PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Papa (ranked 23506 p4p, 807 weight class) and Johnny Lawler (ranked 24438 p4p, 784 weight class). Lawler has chosen The Ghost of Tom Joad - Rage Against the Machine as his entrance music. Tom Papa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Papa
vs
Lawler

183 cm
21
164 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Papa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Lawler!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Papa dives in and grabs Lawler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lawler pushes down on Papa's head and hops out.
Papa throws a series of punches but Lawler moves out of range.
Lawler wants to counter the offense by Papa and move into the clinch position.

Papa gets a clinch.
Lawler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Papa is defending well for now.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Lawler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Tom Papa has been cut.
Lawler landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Papa pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Papa takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Papa looking for a takedown.
Papa has Lawler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lawler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Papa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lawler lands a good knee to the midsection. Papa won't want to take too many of those.
Papa is breathing heavily.
Papa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Papa is trying to break the clinch but Lawler has him pressed against the cage.
Lawler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Papa avoiding damage as Lawler throws knees to the body.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler lands a damaging elbow.
Papa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler lands a knee to the body.
Lawler trying to land knees to the body.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Lawler landing knees to the body.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Lawler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lawler lands an elbow inside.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Papa takes an elbow to the temple.
Lawler lands an elbow inside.
Lawler trying to land knees to the body.

Papa drags the fight down to the ground.
Lawler trying to stand up but can't free himself from Papa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler stays in close to Papa's body and controls the position.
Lawler wants to stand but Papa is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Papa is trying to control the position but Lawler postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Papa clinches up with Lawler and pushes him back against the cage.
Lawler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lawler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lawler lands an elbow just above Papa 's eye.
Lawler can't find room to land a body shot as Papa controls the action.
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lawler lands an elbow inside.
Papa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lawler.
Papa takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Lawler dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Papa's cut.
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.

Papa throws an off balance right hand

and Lawler counters by clinching up.
Papa tries to break the clinch but Lawler is controlling the position.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Papa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lawler missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Lawler.
Lawler tries to land knees in the clinch but Papa avoids the damage to the body.
Johnny Lawler seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Papa takes an elbow to the temple.
Papa tries for a takedown but Lawler manages to get underhooks.
Lawler lands an elbow just above Papa 's eye.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler lands an elbow inside that Papa shrugs off.
Papa takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Papa managing to block the knees to the body from Lawler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Lawler.
Papa is trying to break the clinch but Lawler has him pressed against the cage.
Lawler lands an elbow just above Papa 's eye.
Lawler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Papa's efforts to push away.
Lawler lands a damaging elbow.
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Papa tries to break the clinch but Lawler is controlling the position.
Lawler lands an elbow inside.
Lawler lands an elbow inside.
Lawler lands an elbow just above Papa 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lawler.
Papa wants to take the fight to the mat but Lawler manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Papa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Papa is rocked!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lawler.
Oh Papa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler lands an elbow just above Papa 's eye.
Papa blocks a body shot from Lawler.
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Papa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Papa seems to have got his legs back now.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lawler crunches a lovely knee into Papa's ribcage.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler lands an elbow inside that Papa shrugs off.
Papa managing to block the knees to the body from Lawler.
Lawler content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.

Lawler lands a vicious elbow to the side of Papa's head that scrambles his senses and sends him wobbling down to the canvas! Lawler tries to finish him with strikes but Papa still seems able to defend himself so Lawler steps back and lets Papa get back to his feet - he wants no part of the ground game.
Papa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lawler tries to counter by closing the distance.
Papa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lawler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lawler.
Lawler stalling against the cage.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the 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!
Lawler unloads a knee to the mid-section. Papa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler lands a nice shot to the body.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler is struggling to control the position.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler lands an elbow just above Papa 's eye.
Lawler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice elbow from Lawler.
Lawler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lawler.
Lawler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Papa takes an elbow to the temple.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Lawler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tom Papa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Papa throws a head kick that misses.
Lawler wants to counter with a clinch but Papa pushes him away.
Lawler slaps away a takedown attempt from Papa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Papa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Papa throws a lazy uppercut

and Lawler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lawler.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lawler tries to work over Papa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawler unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lawler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Lawler lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler lands an elbow inside that Papa shrugs off.
Lawler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lawler is leaning against Papa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lawler lands a shot to the body.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Papa managing to block the knees to the body from Lawler.
Lawler utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lawler lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler lands an elbow that stopped Papa in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Papa's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler lands a nice elbow.
Lawler is struggling to control the position.
Johnny Lawler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler tries to work over Papa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lawler pulls back and lands a big elbow that stuns Papa! Lawler unloads with more strikes and Papa sinks to his knees! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johnny Lawler!
In his post fight interview, Johnny Lawler started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.