PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lawrence (ranked 871 p4p, 114 weight class) and Jessie James (ranked 1943 p4p, 232 weight class). Lawrence comes to the ring accompanied by No Surrender. James has chosen Raining Blood - Slayer as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lawrence
vs
James

180 cm
21
195 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

183 cm
24
192 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jessie James!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with a kick to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lawrence is defended easily by James.
We've been hearing reports that Lawrence has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lawrence tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
James scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Lawrence slips a straight right by James.
Lawrence swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lawrence tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawrence.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence fails with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from James! But no joy.
An inside leg kick from James misses.
Lawrence changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Lawrence manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James sizes up Lawrence with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
James misses with a double jab.

James gets caught napping as Lawrence dives in and scores a takedown. James manages to retain guard.

James uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Lawrence shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
John Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jessie James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawrence tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawrence is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lawrence closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Lawrence pushes James against the ropes but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lawrence misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.

Lawrence clinches up against the ropes.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence shoots and misses
and James counters with a nice uppercut.

Lawrence dives in and scores a takedown into James's guard.
Lawrence in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lawrence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lawrence stops James from standing up.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Lawrence throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! James escapes and throws Lawrence's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lawrence is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
Lawrence looks to move to half guard but instead James has passed into mount! Damn!
Lawrence is looking to get to half guard.
Lawrence is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lawrence flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Lawrence wants to hold on but James pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lawrence is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Lawrence is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lawrence gets back to half guard.

Lawrence is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.
Lawrence wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence has a hand on James's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. James takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
James tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Lawrence is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
Lawrence tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
James wants to control the pace but Lawrence is squirming around nicely.
Lawrence tries to reverse the position but James maintains control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lawrence is working hard here to advance position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
James wants to control the pace but Lawrence is squirming around nicely.
Lawrence wants to control but James is having none of it.
James wants to get back to his feet but Lawrence is holding on tight.
Lawrence sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Lawrence is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.
Lawrence wants to get back to full guard.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Lawrence is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Lawrence looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lawrence is trying to get back to full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Lawrence looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lawrence looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
James is thwarting Lawrence's attempts to control the position.

Lawrence looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and James pushes past his half guard into mount!
Lawrence is trying to escape the mount.
James wants to control the pace but Lawrence is squirming around nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
James controlling his opponent.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lawrence wants to hold on but James pushes him away.
Lawrence is trying to escape the mount.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lawrence. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James tries to control but Lawrence wriggling away.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to hold on but James postures up.
Lawrence is looking to get to half guard.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lawrence is looking to escape.
Lawrence can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James controlling from the full mount.
Lawrence regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessie James dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

James leaves Lawrence with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Lawrence, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lawrence slips under a jab from James.
Lawrence takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lawrence darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Lawrence into the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Lawrence thuds a left hand into James's body.
Lawrence tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawrence uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from James.
James waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lawrence.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lawrence misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James leaves Lawrence with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a right hand to the body.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawrence.
James looks to land a left hand but Lawrence moved out of range nicely.
James lands a glancing blow to the side of Lawrence's head.
Lawrence shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the ropes. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jessie James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lawrence misses with a takedown
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lawrence gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
James shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James scores with a jab. Lawrence acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
James misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawrence shoots in and bounces James off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawrence working some strikes from top position.

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

Lawrence working a defensive guard but James passes into half guard.
James wants to free his trapped foot but Lawrence is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Lawrence looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.

Lawrence with the active half guard here but James passes nicely into side control.
James wants to stand but Lawrence is controlling his arm.
James gets to mount! Lawrence was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Lawrence tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
Lawrence is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James looking to control but Lawrence is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lawrence really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
James trying to control but Lawrence is having none of it.
Lawrence working to try and regain half guard.
Lawrence wants to control but James is having none of it.
Jessie James has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lawrence is looking to escape.
Lawrence sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lawrence is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
James is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Lawrence manages to get to full guard.

Lawrence looking for subs off his back but James has passed one foot through into half guard.
Lawrence is trying to get back to full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to advance position but Lawrence won't allow it.
Lawrence makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lawrence.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawrence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lawrence throws his legs up looking for a submission but James uses it to pass to side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
James wants to stand but Lawrence is controlling his arm.
Lawrence wants to control but James postures up.
John Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lawrence is trying to improve his position.
Lawrence regains half guard.
James prevents Lawrence from improving his position.
Lawrence wants to sweep but James has passed to side control!
Lawrence tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence looks to move to half guard but instead James has passed into mount! Damn!
Lawrence tries to reverse the position but James maintains control.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lawrence swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Lawrence keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
James tries to control but Lawrence wriggling away.
Lawrence is desperately trying to improve his position but James has a good base and remains in mount.
Lawrence regains half guard.

Lawrence looking for submissions off his back.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Lawrence is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.

Lawrence is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.
Lawrence is looking to improve his position.
James wants to take a breather but Lawrence is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawrence flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Lawrence looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jessie James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Jessie James!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Jessie James!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Jessie James!

Jessie James wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Jessie James made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
John Lawrence spoke after the fight, saying 'Cobra Kai Rules!! Ill be back. No retreat! No surrender! Strike First! Strike Hard!'.