PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Borys Szymanski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Lawrence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Szymanski
vs
Lawrence

178 cm
19
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Borys Szymanski!
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, Ray Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence is looking to clinch but Szymanski is avoiding it.
Lawrence tries to clinch up but Szymanski circles away and keeps his distance.
Lawrence goes for a double leg but Szymanski avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Szymanski continues to drive forward.
Lawrence tries to bum rush Szymanski with a series of wild strikes but Szymanski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lawrence fails with the takedown
and Szymanski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lawrence throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Szymanski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lawrence misses with a takedown
enabling Szymanski to counter with a crisp jab.
Borys Szymanski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Lawrence.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence has his takedown stuffed
and Szymanski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but Szymanski shows good takedown defense.
Lawrence tries to clinch but Szymanski moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to clinch up.
Szymanski is looking to counter punch.
Szymanski looks to score with a jab to the body but Lawrence is just out of range.
Lawrence changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Szymanski tries to avoid it but Lawrence manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Szymanski to the ground. Szymanski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Szymanski throwing a counter right hand but Lawrence manages to avoid it.
Lawrence shoots in but no luck this time.
Lawrence ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lawrence has his takedown stuffed
and Szymanski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Szymanski looks to throw the jab but Lawrence is out of range.
Szymanski stuffs the takedown.
Szymanski misses with a body kick.
Lawrence throws a lazy head kick
and Szymanski counters with a nice uppercut.
Szymanski lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries for a takedown but Szymanski circles away easily
and Szymanski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Szymanski throws a jab when Lawrence was well out of range.
Szymanski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawrence has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawrence tries to land a leg kick but Szymanski saw it coming and moves away.
Szymanski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Szymanski keeps the fight on the outside.
And Szymanski counters with a quick kick to the body but Lawrence blocks it.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lawrence fails with the takedown
enabling Szymanski to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawrence shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Szymanski as he jumps to the side.
Szymanski is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Szymanski connects with a single shot there.
Lawrence is looking to land body kicks.
Lawrence fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lawrence tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Szymanski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Szymanski throws a shot from downtown. Lawrence moves away and avoids it.
Szymanski swings for the body but Lawrence moves out of range.
Szymanski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Szymanski is looking to counter punch.
Szymanski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawrence keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Szymanski.
Szymanski misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski lands with a shot to the body.
Szymanski throws out a loose jab but Lawrence uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lawrence with the counter takedown but Szymanski avoids it easily.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Szymanski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lawrence.
Szymanski stuffs the takedown.
Lawrence misses with a takedown
and Szymanski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lawrence fails with an attempt to clinch.
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!
Lawrence's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Szymanski connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lawrence scrambles back to his feet.
Szymanski scores with a hook.
Lawrence tries for a takedown but Szymanski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Borys Szymanski dominated that round.
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.

Lawrence shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lawrence throws a sloppy head kick and Szymanski moves out of range easily.

Lawrence pushes Szymanski up against the cage in a clinch.
Szymanski scores with a shoulder strike.
Szymanski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lawrence is trying to break free.
Szymanski lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.
Lawrence is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szymanski is defending well for now.
Szymanski lands a hook to the side of the head.
Szymanski throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szymanski working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lawrence has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Szymanski avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lawrence looking for a takedown.
Lawrence lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Szymanski.
Szymanski blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence jumps guard but Szymanski stands there with Lawrence around his waist. Lawrence gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Borys Szymanski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Lawrence.
Szymanski lands a body shot.
Szymanski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
I was talking to Szymanski's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Szymanski misses with the head strike.
Szymanski lands an uppercut.
Lawrence looking to stall.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Szymanski.
Lawrence is trying to maintain a safe position but Szymanski gets an underhook and turns Lawrence into the cage.
Szymanski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Szymanski can't find room to land a body shot as Lawrence controls the action.
A bit of stalling here from Szymanski.
Szymanski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Szymanski.
Szymanski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lawrence can do to turn this around?
Szymanski lands a hook that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski lands a hook to the side of the head.
Szymanski misses with the head strike.

Szymanski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence tries for a takedown but Szymanski circles away easily
enabling Szymanski to counter with a crisp jab.
Szymanski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lawrence sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lawrence looks to clinch
and Szymanski counters with a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szymanski circles away from the clinch attempt
and Szymanski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Szymanski tests Lawrence's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but Szymanski shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence avoids the body shot from Szymanski.
Szymanski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lawrence sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Despite the aggression on Lawrence's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lawrence with a poor takedown
and Szymanski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Szymanski swings widly with a right hand
and Lawrence counters with a series of strikes. Szymanski will be more careful next time no doubt.
A jab lands there for Szymanski.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but Szymanski shows good takedown defense.
Lawrence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lawrence is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Szymanski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Szymanski throws a body punch but Lawrence moves out of range.
Lawrence's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Szymanski connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lawrence scrambles back to his feet.
Lawrence throws a head kick but Szymanski moves out of range.
Lawrence tries to clinch but Szymanski moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence shoots in and drives through. Szymanski sprawls well.
Lawrence is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
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!
Nice jab there from Lawrence.
Lawrence moves out of range of the strikes.
Lawrence fails with an attempt to clinch.
Szymanski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawrence.
Lawrence avoids the body shot from Szymanski.
Lawrence uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Szymanski.
Lawrence moves out of range as Szymanski strikes.
Lawrence wants to counter the offense by Szymanski and move into the clinch position.
Lawrence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Borys Szymanski dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Lawrence avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lawrence moves in looking to clinch but Szymanski pushes him off.
A quick step to the side and Szymanski tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawrence ducks under a wild hook from Szymanski.
Ray Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szymanski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Szymanski lands a right hook to the body.
Lawrence darts in trying to clinch
letting Szymanski counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence tries to close the distance and clinch but Szymanski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ray Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawrence is looking to clinch.
Szymanski throws a right hand that Lawrence ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawrence also avoids with ease.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lawrence misses with a head kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Szymanski misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymanski slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lawrence wants to clinch
and Szymanski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lawrence throws a chopping leg kick but Szymanski manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lawrence has a takedown stuffed.
Lawrence looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Szymanski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lawrence uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Szymanski.
Szymanski swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawrence.
Szymanski throws the left hand but Lawrence avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski lands a slapping body shot.
Szymanski has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Lawrence moves out of range as Szymanski strikes.
Szymanski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Szymanski misses.
Lawrence is trying desperately to land a takedown but Szymanski is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Lawrence.
Szymanski loads up on a big right hand but Lawrence slips the punch.
Lawrence has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lawrence shoots in looking for a takedown. Szymanski tries to sprawl out of it but Lawrence keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Szymanski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Borys Szymanski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Lawrence.
Lawrence shoots for a double leg takedown but Szymanski sprawls well. He's pushed Lawrence's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lawrence fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lawrence takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawrence tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Szymanski counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Szymanski misses.
Szymanski misses the jab.
Lawrence throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Szymanski's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lawrence under the eye.
Lawrence moves out of range of the strikes.
Lawrence with the counter takedown but Szymanski avoids it easily.
Szymanski connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lawrence. Lawrence circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lawrence tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Szymanski counters with a right hand to the body.
Borys Szymanski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Szymanski misses with a straight right.
A cross from Szymanski lands.
Lawrence tries to score a power double leg takedown but Szymanski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lawrence somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence with a poor takedown
and Szymanski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Szymanski throws a lazy right hand but Lawrence sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lawrence wants to counter with a clinch but Szymanski pushes him away.
Lawrence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Szymanski misses the shot to the body.
Lawrence works over Szymanski's head and body with a nice combination.
Borys Szymanski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szymanski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawrence.
Lawrence is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lawrence moves in looking to clinch but Szymanski pushes him off.
Lawrence shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Szymanski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Borys Szymanski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Szymanski has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Borys Szymanski!