PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Burton Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vorzaa Lightning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lawson
vs
Lightning

166 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
19
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Burton Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vorzaa Lightning!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lightning is looking to clinch.

Lawson tries to sprawl but Lightning drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lawson is refusing to be controlled, as Lightning sits in half guard.
Lawson trying to get back to full guard but Lightning takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Lawson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawson is in a horrible position here. Lightning smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Lightning works his way to his opponent's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lawson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Lightning controlling well, preventing Lawson from escaping the position.
Lawson trying to control but not successfully.
Lightning controlling from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson tries to escape the position.
Lightning slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Lawson is in a bad position with Lightning working for a choke. Lawson manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Lightning seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lightning tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Lightning looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lawson!

Lightning wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lawson, who protects the arm well.

Lightning swings around for an armbar but Lawson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lightning's guard.
Lightning tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lawson stands up over Lightning, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lawson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lawson throwing strikes from guard but Lightning blocks nicely.
Lawson throwing strikes from guard but Lightning blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vorzaa Lightning dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lightning throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lawson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lightning is in Lawson's guard.
Lightning trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lightning stops Lawson from standing up.
Lightning won't allow Lawson to sweep him here.
Lightning with a nice head shot there.
Lightning won't allow Lawson to get back to his feet.
Lawson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lightning stays in close to Lawson's body and controls the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vorzaa Lightning wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lightning throws a series of punches but Lawson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Lightning back to the cage. Lawson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Lawson gets caught napping as Lightning dives in and scores a takedown. Lawson manages to retain guard.
Lawson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Lightning avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lightning striking off his back but it's not causing Lawson any problems.
Lawson postures up in Lightning's guard and throws a big left but Lightning blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lightning is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lawson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lawson is looking to work some ground and pound but Lightning has wrist control.
Lightning has Lawson pulled in close to control his posture.
Lightning is trying to control the position but Lawson postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vorzaa Lightning.
Lightning keeps the fight on the outside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawson shoots in for a double leg but Lightning sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Decent striking displayed by Lawson there.
Burton Lawson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lightning tries to clinch up but Lawson circles away and keeps his distance.

Lawson scores with a takedown into Lightning's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lawson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Lightning looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lawson passes into half guard.
Lawson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lightning is trying to stand up here but Lawson is controlling him well.
Lawson throwing shots but Lightning is blocking nicely.
Lightning is looking to control Lawson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lightning avoid being mounted?
Lightning keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lightning is trying to stand back up but Lawson is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lawson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lightning is looking to control Lawson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lightning avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Burton Lawson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lawson is looking to clinch.
Lightning throws a leg kick but Lawson sees it coming and moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lightning.
Lawson is trying to work for a sweep but Lightning has mounted him!
Lawson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lawson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lawson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lightning trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lightning must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lightning trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson wants to sweep but no luck.
Lawson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lightning trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Lightning throws a strike but Lawson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lightning working for submissions but it's allowed Lawson to get to half guard.
Lightning takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawson moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lightning.
Lightning looks to move to half guard but instead Lawson has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lawson prevents Lightning from getting the reversal.
Lightning keeps trying to improve his position.
Lawson looking to control and managing it successfully.

Lawson working for a guillotine from mount but Lightning is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lightning takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Lawson prevents Lightning from getting the reversal.
Lawson unloading with bombs!
Lightning wants to hold on but Lawson pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lightning is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Burton Lawson.
I think Lawson 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Burton Lawson!