PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Lambert (ranked 1942 p4p, 242 weight class) and Tugg Speedman (ranked 2286 p4p, 272 weight class). Lambert comes to the cage accompanied by Aaron Lewis - Country Boy. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lambert
vs
Speedman

187 cm
30
203 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

186 cm
30
193 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mike Lambert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tugg Speedman!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lambert takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Speedman throws a head kick but Lambert moves out of range.
Speedman connects with a crisp jab.
Lambert blocks a head kick by Speedman.
Speedman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lambert appears to be looking for a big counter.
Speedman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lambert sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lambert with a poor takedown

and Speedman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Speedman lands a right hand.
We've been hearing reports that Lambert has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Speedman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lambert.
Speedman is pressed up against the cage. Lambert has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Speedman down to the mat. Speedman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Lambert misses its intended target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Speedman.
Lambert takes one to the chin there.
Speedman defending well as Lambert loads up on a big left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lambert takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Speedman.
Speedman throws a nice head kick!
Speedman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Lambert shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lambert thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Speedman is looking for a sweep. Lambert is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Speedman wants to control but Lambert is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Speedman is looking to improve his position.
Speedman is in trouble now - Lambert has advanced to mount!
Speedman is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speedman tries to hold on but Lambert pushes him away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lambert looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lambert unloading with bombs!
Speedman working to try and regain half guard.

Lambert with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Speedman is trying desperately to improve position.
Lambert avoids the attempt from Speedman to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speedman really wants to buck Lambert off and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lambert avoids the attempt from Speedman to control.
Speedman is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Lambert is staying active.
Lambert tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Speedman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Lambert keeping moving, preventing Speedman from controlling successfully.
Lambert looking for a sweep. Not yet Lambert, not yet.
Lambert looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lambert looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert keeping full guard, as Speedman tries to pass.
Speedman forces his way into half guard.
Speedman is pressing down on Lambert's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lambert is holding on for now.
Lambert desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Lambert trying to control here.
Lambert tries to get to full guard but Speedman has control of the leg.
Speedman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lambert knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tugg Speedman dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lambert on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Speedman. Speedman obviously looking to wear him down.
Lambert tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Speedman defends well and Lambert ends up having to push Speedman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Lambert moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSpeedman.
Speedman scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Speedman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lambert darts in looking for a takedown but Speedman gets double underhooks and turns Lambert into the cage.
A head kick misses from Speedman.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Speedman as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Speedman throws a head kick that half lands.
Lambert pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lambert feints and as Speedman raises his hands in defense, Lambert changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Speedman pulls Lambert in to control the position.
Lambert wants to control from the top but Speedman keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speedman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lambert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Speedman is controlling Lambert's posture.
Speedman trying to keep a closed guard but Lambert is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lambert on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Lambert throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Speedman was covering up waiting for the punch and Lambert finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lambert trying to control the position from guard on top but Speedman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speedman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Speedman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lambert wants to pass the guard but Speedman is keeping the position.
Lambert being controlled here momentarily.
Speedman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lambert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speedman looking for a sweep. Not yet Speedman, not yet.
Speedman looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Speedman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Lambert looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lambert controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lambert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Speedman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lambert trying to control but Speedman is working from the bottom.
Speedman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lambert is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert postures up.
Lambert preventing the sweep.
Speedman has Lambert pulled in close to control his posture.
Lambert wants to pass the guard but Speedman is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tugg Speedman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Speedman connects with a high kick.
Speedman avoids the head kick by Lambert.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tugg Speedman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Speedman fakes the leg kick and cracks Lambert in the body.
Speedman throws a head kick but Lambert moves out of range.
Speedman throws a sloppy head kick

and Lambert counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Speedman tries to kick Lambert off in order to stand up. Lambert Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Lambert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Speedman keeps working.
Speedman is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lambert is thwarting Speedman's attempts to control the position.
Mike Lambert overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lambert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Speedman keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Speedman tries to roll over but Lambert keeps him under control.
Speedman is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speedman is looking to improve his position.
Speedman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lambert trying to control but Speedman is working from the bottom.
Speedman working a defensive guard here.
Lambert trying to control but Speedman is working from the bottom.
Lambert preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
Lambert trying to control but Speedman is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lambert looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Speedman is fending him off so far but Lambert persists. Nope, Speedman circles away and we're back to standing.
Speedman cracks the inside of Lambert's front leg.
Speedman throws a front kick that sends Lambert stumbling back into the cage.
Lambert avoids the head kick by Speedman.
Speedman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lambert throws a big counter combination but Speedman scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lambert takes a kick to the side of the head.
Speedman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lambert at a distance.

Lambert shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lambert showed some decent athleticism there.
Speedman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Speedman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tugg Speedman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lambert postures up.
Speedman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lambert controls from within his opponent's guard.

Lambert drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lambert jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Speedman has his hands on Lambert's head, controlling the position.
Speedman wants to stand up but Lambert is controlling him.

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.
Lambert working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lambert trying to control but Speedman is working from the bottom.
Lambert trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Speedman controls Lambert momentarily but Lambert frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A good leg kick by Speedman.
Mike Lambert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Lambert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A combination from Lambert does no damage.
Speedman jabs Lambert right on the nose. Lambert blinks but takes it well.
Speedman throws a head kick but Lambert moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tugg Speedman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Speedman 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tugg Speedman!
Tugg Speedman decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.