PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lazaro Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Dawson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Campbell
vs
Dawson

215 cm
21
278 lbs
0 - 6 - 1

195 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lazaro Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Dawson!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Campbell makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Dawson clinches.
Dawson is trying to break free.
Campbell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dawson smiles and moves away.
Dawson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dawson tries for a takedown but Campbell circles away easily
and Campbell counters with a nice body shot.
Campbell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dawson.
Lazaro Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Dawson.
Dawson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Campbell sprawls well. Campbell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dawson gets slowly back to his feet.
Steve Dawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dawson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dawson pushes Campbell up against the cage in a clinch.
Campbell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dawson.
Dawson looks winded!
Campbell fails to pull guard.
Dawson tries to break free but Campbell pushes him back against the cage.

Campbell gets control of Dawson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Campbell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dawson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Campbell is pulling down on Dawson's head. It's preventing any offense from Dawson, at least for the moment.
Dawson throws a big right hand that misses.
Campbell 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.
Dawson throws a strike but Campbell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Campbell is looking to work some ground and pound but Dawson has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lazaro Campbell just wasn't active enough.
Dawson dives in for a single leg takedown but Campbell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Campbell is trying to trip Dawson. He has hold of a leg but Dawson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Campbell persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dawson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Campbell.
Campbell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Campbell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lazaro Campbell wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Campbell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Campbell stuffs the takedown attempt from Dawson. Dawson gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dawson is defended easily by Campbell.
Both fighters circling a little - Campbell finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Campbell feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Campbell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Lazaro Campbell has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Campbell rushes Dawson and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Campbell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dawson uses from the top position.

Campbell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dawson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dawson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Campbell controlling Dawson's posture.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dawson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dawson throws a strike but Campbell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazaro Campbell dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Campbell. No joy for Dawson on that attempt.

Campbell moves into the clinch successfully.
Dawson lands with a short shot to the head.
Dawson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dawson misses with a knee strike.

Campbell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dawson throws a big elbow that misses.
Campbell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dawson.
Dawson won't allow Campbell to sweep him here.
Dawson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Campbell seems keen to control Dawson's posture.

Campbell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Campbell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dawson is breathing heavily.
Dawson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson throwing strikes from guard but Campbell blocks nicely.
Campbell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Campbell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dawson's guard.
Campbell wants to get up but he can't break Dawson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lazaro Campbell.
Dawson blocks a head kick by Campbell.
Campbell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dawson.
Dawson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Campbell throws a front kick aimed at Dawson's knee but Dawson avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell misses with a leg kick.
Dawson dives in and grabs Campbell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Campbell pushes down on Dawson's head and hops out.
Lazaro Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Dawson.
Campbell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Campbell slips a jab and a cross from Dawson.
Dawson closes the distance and clinches up with Campbell, looking for a takedown. Dawson pushes Campbell against the cage but Campbell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Dawson has Campbell up against the cage in a clinch.

Campbell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Campbell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Campbell has Dawson pulled in close to control his posture.
Campbell trying to control the position.
Campbell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dawson is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is trying to control the position but Dawson postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lazaro Campbell wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dawson fails with the takedown.
A combination from Campbell does no damage.
Campbell goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Dawson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Campbell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dawson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Campbell counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Dawson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Dawson avoids the head kick by Campbell.
Dawson leaves Campbell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Campbell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Campbell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dawson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Campbell counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Campbell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dawson fails with the takedown
and Campbell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Campbell tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck for Dawson with that takedown attempt.
Campbell is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazaro Campbell dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Campbell moves into the clinch.
Campbell fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Dawson breaks from the clinch.

Dawson closes the distance and clinches.
Campbell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Campbell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dawson to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lazaro Campbell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Campbell blocks the elbow strike.
Campbell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dawson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dawson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dawson wants to take the fight to the mat but Campbell manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dawson is trying to break the clinch but Campbell has him pressed against the cage.
Dawson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dawson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dawson working hard to break the clinch.
Campbell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dawson is keeping busy.

Dawson breaks from the clinch.
No joy there for Dawson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson slaps away a takedown attempt from Campbell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Campbell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dawson shoots in looking for a takedown. Campbell tries to sprawl out of it but Dawson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Campbell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dawson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch but Dawson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dawson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Campbell as he avoids it easily.

Campbell rushes Dawson and presses him up against the cage.

Campbell pulls guard successfully.
Campbell pulls Dawson in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson postures up in Campbell's guard and throws a big left but Campbell blocks it.
Campbell is pulling down on Dawson's head. It's preventing any offense from Dawson, at least for the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lazaro Campbell.

Campbell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dawson can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dawson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Campbell throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dawson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Campbell.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dawson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Campbell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dawson has his takedown stuffed
and Campbell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Dawson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Campbell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Campbell wants to get back to his feet but Dawson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Campbell controlling Dawson's posture.
Campbell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson throws a big right hand that misses.
Dawson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dawson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dawson throws a big elbow that misses.
Dawson throws an elbow that misses. Campbell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dawson's guard. Nice move by Campbell!
Campbell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steve Dawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lazaro Campbell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lazaro Campbell wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch but Dawson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lazaro Campbell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Campbell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lazaro Campbell!