PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Wall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lawson
vs
Wall

175 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomas Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Wall!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wall slaps away a takedown attempt from Lawson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Crunch! Wall slams his shin into Lawson's torso.
Wall leaves Lawson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lawson misses with a hook

and Wall counters by moving into the clinch.
Lawson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wall gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wall controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawson manages to break the clinch.
Lawson circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wall dives in and scores a takedown into Lawson's guard.
Lawson seems keen to control Wall's posture.
Wall content to stall in guard here.
Lawson has Wall pulled in close to control his posture.
Lawson continues to stall.

Wall decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lawson, up you get!
Lawson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson avoids the head kick by Wall.
Lawson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Lawson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wall, pushing him back against the cage.

Wall gets control of Lawson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Wall will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lawson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Wall is looking for a triangle but Lawson pushes his legs off easily.
Lawson slips nicely into half guard.
Wall wants to get back to full guard but Lawson has mounted him!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lawson lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson controlling from the full mount.
Wall keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wall is still trying to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wall wants to control but Lawson is having none of it.
Lawson controlling the pace for now.
Wall wants to control but Lawson is having none of it.
Lawson landing punches.
Lawson 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 thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wall looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thomas Lawson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wall dives in for a single leg takedown but Lawson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lawson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Wall tries to clinch but Lawson moves away

and Lawson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wall is trying to stand up here but Lawson is controlling him well.
Wall is trying to maintain the position but Lawson is very close to passing his half guard.
Wall regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lawson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lawson postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wall looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wall controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lawson looking to pass the guard.
Lawson postures up and lands a big shot to Wall's brow.
Lawson is stalling in the full guard.
Lawson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wall shoots in for a double leg but Lawson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lawson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Good work by Wall as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lawson misses with a head kick.
Wall wants to clinch.

Lawson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Wall's guard.
Lawson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lawson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wall has a closed guard, preventing Lawson from standing up.
Wall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lawson is one step ahead there.
Wall is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lawson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lawson tries to get out of the position.
Wall is looking to stall here but Lawson recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lawson keeping full guard, as Wall tries to pass.
Wall wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wall is pushing down on Lawson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lawson is fighting to maintain full guard but Wall has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Lawson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wall wants to clinch up but Lawson keeps it at a distance.
Wall throws the kick towards the body but Lawson avoids it.
Lawson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wall.
Lawson throws out a leg kick but Wall moves out of range and Lawson only half commits.
Wall counters with a body kick.

Wall rushes Lawson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lawson is pressed up against the cage. Wall has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lawson down to the mat. Lawson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wall as he jumps to the side.
Lawson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson tries to close the distance and clinch but Wall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lawson misses with a head kick.
Wall blocks a head kick by Lawson.
Wall is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lawson with a body shot.
Wall scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wall shoots in and drives through. Lawson sprawls well.
Lawson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Wall drives through and clinches with Lawson against the cage.
Lawson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lawson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lawson is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wall tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lawson's elbow.
Lawson stops a takedown attempt from Wall.
Thomas Lawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Wall.
Wall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lawson.
Lawson being controlled against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Wall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lawson.

Lawson manages to pull guard.
Wall looking to pass the guard.
Wall trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Lawson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wall controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wall gets to his feet. Lawson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wall shoots in looking for a takedown. Lawson tries to sprawl out of it but Wall keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lawson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lawson's waist but Lawson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wall off to one side.
Wall checks a low kick from Lawson.
Wall lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lawson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wall will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Wall gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawson pulls Wall into guard.
Wall is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wall content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wall postures up in Lawson's guard and throws a big left but Lawson blocks it.

Wall stands up from Lawson's guard - Wall perhaps looking for a knockout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lawson tries to clinch up but Wall circles away and keeps his distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Wall lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lawson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lawson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Wall keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Wall.
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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Thomas Lawson!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Thomas Lawson!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for John Wall!

Thomas Lawson wins by split decision!