PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lawlor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlito Rotolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lawlor comes to the cage accompanied by Irigy Hónaljmirigy - Rúgj Chuck Norris (Chuck Norris parody by Hungarians). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Lawlor
vs
Rotolo

175 cm
27
186 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

178 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Lawlor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Carlito Rotolo!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawlor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Lawlor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rotolo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lawlor looking for a sweep. Not yet Lawlor, not yet.
Rotolo postures up and lands a big shot to Lawlor's brow.
Lawlor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rotolo.
Lawlor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rotolo tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawlor is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rotolo preventing the sweep.
Lawlor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rotolo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rotolo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lawlor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rotolo preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rotolo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lawlor dives on top into guard.

Lawlor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rotolo's head.
Lawlor looking to pass the guard.
Lawlor advances to half guard.
Lawlor is pressing down on Rotolo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rotolo is holding on for now.
Rotolo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lawlor is stalling here. Rotolo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lawlor seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rotolo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lawlor is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Rotolo.
Rotolo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

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

Rotolo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lawlor has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rotolo throws a strike aimed at the side of Lawlor's head but Lawlor avoids it well.
Lawlor is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lawlor wants to get back to full guard.
Rotolo passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotolo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lawlor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lawlor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Lawlor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rotolo working the ground and pound but Lawlor is defending the strikes.
Rotolo is putting a hurting on Lawlor here, landing some big shots from side control.
Lawlor gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rotolo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Lawlor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotolo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rotolo misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Lawlor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rotolo's best efforts.
Rotolo trying to advance position but Lawlor counters by regaining guard.
Rotolo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lawlor is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawlor regains half guard.
Lawlor gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lawlor works the jab nicely.
Lawlor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rotolo is defended easily by Lawlor.
Lawlor tries to counter with a takedown but Rotolo is quick to defend against it.
Lawlor leaves Rotolo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rotolo looks for a takedown but Lawlor sprawls well.
John Lawlor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlito Rotolo.
Rotolo throws a right and a left that Lawlor avoids nicely.

Lawlor 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.
Lawlor landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rotolo controlling Lawlor's posture.
Lawlor passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawlor wants to pass the guard but Rotolo is defending well.
Lawlor uses his free foot to push down on Rotolo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rotolo.

Lawlor moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rotolo has worked his arm free - good work by Rotolo!

Lawlor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lawlor swings around for an armbar but Rotolo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lawlor's guard.
Rotolo tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawlor is retaining full guard.
Rotolo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lawlor looking to control.
Lawlor keeping full guard, as Rotolo tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lawlor is on top in guard.

Lawlor throws a strike but Rotolo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotolo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rotolo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lawlor looking for a sweep. Not yet Lawlor, not yet.
Rotolo with a nice head shot there.
Rotolo is pushing down on Lawlor's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lawlor is fighting to maintain full guard but Rotolo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lawlor is pressing down on Rotolo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rotolo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lawlor looking to control.
Rotolo throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rotolo is looking to work some ground and pound but Lawlor has wrist control.
Rotolo throws a strike but Lawlor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotolo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lawlor's guard.

Rotolo trying to control but Lawlor is working from the bottom.
Rotolo stands up over Lawlor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rotolo cracks Lawlor with a solid left hand.
Lawlor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rotolo looking to sit in guard and control but Lawlor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rotolo 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rotolo pulls Lawlor in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lawlor dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rotolo.
Lawlor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rotolo.
Rotolo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lawlor tries to avoid it but Rotolo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lawlor to the ground. Lawlor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lawlor throws a wild body kick that Rotolo sees coming a mile off.
Rotolo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lawlor's waist but Lawlor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rotolo off to one side.
John Lawlor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlito Rotolo.
Lawlor looks to land a body kick but Rotolo moved away.
Lawlor lands with a good body shot.
Lawlor misses with the body kick

so Rotolo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Lawlor throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rotolo escapes and throws Lawlor's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rotolo wants to take a breather but Lawlor manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rotolo.
Lawlor keeping moving, preventing Rotolo from controlling successfully.
Rotolo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawlor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lawlor is looking to advance position but Rotolo won't allow it.

Lawlor seems to be looking for submissions.
Lawlor trying to control from half guard but Rotolo is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawlor misses with a head shot. Rotolo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lawlor wants to pass the guard but Rotolo is keeping the position.
Lawlor is working hard here to advance position.
Lawlor throws a strike but Rotolo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rotolo preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotolo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lawlor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lawlor trying to control the position.
Rotolo tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawlor is retaining full guard.
Rotolo is still trying to improve position.
Lawlor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lawlor trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Lawlor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lawlor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawlor is looking for a kimura here.
Lawlor is trying to control the action in half guard but Rotolo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lawlor seems to be working for a kimura but Rotolo defends the submission attempt.
Lawlor prevents Rotolo from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carlito Rotolo.
I think Rotolo 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!