PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Lau (ranked 9115 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Zwirn (ranked 3031 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lau
vs
Zwirn

170 cm
25
178 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

178 cm
26
177 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Lau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Zwirn!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zwirn lunges at Lau with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lau's hand.
Lau misses with a kick to the body
and Zwirn counters with a nice uppercut.
Lau throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Zwirn to counter with a crisp jab.
Zwirn tests Lau's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zwirn fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lau is out of range.
Zwirn lands with a right hand.
A shot to the body from Lau misses
and Lau takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Lau manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zwirn on his heels. He'll look to pass Zwirn's guard now, I'm sure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lau showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zwirn wants to stand but Lau is controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lau sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zwirn bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lau's head.
Lau throws a nice looking combination but Zwirn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zwirn throws out a leg kick but Lau moves out of range and Zwirn only half commits.
Lau is looking for a counter combo.
Lau throws a hook but Zwirn avoids it easily.
Lau thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zwirn lands a nice shot that snaps Lau's head back.
Zwirn connects with a body shot that sends Lau's belly button to the back.
Zwirn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Zwirn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lau, pushing him back against the cage.
Zwirn has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Zwirn breaks the clinch.
Lau takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thomas Zwirn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Lau misses the target.
Zwirn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zwirn is looking to clinch but Lau is avoiding it.
Lau misses with a body kick.
Zwirn has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lau is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Lau closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zwirn did well to prevent Lau getting side control.
Lau perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lau stops Zwirn from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lau keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lau prevents Zwirn from standing back up.
Lau tries to pass to full mount but Zwirn defends it.
Lau performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lau looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lau is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lau'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.
Zwirn wants to get back to his feet but Lau is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Zwirn dominated that round.
That's time! Lau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A cross from Zwirn lands.
Zwirn stalks Lau and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lau's face. Lau staggers backwards, shaken.
Zwirn scores with a decent looking hook.
Lau gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zwirn.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zwirn.
Lau on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lau misses with a right hand
and Zwirn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lau attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Lau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zwirn tries to clinch but Lau is having none of it.
Zwirn ducks under a wild hook from Lau.
Zwirn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice shot lands for Zwirn.
A shot to the liver by Zwirn. Beautiful body shot.
Zwirn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lau moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zwirn lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lau takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lau misses with a leg kick
and Zwirn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thomas Zwirn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zwirn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zwirn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zwirn is looking to clinch but Lau is avoiding it.
Zwirn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lau manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zwirn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lau swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zwirn checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zwirn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lau misses with an uppercut. Zwirn saw that one coming.
Lau misses with an uppercut
and Zwirn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zwirn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lau.
Zwirn fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zwirn darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zwirn lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lau swings away with a body shot that misses
and Zwirn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lau walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lau drops his hands momentarily and Zwirn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zwirn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lau.
A big left from Lau misses.
Zwirn wants to clinch up but Lau keeps it at a distance.
Lau throws a leg kick
and Zwirn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zwirn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lau takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zwirn lands with a shot to the body.
Lau walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zwirn avoids the body shot from Lau.
Lau looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Good work by Lau as he checks the leg kick.
Lau throws a shot from downtown. Zwirn moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zwirn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lau's head backwards.
Zwirn jabs Lau to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zwirn throws out a leg kick but Lau moves out of range and Zwirn only half commits.
Zwirn keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zwirn throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zwirn lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Lau shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lau was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zwirn is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lau asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Lau is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zwirn will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zwirn is looking for a sweep.
Lau controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Zwirn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zwirn scores with a jab. Lau acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zwirn scores with a body shot.
Lau swings widly with a right hand
and Zwirn counters with a stiff right hand.
Lau is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Zwirn's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Zwirn closes the distance and pushes Lau back into the cage.
Lau is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zwirn is keeping busy.
Zwirn lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Joe Lau has been cut.
Zwirn lands an elbow that stopped Lau in his tracks for a moment.
Zwirn lands with a short shot to the head.
Lau wants to break free but Zwirn has control.
Zwirn has Lau pressed against the cage, preventing Lau from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zwirn keeps control of Lau as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zwirn digs a right hand underneath Lau's ribcage. Lau let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zwirn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lau backwards.
Zwirn lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lau can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lau trying to control the position but instead, Zwirn has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lau into the cage.
Zwirn lands a nice elbow.
Zwirn prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zwirn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zwirn.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zwirn.
Still in the clinch, Zwirn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lau takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zwirn lands a nice elbow.
Zwirn lands an elbow inside that Lau shrugs off.
Zwirn cracks Lau with a nice body shot.
Zwirn lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zwirn lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A left hand lands to the body for Zwirn.
Zwirn missing with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Zwirn.
Lau wants a takedown.
Lau wants to stall.

Zwirn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zwirn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lau with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zwirn to score with a decent uppercut.
Zwirn stuns Lau with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zwirn digs a good hook to Lau's body.
Lau gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zwirn.
Zwirn scores with a shot to the body.
Zwirn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zwirn swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lau.
Lau takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A shot to the liver by Zwirn. Beautiful body shot.
Zwirn lands a head shot.
Zwirn scores with a jab to the body.
Zwirn catches Lau with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thomas Zwirn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lau throws a right and a left that Zwirn avoids nicely.
A jab from Zwirn finds it's way through Lau's defenses.
Lau walks into a left hand.
Zwirn connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lau on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zwirn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lau swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Lau wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zwirn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice cross by Zwirn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zwirn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zwirn with a jab.
Zwirn scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lau in his tracks.
Zwirn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lau.
Zwirn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zwirn scores with a nice right hand.
Zwirn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lau misses with a hook.
Zwirn doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zwirn lands a slapping body shot.
Lau keeps the fight on the outside.
Lau jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zwirn is looking to clinch.
Zwirn uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lau has time to react.
Joe Lau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice uppercut there from Zwirn.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Zwirn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zwirn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 26:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Zwirn!
In his post fight interview, Thomas Zwirn started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.