PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Freeman has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Eric Lawson's chin.

Lawson
vs
Freeman

190 cm
32
190 lbs
24 - 18 - 0

178 cm
32
195 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eric Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Freeman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lawson somewhat.
Eric Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawson moves out of range as Freeman throws a body kick.
Freeman's coach down at Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Freeman's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Lawson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Freeman sprawls well initially but Lawson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Freeman tries to get to full guard but Lawson has control of the leg.
Well, if Lawson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lawson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Freeman keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman keeping hold of Lawson's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lawson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lawson postures up.
Lawson throwing strikes but missing.
Freeman is controlling Lawson's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lawson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown but Freeman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Freeman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lawson or perhaps it was just good defense by Freeman, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lawson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Freeman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lawson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Freeman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lawson somewhat.

Freeman forces Lawson back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Freeman misses with some punches.
Lawson blocking some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Freeman.
Freeman throws a head punch that misses.
Freeman misses with a punch to the body.

Lawson has picked Freeman up - he's going for a ride! Lawson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Freeman is looking to improve his position.
Lawson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Freeman wants to improve his position but Lawson is controlling well.
Lawson is just content to waste time from the top position. Freeman takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Lawson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Freeman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lawson's guard.

Freeman throws a big right hand that misses.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Freeman trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freeman stopping the sweep attempt from Lawson.
Lawson trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Freeman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Freeman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawson swinging wildly here.
Freeman misses the jab.
Lawson shoots in but Freeman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Eric Lawson has been cut.
Freeman throws a shot from downtown. Lawson moves away and avoids it.
Lawson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Freeman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson tries for a takedown but Freeman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Freeman misses with an uppercut. Lawson saw that one coming.

Lawson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Freeman to the mat! Freeman manages to get full guard.
Freeman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Freeman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lawson's guard.

Lawson keeping moving, preventing Freeman from controlling successfully.
Freeman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Freeman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lawson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Eric Lawson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Freeman throwing strikes from guard but Lawson blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Freeman controls the pace.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Freeman from controlling successfully.
Freeman lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Freeman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lawson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson closes the distance and clinches up with Freeman, looking for a takedown. Lawson pushes Freeman against the cage but Freeman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawson closes the distance and clinches up with Freeman, looking for a takedown. Lawson pushes Freeman against the cage but Freeman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lawson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Freeman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lawson scores with a one two! Freeman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Freeman leaves Lawson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lawson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Freeman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lawson ducks under a wild hook from Freeman.
Eric Lawson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Freeman throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Lawson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Lawson is keen to just control but Freeman is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Freeman's head.
Freeman is trying to get back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lawson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Freeman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lawson.
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 Eric Lawson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eric Lawson's cut.
That's time! Lawson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lawson.
Lawson tries for a takedown but Freeman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson moves in looking to clinch but Freeman pushes him off.
Lawson ducks under a wild hook from Freeman.
Lawson shoots for a double leg takedown but Freeman sprawls well. He's pushed Lawson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lawson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown but Freeman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Freeman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawson is not content to let Freeman control the position.
Freeman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman winds up and cracks Lawson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Freeman is trying to control. Lawson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Freeman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lawson wants to get back to full guard.

Freeman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lawson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Freeman.

Freeman wants to work for an arm triangle but Lawson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Freeman thows a huge punch but Lawson dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson gets full guard.
Lawson trying to keep a closed guard but Freeman is proving a slippery customer.
Lawson wants to sweep here but Freeman controlling him for the moment.
Freeman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawson controlling the position.
Freeman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lawson's head.
Freeman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Freeman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Lawson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Freeman cracks Lawson with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman looking to pass the guard.
Freeman landing with the ground and pound.
Lawson is trying to keep Freeman in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Freeman lands a jab to the head.

Lawson is rocked!
Freeman swings widly with a right hand
and Lawson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Oh Lawson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Freeman has Lawson up against the cage in a clinch.
Lawson blocking some punches.
Freeman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lawson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Freeman misses with some punches.
Freeman swings wildly with an uppercut but Lawson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lawson blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Freeman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Freeman 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Freeman!
After the big win, Matt Freeman made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.