PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Lawrence (ranked 1128 p4p, 137 weight class) and Virgil Van Dijk (ranked 638 p4p, 83 weight class). Lawrence comes into the arena with Sweep the Leg blaring out of the sound system. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Lawrence
vs
Van Dijk

185 cm
26
175 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

184 cm
26
184 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

BEAST
Woodhouse's

Woodhouse's

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnny Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Virgil Van Dijk!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Dijk takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Van Dijk walks into a jab.
Van Dijk lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Lawrence blocks a head kick by Van Dijk.
Johnny Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawrence fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Van Dijk misses the shot to the body.
Van Dijk checks the leg kick nicely there.
Van Dijk takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Van Dijk misses with a left hand
and Lawrence counters with a right hand to the body.
The fighters circling - Van Dijk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Dijk misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lawrence lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
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!
Van Dijk swings for the body but Lawrence moves out of range.
Lawrence displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Lawrence thows a body kick. Van Dijk tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lawrence fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Van Dijk looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Van Dijk takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Van Dijk looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence sizes up Van Dijk with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lawrence bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Van Dijk's head backwards.
Lawrence jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lawrence lands a jab to Van Dijk's midsection.
Van Dijk pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lawrence jabs Van Dijk to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lawrence connects with the punch.
Lawrence has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Temp Spar Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Lawrence is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Van Dijk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawrence.
Van Dijk moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Dijk just misses with a punch to the body.
A shot to the liver by Lawrence. Beautiful body shot.
Lawrence cracks a nice hook into Van Dijk's ribs.
Lawrence connects with a good right hand that stumbles Van Dijk. Van Dijk circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lawrence throws a shot from downtown. Van Dijk moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk tried to score with a low kick but Lawrence checks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Lawrence checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Van Dijk lunges at Lawrence with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lawrence's hand.
Lawrence moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lawrence tests Van Dijk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van Dijk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Van Dijk misses with a body shot
and Lawrence counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lawrence throws a sloppy head kick and Van Dijk moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Van Dijk on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lawrence misses with a body punch

and Van Dijk counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lawrence!
Lawrence parries the strikes from Van Dijk easily there. Van Dijk is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lawrence to escape.
Van Dijk laying and praying for a moment but Lawrence takes advantage and regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawrence keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk trying to control from half guard but Lawrence is working away.
Van Dijk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Van Dijk is pressing down on Lawrence's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lawrence is holding on for now.
Van Dijk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lawrence's head.
Lawrence gets back to full guard.
Van Dijk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lawrence looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Dijk is one step ahead there.
Van Dijk is stalling in the full guard.
Lawrence avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lawrence pulls Van Dijk in to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lawrence on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lawrence tries to get out of the position.
Van Dijk trying to control but Lawrence is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A head kick misses from Van Dijk.
Van Dijk throws a sloppy head kick
and Lawrence makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Dijk looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Lawrence dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Van Dijk throws a wild body kick that Lawrence sees coming a mile off.
Lawrence changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Dijk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Van Dijk throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lawrence thuds his right hand into Van Dijk's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Van Dijk doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lawrence misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Van Dijk swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Dijk misses with a hook.
Van Dijk tries to land a front kick but Lawrence steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Dijk takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lawrence staying out of range there.
Lawrence connects with a single shot there.
Van Dijk missing with a left hand there. Lawrence was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Dijk pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lawrence throws a combination. Van Dijk tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Dijk looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A big left from Van Dijk misses.
A right-left combo lands from Lawrence.
Van Dijk avoids the body shot from Lawrence.
Van Dijk takes one on the button.
Lawrence takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lawrence lands a nice looking body shot.
Lawrence scores with a hook.
Lawrence is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Dijk can do to turn this around?
Lawrence fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lawrence throws a right hand that Van Dijk ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Dijk also avoids with ease.
Van Dijk throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Lawrence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A punch combination from Lawrence misses.
Johnny Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab by Van Dijk.
Van Dijk throws a lazy body kick
and Lawrence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lawrence connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Van Dijk momentarily.
Lawrence keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Van Dijk drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Van Dijk lands with a kick to the ribs.
Van Dijk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lawrence counters with a stiff right hand.
Lawrence cracks Van Dijk with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lawrence avoids the head kick by Van Dijk.
Van Dijk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Dijk has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lawrence misses with a few strikes there.
Van Dijk lands with an uppercut that bounces Lawrence off the cage and back into range.
Lawrence moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lawrence misses with a jab to the body
and Van Dijk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Dijk throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Some wild striking there from Lawrence.
Lawrence lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence with a jab.
Johnny Lawrence is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Dijk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lawrence throws a big shot that misses.
Lawrence takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Van Dijk takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lawrence throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lawrence digs a good body shot into Van Dijk's ribs.
Van Dijk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
No joy there for Lawrence, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lawrence lands a two punch combo.
Van Dijk on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawrence showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Dijk.
Lawrence avoids the head kick by Van Dijk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lawrence has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lawrence dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence with a jab.
Van Dijk lands a head kick!
Lawrence misses with a wild combination.
Lawrence plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Lawrence lands a jab.
A jab from Van Dijk does it's job there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawrence lands a slapping body shot.
Lawrence's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lawrence duly obliges.
Lawrence lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Lawrence dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Dijk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Dijk lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lawrence at a distance.
Van Dijk throws a right hand that misses
and Lawrence cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Van Dijk walks into a jab.
Van Dijk shoots and misses
and Lawrence counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Van Dijk tries to keep at a distance but Lawrence has taken the fight into the clinch.
Van Dijk tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lawrence tries to throw a body punch but Van Dijk avoids it by throwing Lawrence back against the cage.

Van Dijk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Lawrence.
Van Dijk throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lawrence counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Dijk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawrence connects with a good right hand that stumbles Van Dijk. Van Dijk circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lawrence changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Dijk avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lawrence fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Van Dijk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawrence.
Van Dijk doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A nice combination there by Lawrence.
Lawrence looks to land a right hand but Van Dijk moved out of range.
Lawrence lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Van Dijk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawrence.
A countering left hand to the body from Van Dijk misses.
Van Dijk throws a lazy right hand but Lawrence sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Lawrence.
Lawrence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Virgil Van Dijk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence lands a jab to Van Dijk's midsection.
Van Dijk looks to throw the jab but Lawrence is out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawrence scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lawrence scores with a nice right hand.
Lawrence wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawrence pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Dijk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Van Dijk looks to move away, Lawrence throws a big counter combo but Van Dijk just gets out of the way.
Van Dijk takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Van Dijk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawrence scores with a three punch combo!

Van Dijk is rocked!
A shot to the liver by Lawrence. Beautiful body shot.
A head kick misses from Van Dijk.
Van Dijk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawrence misses with a few strikes there.
Van Dijk lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lawrence will feel that in the morning.
Van Dijk misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Lawrence clinches.
Lawrence working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Van Dijk is still on wobbly legs! Can Lawrence finish him?
Lawrence lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Lawrence.
Lawrence blocks an uppercut.
Van Dijk tries a body shot but Lawrence blocks it.
Van Dijk lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Lawrence pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Dijk seems to have recovered his senses.
Lawrence scores with a decent looking hook.
Lawrence uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Dijk.
Van Dijk missing with a left hand there. Lawrence was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lawrence wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawrence checks the leg kick nicely there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Dijk looks for the body kick but Lawrence saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk lands a head kick!
Van Dijk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lawrence counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnny Lawrence is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lawrence shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Van Dijk eats them both and turns towards Lawrence to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A nice combination there by Lawrence.
Lawrence tries to clinch up but Van Dijk circles away and keeps his distance.
Lawrence pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Van Dijk back to the cage. Lawrence follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Van Dijk sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Lawrence darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Van Dijk misses with a kick to the body.
Lawrence catches Van Dijk with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawrence lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Van Dijk takes one to the side of the head.
Lawrence digs a good hook to Van Dijk's body.
Van Dijk connects with a right hand. Lawrence shakes it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Lawrence showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lawrence, 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Lawrence!
Our winner, Johnny Lawrence, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.