PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Robbie Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Lawler
vs
Taylor

183 cm
26
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Good chin

Excellent boxer
Determined

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robbie Lawler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shawn Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawler tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Lawler lands a jab to Taylor's midsection.
Taylor looks gassed!
Taylor throws a wild body kick that Lawler sees coming a mile off.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor looks to land a left hand but Lawler moved out of range nicely.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taylor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lawler will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lawler misses with a wild combination.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lawler throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.

Lawler staggers Taylor with a jab and knocks him down with a follow up straight! Taylor looks in trouble, will he beat the count?! The count has reached 5 and he's only back to 1 knee - it's going to be close! 6,7,8 - he's up! Just in time and the ref is going to let the fight continue!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawler throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Lawler.
Lawler misses with a double jab.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler lands with a good body shot.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lawler tries to clinch up.
Lawler looks to land a body kick but Taylor moved away.
Lawler tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Lawler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lawler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawler tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor moves out of range of the body kick.
Lawler throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lawler shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taylor tries to land a front kick but Lawler steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lawler tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor ducks under a wild hook from Lawler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses the shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Lawler. That snapped Taylor's head back.
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!
Lawler misses with a head kick.
Lawler wants to clinch.
Lawler finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shawn Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawler tries to clinch up.
Lawler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taylor moves away.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Lawler shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lawler lands a nice shot to the body.
Lawler slips a jab and a cross from Taylor.
Lawler moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lawler is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses.
Lawler tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawler.
Lawler throws the left hand but Taylor avoids the punch easily.
Lawler wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Lawler.
Taylor misses with a double jab
and Lawler counters with a straight right hand.
Lawler shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taylor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lawler doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Lawler is looking to clinch.
Shawn Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taylor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Lawler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lawler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawler tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Lawler misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Lawler. Those never looked like landing.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Lawler.
Lawler tries a head kick but it misses.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawler.
A head kick misses from Lawler.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor ducks right into an uppercut from Lawler.
Lawler takes a jab right on the kisser.
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!
Lawler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robbie Lawler should take that round, based on the knockdown.
That's time! Lawler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lawler doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Lawler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Robbie Lawler is winning the standup battle so far.
Lawler misses with an attempted mid kick.
Taylor throws a push kick but Lawler slaps the foot to one side.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses.
Lawler tries to clinch up.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawler.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Lawler avoids nicely.
Lawler throws a push kick but Taylor slaps the foot to one side.
Taylor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lawler misses with a double jab.
Taylor takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lawler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lawler is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Taylor walks into a straight right hand from Lawler.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Lawler.
Lawler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lawler tries to clinch up.
Lawler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawler manages to avoid it.
Lawler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lawler doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Lawler tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawler fails to land with a series of punches.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Lawler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
Lawler scores with a jab to the body.
Lawler tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lawler tried to score with a low kick but Taylor checks it.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Lawler wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Lawler tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Lawler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lawler misses with a double jab.
Lawler throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
Lawler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lawler gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lawler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taylor can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taylor avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses.
Lawler with a hook.
Lawler tries to clinch up but Taylor circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lawler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Lawler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A big left from Lawler misses.
Lawler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Lawler misses with a head kick.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor misses with the combination.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lawler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lawler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taylor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawler manages to avoid it.
Lawler doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Lawler.
Lawler tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawler will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lawler misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lawler wants to clinch.
Taylor blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robbie Lawler dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lawler tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lawler takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Robbie Lawler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor moves out of range of the body kick from Lawler.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lawler tries to clinch up.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, jab by Lawler - just one landing.
Lawler throws a sloppy head kick and Taylor moves out of range easily.
Lawler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taylor.
Lawler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lawler tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lawler scores with a shot to the body.
Taylor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lawler tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler is looking to clinch.
Lawler doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Lawler misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawler tries a low kick but Taylor avoids it.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor throws a nice looking combination but Lawler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lawler misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawler throws a body punch but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor swinging wildly here.
Lawler lands a jab-cross combination.
Taylor blocks a head kick by Lawler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawler.
Lawler uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lawler is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor throws a right hand that Lawler ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawler also avoids with ease.
Lawler throws a leg kick but Taylor checks it.
Lawler wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Lawler swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Taylor throws a combination that misses
and Lawler counters with a series of strikes. Taylor will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawler tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Lawler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.
Taylor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Taylor on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lawler tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Lawler pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lawler fails to land with a series of punches.
Lawler throws a head kick but Taylor moves out of range.
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Lawler looks to land a right hand but Taylor moved out of range.
Taylor checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lawler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor throws a hook to the side of Lawler's head but Lawler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taylor blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Lawler throws out a leg kick but Taylor moves out of range and Lawler only half commits.
Lawler wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Lawler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lawler tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Lawler feints a jab promting Taylor to slip. Lawler then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Taylor slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Lawler takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lawler dips to his left and cracks Taylor with an uppercut!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawler bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Taylor's head backwards.
Lawler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shawn Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Robbie Lawler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawler.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robbie Lawler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lawler 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:26
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robbie Lawler!