PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ed Nesi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nesi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Van Canto - Battery. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Nesi
vs
Lawson

184 cm
28
201 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

190 cm
31
190 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

GREEN!160
Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ed Nesi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eric Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson has a takedown stuffed.
Lawson keeps the fight on the outside.
Nesi stuffs the takedown.
Lawson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nice sprawl there from Nesi as Lawson shoots in.
Ed Nesi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Lawson.
Nesi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lawson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nesi takes a swing at Lawson's ribcage but misses.
Nesi misses with a few strikes there.
Lawson looks for a takedown but Nesi sprawls well.
Nesi slips a jab from Lawson.

Lawson moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson looking for a takedown.
Nesi trying to land knees to the body.
Nesi unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Lawson tightens his grip and picks Nesi up, before dumping him to the ground. Nesi manages to land in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nesi is pulling down on Lawson's head to control his posture.
Nesi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lawson trying to hold on to Nesi's head to control him but Nesi postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nesi tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Lawson.
Lawson wants to improve his position but Nesi is controlling well.
Nesi wants to get back to his feet.
Lawson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawson is pressing down on Nesi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nesi trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nesi won't allow Lawson to sweep him here.
Lawson looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson wants to sweep here but Nesi controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nesi throws a looping overhand right but Lawson ducks down to avoid it.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nesi as he avoids it easily.
Nesi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ed Nesi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nesi. Lawson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Nesi moves into the clinch.
Nesi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nesi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nesi gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ed Nesi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nesi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lawson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lawson lands in his opponent's guard.
Nesi keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.
Lawson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lawson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nesi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Nesi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawson is fighting to break Nesi's control of his arms but Nesi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Eric Lawson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lawson shoots in looking for a takedown. Nesi tries to sprawl out of it but Lawson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nesi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nesi moves in looking to clinch but Lawson pushes him off.
Nesi fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson tries to clinch up but Nesi circles away and keeps his distance.
Eric Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nesi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lawson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nesi is looking for a sweep.
Lawson in the domination position with Nesi hanging on.
Lawson scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lawson trying to control the action but Nesi is working from the bottom.
Nesi is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nesi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nesi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lawson trying to control the action but Nesi is working from the bottom.
Lawson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lawson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson trying to control the position but Nesi is working away.
The ground and pound from Lawson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nesi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lawson controlling the action here.
Lawson working over Nesi with some ground and pound. Nesi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nesi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nesi wants to get back to full guard.
Lawson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lawson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nesi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lawson moves out of range of the strikes.
Lawson dives in for a single leg takedown but Nesi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nesi prevents the takedown attempt.
Lawson is trying to drag Nesi to the mat but Nesi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ed Nesi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Lawson.
Lawson dodges an elbow strike from Nesi.
Nesi is pressed up against the cage. Lawson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nesi down to the mat. Nesi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nesi doesn't manage to clinch there - Lawson circles away.
Nesi throws a jab when Lawson was well out of range.
Nesi misses the body punch

and Lawson counters with a single leg into guard. Nesi didn't expect that.
Lawson stops Nesi from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lawson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nesi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lawson, into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lawson is on top in guard.
Nesi wants to hit a switch here but Lawson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nesi there!
Lawson prevents Nesi from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Lawson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nesi is desperately trying to improve his position but Lawson has a good base and remains in mount.
Nesi tries to hold on but Lawson postures up.
Lawson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nesi hang on?
Lawson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Lawson looking to ground and pound but Nesi is blocking nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nesi wants to hold on but Lawson pushes him away.
Lawson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Eric Lawson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nesi is looking to improve his position but Lawson isn't that keen on the idea.
Lawson tries to control but Nesi wriggling away.
Nesi tries to hold on but Lawson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nesi is desperately trying to improve his position but Lawson has a good base and remains in mount.
Lawson tries to control but Nesi wriggling away.
Lawson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nesi is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lawson really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lawson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nesi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lawson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lawson fails with the takedown
and Nesi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lawson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lawson blocks a body shot from Nesi.
Lawson misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Nesi on the inside.
Lawson is working for takedown but Nesi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ed Nesi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Lawson.

Lawson breaks from the clinch.
Eric Lawson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nesi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawson.
Lawson misses with a takedown attempt
and Nesi counters with a left to the body.
Nesi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nesi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawson.
Nesi tries to clinch up but Lawson circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lawson.

Nesi darts in and clinches Lawson up against the cage.

Lawson lands a takedown into guard.
Lawson throws a big right hand that misses.
Lawson looking to sit in guard and control but Nesi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Eric Lawson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Nesi looking to pass the guard.
Lawson is trying to control the position but Nesi postures up.

Nesi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nesi misses with a body punch

and Lawson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nesi's guard.
Ed Nesi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nesi keeping full guard, as Lawson tries to pass.
Lawson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nesi can't keep his opponent in guard - Lawson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lawson controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson wants to pass to mount but Nesi is defending the position.
Nesi wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawson trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Eric Lawson.
Nesi keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Lawson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lawson 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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 37:39
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 37:39
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 37:39

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Lawson!
An out of breath Eric Lawson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.