PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Preston Lawson (ranked 8948 p4p, 787 weight class) and Raheem Nazir (ranked 24733 p4p, 901 weight class). Raheem Nazir has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lawson
vs
Nazir

187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
210 lbs
5 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Preston Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Raheem Nazir!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazir stuffs the takedown.
Nazir drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lawson defends it well.

Lawson has managed to clinch.
Lawson lands a nice knee to the body.
Nazir tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lawson is looking for a takedown.
Lawson misses with a punch on the inside.
Lawson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lawson tries to pull guard but Nazir holds him up against the cage and eventually Lawson drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Preston Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nazir wants a takedown but no success here.
A right hand to the body from Lawson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawson breaks the clinch.
Nazir fails with a takedown attempt.
Lawson lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lawson moves into the clinch successfully.
Lawson wants to stall.

Nazir wants the takedown. Lawson is fighting it off but Nazir persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Lawson's guard against the cage.
Lawson is trying to control the position but Nazir postures up.
Lawson keeping full guard, as Nazir tries to pass.
Lawson controls Nazir momentarily but Nazir frees himself.
Nazir trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nazir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nazir working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lawson's head.
Lawson is trying to keep Nazir in close.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Nazir from controlling successfully.
Nazir stopping the sweep attempt from Lawson.
Nazir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lawson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nazir working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazir forces his way into half guard.

Nazir is working for a submission of some sort.
Nazir throwing shots but Lawson is blocking nicely.
Lawson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nazir trying to control the action but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Nazir is just content to waste time from the top position. Lawson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nazir wants to pass the guard but Lawson is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nazir's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lawson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nazir's guard.

Nazir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nazir can't keep his opponent in guard - Lawson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lawson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nazir does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nazir can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nazir moves into full guard.
Lawson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
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 Preston Lawson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nazir throws a hook but Lawson avoids it easily.
Lawson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nazir tries to avoid it but Lawson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nazir to the ground. Nazir escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lawson tries to land a body kick

and Nazir counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Lawson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Lawson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nazir is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lawson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lawson throws a sloppy head kick and Nazir moves out of range easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nazir crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lawson - the referee stops the clock and Nazir gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lawson. Nazir manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Nazir manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lawson on his heels. He'll look to pass Lawson's guard now, I'm sure.
Nazir trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Nazir postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazir lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nazir's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nazir showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lawson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nazir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Nazir is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nazir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazir preventing the sweep.
Lawson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nazir connects with a couple of short punches.
Nazir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lawson is looking to sweep but instead, Nazir has passed into half guard.
Nazir looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nice strikes from Nazir there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson tries to roll over but Nazir keeps him under control.
Nazir is trying to control the action in half guard but Lawson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Nazir there.
Nazir is keen to just control but Lawson is a slippery customer.
Lawson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nazir drops an elbow to the side of Lawson's head.

Nazir decides to stand up.
Nazir closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lawson circles away.
Lawson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nazir moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nazir has closed the distance and engaged Lawson in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lawson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nazir just stands there and leans against the cage.

Nazir breaks from the clinch.
Nazir misses with a takedown attempt - Lawson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Preston Lawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raheem Nazir.

Nazir rushes Lawson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lawson prevents the takedown attempt.
Lawson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lawson misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raheem Nazir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lawson misses with a takedown

and Nazir moves into the clinch.

Nazir pulls guard.
Lawson preventing the sweep.

Lawson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nazir dives on top into guard.

Nazir is working Lawson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nazir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson wants to sweep but no luck.
Lawson looking to control.
Nazir wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.
Nazir's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nazir is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lawson has momentary wrist control but Nazir slips an elbow through the middle.
Nazir trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Nazir postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nazir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Nazir gets to his feet - Lawson follows without any prompting.
Nazir fails with the takedown.

Lawson has Nazir up against the cage in a clinch.
Nazir tries for a takedown but Lawson manages to get underhooks.
Nazir wants a takedown but no success here.
Preston Lawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raheem Nazir.

Lawson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Lawson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Lawson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lawson lands a knee to the body.
Nazir gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lawson.
Lawson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nazir has him pressed against the cage.
Lawson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nazir just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lawson tries to break free but Nazir pushes him back against the cage.
Lawson working hard to break the clinch.

Lawson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lawson misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nazir decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nazir scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Raheem Nazir has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nazir 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.
Nazir working over Lawson with some ground and pound. Lawson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Nazir manages to move to mount!
Nazir scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nazir pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Lawson is rocked!
Nazir looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oh Lawson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nazir connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Nazir scoring with strikes but Lawson is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raheem Nazir comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nazir has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raheem Nazir!