PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carmelo Lawrence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Django Diggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Django Diggs told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Lawrence
vs
Diggs

193 cm
20
204 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
213 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carmelo Lawrence!
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, Django Diggs!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diggs fails with a takedown attempt.
Lawrence stuffs the takedown.
Diggs connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Diggs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diggs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lawrence sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lawrence seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Carmelo Lawrence has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Django Diggs.
Diggs misses with a straight right.
Diggs fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lawrence.
Diggs changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diggs throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Diggs throws a sloppy head kick and Lawrence moves out of range easily.
Diggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diggs throws a sloppy head kick and Lawrence moves out of range easily.
Diggs scores with a jab. Lawrence acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Diggs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawrence as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diggs throws out the jab.
Lawrence checks a low kick from Diggs.
Diggs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lawrence tries to avoid it but Diggs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lawrence to the ground. Lawrence escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lawrence uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diggs.
Diggs gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lawrence decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diggs's guard.
Diggs looks winded!
Lawrence is looking to work some ground and pound but Diggs has wrist control.
Lawrence slips nicely into half guard.
Diggs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diggs can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lawrence not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Lawrence is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diggs has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggs is trying to stand back up but Lawrence is controlling him
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawrence thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lawrence scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lawrence misses with a head shot. Diggs uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lawrence wants to pass the guard but Diggs is keeping the position.
Lawrence passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lawrence postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Lawrence crashes against the mat.
Lawrence tries to score with some ground and pound. Diggs controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Lawrence misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Diggs gets back to half guard.
Diggs is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Diggs wants to control but Lawrence is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lawrence throwing shots but Diggs is blocking nicely.
Lawrence working over Diggs with some ground and pound. Diggs looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diggs's head.
Diggs avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lawrence.
Diggs keeping control of the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lawrence connects with a nice short shot to Diggs's temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawrence thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diggs's head.
Lawrence with the ground and pound but Diggs uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lawrence won't allow Diggs to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diggs is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lawrence is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmelo Lawrence dominated that round.
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.

Diggs is looking to land body kicks.
Diggs shoots in and drives through. Lawrence sprawls well.
Diggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Diggs.
Diggs scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Diggs. Those never looked like landing.
Diggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diggs has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lawrence is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Diggs tries to land a front kick but Lawrence steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lawrence blocks a head kick by Diggs.
A punch lands to the side of Lawrence 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Diggs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggs jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Diggs cracks Lawrence with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Good leg kick by Diggs there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Django Diggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawrence blocks a head kick by Diggs.
Diggs is breathing heavily.
Diggs throws a body kick that misses.
Diggs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diggs misses with a left hand

and Lawrence counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Diggs's guard now.
Lawrence throwing strikes but missing.
Lawrence postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lawrence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawrence pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diggs is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lawrence working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lawrence working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lawrence is looking to work some ground and pound but Diggs has wrist control.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lawrence loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lawrence won't allow Diggs to sweep him here.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lawrence throwing strikes from guard but Diggs blocks nicely.
Diggs looking for a sweep. Not yet Diggs, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lawrence wants to pass the guard but Diggs is keeping the position.
Diggs is adopting a defensive guard.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
Diggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lawrence with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lawrence throwing strikes from guard but Diggs blocks nicely.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
Lawrence is looking to work some ground and pound but Diggs has wrist control.
Lawrence throws a strike but Diggs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lawrence throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmelo Lawrence dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Diggs misses with a body kick.
Diggs lands a really nice looking cross but Lawrence seems unphased.
Diggs scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence stuffs the takedown.
Lawrence takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Diggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawrence.
An inside leg kick lands from Diggs.
Diggs looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Diggs misses with a looping left.
Nice uppercut lands for Diggs. That snapped Lawrence's head back.
Lawrence moves out of range as Diggs strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diggs throws a head kick that half lands.
Diggs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diggs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diggs fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lawrence.
Lawrence avoids a kick to the body.
Lawrence avoids the head kick by Diggs.
Diggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Lawrence is just out of range.
Diggs misses with a head kick.
Lawrence blocks a head kick by Diggs.
Diggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diggs throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Diggs tries a low kick but Lawrence avoids it.
Django Diggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Diggs misses the target.
Lawrence steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diggs.
Diggs tries for a takedown but Lawrence circles away easily

so Lawrence counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diggs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Lawrence drops back looking for a leg! Diggs is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diggs manages to kick Lawrence off! Lawrence jumps back into Diggs's guard.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lawrence pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diggs is keeping the position for now.
Lawrence content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lawrence throws a strike but Diggs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lawrence preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lawrence keeping full guard, as Diggs tries to pass.

Lawrence is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggs postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Diggs postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lawrence preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lawrence works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diggs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawrence looking to control.
Carmelo Lawrence is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!
Diggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Django Diggs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lawrence has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carmelo Lawrence!