PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Randall Lawson (ranked 25323 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduard Fernando (ranked 5826 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lawson
vs
Fernando

185 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

190 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Randall Lawson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eduard Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson scoring well with a low kick there.
Fernando throws a one two combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fernando tries to bum rush Lawson with a series of wild strikes but Lawson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fernando misses with a looping right.
Lawson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lawson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fernando moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lawson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fernando swivels and escapes.
Fernando misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Lawson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fernando!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawson wants to control but Fernando is keeping him busy.
Fernando tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lawson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson trying to control the action but Fernando is working from the bottom.

Lawson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fernando knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lawson advances to full mount.
Fernando is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lawson lands a couple of good shots and Fernando has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Lawson is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Lawson is punishing Fernando with some ground and pound.
Lawson landing with strikes.
Lawson trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Fernando doesn't escape.
Lawson punches the canvas rather than the man.
Lawson doesn't have the hooks in and Fernando manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson trying to control the position.
Lawson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fernando's guard.

Lawson throws a big elbow that misses.
Fernando trying to keep a closed guard but Lawson is proving a slippery customer.
Lawson wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.

Lawson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Fernando is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Fernando has escaped and now he's on top!

Lawson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fernando has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lawson is proving hard to escape from.
Fernando sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lawson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lawson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fernando manages to get himself to full guard.

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 Randall Lawson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lawson shoots in and gets a takedown into Fernando's guard.
Lawson is standing up over Fernando. Fernando looks to escape but Lawson dives into side control.

Fernando wants to control but Lawson postures up.
Fernando is not content to let Lawson control the position.
Fernando wants to get back to his feet but Lawson is dominant here and he's now got Fernando's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernando is keeping busy.

Fernando is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lawson gets his way!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson is hanging on to Fernando's back as he tries to escape.

Lawson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Fernando has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Lawson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Lawson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Fernando wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lawson is looking to control Fernando but Fernando is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Lawson looking for the RNC.
Lawson is not going to allow Fernando to sit and survive in this position.
Fernando is trying to stand back up.
Lawson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fernando can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson landing with strikes.
Fernando trying to control the position but Lawson manages to sink in the hooks.
Lawson lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lawson is not going to allow Fernando to sit and survive in this position.
Lawson lands a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawson working for a choke but Fernando is defending well.
Fernando is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Lawson working for the choke.
Lawson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lawson keeps control of the position easily here as Fernando tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Lawson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lawson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fernando sprawls well. Fernando wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lawson gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lawson moves out of range of the leg kick from Fernando.

Lawson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fernando is pressing down on Lawson 's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lawson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fernando is keeping the position for now.
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.
Lawson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fernando works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fernando tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawson wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.
Lawson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fernando tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Fernando scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is trying to maintain the position but Fernando is very close to passing his half guard.
Lawson wants to stand back up but Fernando manages to pass into side control.
Lawson tries to improve position but can't.
Fernando wants to take a breather but Lawson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Fernando.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lawson is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernando is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernando is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fernando is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lawson is controlling him.
Lawson won't allow Fernando to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Fernando looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fernando takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawson trying to control but Fernando is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Fernando escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lawson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fernando avoids the head kick by Lawson .
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lawson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fernando manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fernando is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lawson is defended easily by Fernando.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Randall Lawson .
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lawson , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Lawson !