PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Clausen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Lawler
vs
Clausen

181 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

177 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robbie Lawler!
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, Ricky Clausen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clausen with a poor takedown
and Lawler counters with a nice uppercut.
Lawler changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ricky Clausen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clausen moves in looking to clinch but Lawler pushes him off.
Lawler misses with a wild body shot.
Clausen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lawler.
Lawler looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lawler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clausen fails with a takedown attempt.
Lawler scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler thows a left - swing and a miss!
Clausen shoots for a double leg takedown but Lawler sprawls well. He's pushed Clausen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Robbie Lawler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Clausen.
A good leg kick by Lawler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clausen.
Lawler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lawler. Clausen shrugs it off though.
Lawler throws a head kick that misses.
Lawler missing with a left hand there. Clausen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lawler takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lawler lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A jab from Clausen does it's job there.
Lawler throws a right and a left that Clausen avoids nicely.
Robbie Lawler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawler just misses with a punch to the body.
Lawler connects with a single shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses the jab.
Clausen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Clausen shoots in for a takedown but Lawler shows good takedown defense.
Clausen throws a head kick that misses.
Lawler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawler misses with a wild combination.
Lawler lands with a nice body kick.
Clausen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawler.
Clausen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lawler as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clausen shoots in and gets a takedown into Lawler's guard.
Lawler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clausen.
Lawler pulls Clausen in close to prevent any damage.
Clausen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Clausen trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawler pulls Clausen in close to his closed guard and prevents Clausen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Clausen stopping the sweep attempt from Lawler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clausen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lawler's guard.
Lawler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Clausen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lawler wants to sweep here but Clausen controlling him for the moment.
Lawler pulls Clausen in close to his closed guard and prevents Clausen from doing any damage or advancing position.

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

Clausen moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robbie Lawler dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Clausen tries for a takedown but Lawler circles away easily
and Lawler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lawler stuffs the takedown attempt from Clausen. Clausen gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clausen was well out of range. Poor timing from Lawler.
Clausen throws a counter combo.
Lawler chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice takedown defense from Lawler. No joy for Clausen on that attempt.
Lawler jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Robbie Lawler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Clausen.
Lawler jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Robbie Lawler is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler scores with a spinning back kick!
Lawler moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lawler attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lawler tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen is looking to clinch.
It looked like Lawler wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Lawler gets caught flat footed, as Clausen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lawler controlling the position.
Clausen lands a couple of digs.
Clausen with a nice head shot there.
Clausen trying to control but Lawler is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lawler looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Clausen is looking to stand up but Lawler won't let him.

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

Clausen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lawler is looking to pass into half guard but Clausen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Clausen is in guard.

Lawler pulls Clausen in to control the position.
Lawler can't keep his opponent in guard - Clausen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Clausen prevents Lawler from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawler on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lawler is refusing to be controlled, as Clausen sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Clausen connects with a nice short shot to Lawler's temple.
Lawler is looking to get back to full guard here but Clausen has managed to pass to side control instead.
Clausen trying to control the action but Lawler is working from the bottom.
Lawler gets back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Clausen seems to be working for a kimura but Lawler defends the submission attempt.
Lawler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Clausen can do to turn this around?
Lawler is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler is looking for a sweep. Clausen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lawler is working hard here to advance position.
Clausen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lawler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clausen is thwarting Lawler's attempts to control the position.
Clausen wants to free his trapped foot but Lawler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
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 Robbie Lawler will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Clausen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lawler sprawls well. Lawler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Clausen gets slowly back to his feet.
Clausen defending well as Lawler loads up on a big left hand.
Clausen tries to counter by closing the distance.
Clausen needs to keep his hands up - Lawler had a free shot at his head there.
Clausen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lawler fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Clausen.
Lawler lands a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clausen shoots in and drives through. Lawler sprawls well.
Clausen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lawler lands a nice leg kick that just misses Clausen's sensitive parts.
Clausen slips under a jab from Lawler.
And Clausen tries to counter it with a takedown but Lawler pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawler as he avoids it easily.
Robbie Lawler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Clausen.
Clausen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lawler lands a glancing blow to the side of Clausen's head.
Clausen shoots and misses
and Lawler counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Clausen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lawler circles away.
It looked like Lawler was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Clausen lands with a nice body kick.
Lawler leaves Clausen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Clausen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawler looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clausen.
Clausen closes the distance but Lawler moves to the side
and Clausen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Clausen shoots in and drives through. Lawler sprawls well.
Lawler thinks about countering with a head kick.
Lawler cracks the inside of Clausen's front leg.
Lawler misses with a hook. Clausen ducked under it nicely.
Clausen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawler looks to score with a jab to the body but Clausen is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Clausen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clausen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawler.
Clausen checks the leg kick.
Clausen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Lawler lands with a nice body punch.
Clausen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Clausen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawler manages to avoid it.
Clausen shoots in but Lawler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Clausen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lawler throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Clausen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lawler tries to avoid it but Clausen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lawler to the ground. Lawler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Clausen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clausen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lawler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Clausen tries for a takedown but Lawler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lawler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clausen.
Lawler moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lawler loads up on a big right hand but Clausen slips the punch.
Lawler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jab, jab by Lawler - just one landing.
Robbie Lawler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawler scores with a leg kick.
Clausen misses with a kick to the body.
Clausen tries to clinch but Lawler moves away
and Lawler counters with a right hand to the body.
Ricky Clausen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lawler lands a high kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Robbie Lawler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lawler, 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robbie Lawler!
Robbie Lawler decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.