PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lawler
vs
Rush

190 cm
25
260 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

194 cm
25
240 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

King of Fists

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gary Lawler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kevin Rush!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawler looks to land a combination but Rush avoids it well.
Lawler looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Rush feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Lawler sprawling to the canvas! Lawler rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Rush finish him?!
Rush thows a body kick. Lawler tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Rush shoots in and bounces Lawler off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rush controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rush stands up over Lawler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rush slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler is trying to keep Rush in close.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rush is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kevin Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lawler seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rush throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rush waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lawler.
Rush comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice body kick from Rush.
Rush shoots in looking for a takedown. Lawler tries to sprawl out of it but Rush keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lawler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rush moves into the clinch.
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush misses with a punch to the body.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Rush has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lawler is trying to keep an underhook but Rush manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rush is trying to control. Lawler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lawler tries to roll over but Rush keeps him under control.
Rush performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rush working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rush really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lawler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lawler tries to get to full guard but Rush has control of the leg.
Lawler is refusing to be controlled, as Rush sits in half guard.
Rush slows the pace down in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rush tries to stand but can't do so whilst Lawler controls his leg.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rush lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lawler takes a step back to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rush moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lawler avoids the body shot from Rush.
Rush lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Lawler is rocked!
Rush looks to land a combination but Lawler avoids it well.
Oh Lawler is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rush forces Lawler back against the cage and clinches.
Lawler seems to have got his legs back now.
Rush unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lawler lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rush goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rush misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rush trying to land knees to the body.
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
A short right from Rush on the inside.
Rush misses with the head strike.
Rush lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Rush dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rush shoots in looking for a takedown. Lawler tries to sprawl out of it but Rush keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lawler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed right hand from Rush misses the target.
A punch combination from Rush misses.

Lawler gets tackled into the cage by Rush. Rush maintains the clinch.
Lawler working hard to break the clinch.

Rush gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rush landing with the ground and pound.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rush's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rush wants to get up but he can't break Lawler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush landing with the ground and pound.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rush won't allow Lawler to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Lawler gets tackled into the cage by Rush. Rush maintains the clinch.
Lawler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rush just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rush connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lawler's face.
Rush lands a left hand.
Lawler is trying to maintain a safe position but Rush gets an underhook and turns Lawler into the cage.
Rush lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rush lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Rush tries to throw a body punch but Lawler avoids it by throwing Rush back against the cage.
Rush has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rush tries a body shot but Lawler blocks it.
Rush lands a body punch in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Rush.
Rush tries to land a knee to the head but Lawler blocks with his arms.
Rush landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rush lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Rush.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rush.
Rush lands an elbow just above Lawler 's eye.
Rush lands an elbow that stopped Lawler in his tracks for a moment.
Rush lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Rush lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rush is defending well.
Rush lands a shoulder strike.
Rush is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lawler gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rush lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Rush drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lawler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gary Lawler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Rush.
Lawler takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rush avoids the head kick by Lawler.
Lawler on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lawler shoots in and drives through. Rush sprawls well.

Rush scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lawler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Lawler being controlled for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Lawler takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lawler looks to move to half guard but instead Rush has passed into mount! Damn!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee warns Lawler that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Rush showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rush throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lawler's waist but Lawler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rush off to one side.

Rush shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lawler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rush working the ground and pound.
Lawler is trying to escape the position but Rush is controlling the position.
Lawler tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rush wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kevin Rush has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rush remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Lawler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler is not content to let Rush control the position.
Rush tries to move to mount but Lawler blocks the move with his legs.
Rush lands an elbow.
Rush is looking to take a break and control but Lawler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rush cracks Lawler with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rush in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rush working the head and body with strikes.
Lawler is trying to improve his position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rush lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rush scoring with punches and elbows.

Rush decides to stand back up. Rush steps back and let's Lawler get back to his feet.

Rush has closed the distance and engaged Lawler in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lawler.
Kevin Rush is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Lawler blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Rush fails to land.
Rush tries for a takedown but Lawler manages to get underhooks.
Rush scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lawler can't get the takedown.
Rush gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rush with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rush lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Rush looking for a takedown.
Gary Lawler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Rush.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Rush has clasped his hands together around Lawler's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawler is looking to reverse the position.
Lawler is trying to escape the position but Rush is controlling the position.

Rush stands up.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Lawler.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rush is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lawler can't fight it off and eventually Rush manages to take the fight to the floor. Lawler looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gary Lawler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lawler keeping full guard, as Rush tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Rush comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rush has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Rush!
Kevin Rush decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.