strikes but Handwood is staying in there.
Lauzon with shots to the head and body - Handwood looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lauzon scoring with strikes but Handwood is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Lauzon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lauzon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Handwood napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Handwood tries to improve position but can't.

Lauzon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Handwood, who protects the arm well.
Lauzon working the head and body with strikes.
Handwood on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Handwood tries to bench press Lauzon off him but Lauzon keeps the position.
Lauzon working the head and body with strikes.
Lauzon landing strikes.
Handwood is trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Handwood seems a little lost for a moment, as Lauzon dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Handwood is looking to reverse the position.
Lauzon lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Lauzon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lauzon working away.

Lauzon tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lauzon has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lauzon cracks Handwood with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lauzon trying to control the position but Handwood is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handwood prevents Lauzon from moving into mount.

Lauzon working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lauzon landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Lauzon landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Handwood's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lauzon landing a few strikes.
Handwood is working to avoid the ground and pound but Lauzon connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon working the ground and pound.
Lauzon controlling the position from side mount.
Lauzon trying to control the position but Handwood is working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lauzon lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Handwood down.
Lauzon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Handwood keeps working.
Lauzon in side control lands a decent elbow.
Handwood is not content to let Lauzon control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lauzon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lauzon is chipping away with strikes.
Lauzon working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
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!
Lauzon working the ground and pound from side control.
Lauzon is putting a hurting on Handwood here, landing some big shots from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lauzon lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Handwood taking a bit of punishment here - Lauzon scoring with strikes.
Martin Handwood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Lauzon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Lauzon stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Lauzon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lauzon winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Lauzon!