PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Lawrie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donato Bilancia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Lawrie could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Donato Bilancia's chin.

Lawrie
vs
Bilancia

193 cm
26
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Lawrie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donato Bilancia!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bilancia.
Lawrie misses with a takedown attempt - Bilancia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Lawrie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lawrie winds up and cracks Bilancia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bilancia is trying to get back to full guard.
Bilancia has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Bilancia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lawrie wants to pass the guard but Bilancia is keeping the position.
Lawrie connects with a couple of short punches.

Bilancia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lawrie defends well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bilancia trying to control the position.

Bilancia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lawrie defends well.
Lawrie passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lawrie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bilancia on the ground.
Nice strikes from Lawrie there.
Lawrie is thwarting Bilancia's attempts to control the position.
Nice strikes from Lawrie there.
Lawrie slips a nice elbow through Bilancia's hands, connecting with Bilancia's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawrie is trying to control. Bilancia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Lawrie is trying to work for a kimura but Bilancia is defending well.

Bilancia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawrie pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bilancia trying to control but Lawrie postures up.

Bilancia actively working from the bottom here.
Bilancia tries to roll over but Lawrie keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lawrie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bilancia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lawrie seems to be looking for submissions.
Lawrie thows a huge punch but Bilancia dodges it nicely.
Bilancia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lawrie is working away from the top position though.
Bilancia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bilancia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lawrie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lawrie takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bilancia looking for submissions off his back.
Lawrie looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lawrie lands with a punch from half guard.
Lawrie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bilancia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bilancia is trying to get back to full guard.
Lawrie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bilancia is looking to control Lawrie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bilancia avoid being mounted?
Bilancia gets back to full guard.

Bilancia working for a triangle but Lawrie defends it easily.
Lawrie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bilancia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lawrie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bilancia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lawrie trying to control the position from guard on top but Bilancia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lawrie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bilancia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lawrie has managed to get both his arms back between Bilancia's legs - danger averted.

Bilancia has his foot on Lawrie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lawrie works his way back into a safe position though.
Lawrie postures up.
Lawrie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lawrie lands a couple of elbows.
Lawrie works over Bilancia with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lawrie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lawrie landing some decent shots from guard.

Bilancia has his feet on Lawrie's thighs here. He's pushed Lawrie off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Lawrie screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Donato Bilancia!
A victorious Donato Bilancia thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.