PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hannu Karpo (ranked 1120 p4p, 154 weight class) and John Lawrence (ranked 1238 p4p, 167 weight class). Lawrence is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by No Surrender. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Karpo
vs
Lawrence

186 cm
24
191 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hannu Karpo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Karpo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Karpo sprawls well. Karpo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lawrence gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawrence throws a shot to the body.
Karpo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lawrence scores with a hook to the body. Karpo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lawrence staying out of range there.
Lawrence let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Lawrence takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lawrence digs a good hook to Karpo's body.
Lawrence keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karpo.
Lawrence scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Karpo doesn't seem bothered though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karpo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Karpo misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karpo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lawrence fails to land the takedown.
Lawrence tries for a takedown but Karpo circles away easily
and Karpo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hannu Karpo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lawrence.
Lawrence throws the kick towards the body but Karpo avoids it.
Good exchange - Karpo coming out on top.
Hannu Karpo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawrence misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karpo.
Lawrence is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Karpo rather than just go for the knockout.
Lawrence wants to clinch.
Karpo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lawrence looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawrence fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Karpo as Lawrence shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to land a leg kick but Karpo saw it coming and moves away.
Karpo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lawrence swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karpo appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lawrence connects with a looping right hand.
Karpo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Karpo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawrence.
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!
Lawrence throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Karpo throws a series of punches but Lawrence avoids them all with ease.
Lawrence throws a sloppy body shot
and Karpo counters with a straight right hand.
Lawrence looks to score with a jab to the body but Karpo is just out of range.
Lawrence throws a leg kick but Karpo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Karpo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Karpo connects with a jab.
Lawrence feints a jab promting Karpo to slip. Lawrence then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Karpo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A slow jab from Karpo misses its intended target.
Lawrence misses with a wild combination.
Karpo is looking to counter punch.
Lawrence ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence stuns Karpo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lawrence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Karpo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lawrence looks for a takedown but Karpo sprawls well.
A little feinted left hand from Karpo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lawrence misses with a hook
and Karpo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lawrence lands with a right hand.
Lawrence fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Karpo digs a good body shot into Lawrence's ribs.
Karpo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawrence manages to avoid it.
Lawrence scores with a jab to the head.
Lawrence fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lawrence has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Karpo ducks under a wild hook from Lawrence.
Karpo throwing a counter right hand but Lawrence manages to avoid it.
Lawrence fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Karpo is out of range.
Lawrence fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence misses with a double jab
and Karpo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawrence throws a body kick that misses.
A jab from Karpo does it's job there.
Lawrence with a poor takedown
and Karpo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Lawrence looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Karpo!
Lawrence cracks Karpo with a big elbow.
Karpo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lawrence tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lawrence has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Karpo tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lawrence is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Karpo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lawrence dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lawrence fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Karpo misses with a straight right.
Karpo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lawrence circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice body punch from Lawrence.
Karpo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lawrence to score with a decent uppercut.
Lawrence throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Karpo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Lawrence shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Karpo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Karpo tries to buck Lawrence off but Lawrence is having none of it.
Lawrence is chipping away with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karpo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lawrence thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lawrence prevents Karpo from improving his position.

Karpo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence working the head and body with strikes.
Lawrence trying to pass the guard but Karpo defending well.
Karpo is looking to improve his position.
Karpo is not content to let Lawrence control the position.
Lawrence is pressing down on Karpo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Karpo is holding on for now.
Karpo tries to get to full guard but Lawrence has control of the leg.

Lawrence is looking for a kimura here.
Karpo wants to control but Lawrence is keeping busy.

That's two 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.
Karpo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lawrence throws a big elbow that misses.
Karpo keeping moving, preventing Lawrence from controlling successfully.
Karpo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lawrence manages to get himself to full guard.

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.

Karpo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lawrence has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Karpo has managed to get both his arms back between Lawrence's legs - danger averted.

Lawrence is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karpo is aware though and is defending well.

Lawrence is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Karpo defends well.
Karpo wants to stand but Lawrence is controlling his posture from full guard.

Lawrence has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Karpo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lawrence.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is looking for a sweep.
Karpo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Karpo wants to stand but Lawrence is controlling his arm.
You can see the frustration on Lawrence's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lawrence gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lawrence moves into full guard.
Karpo tries to stand but Lawrence is controlling from the bottom.
Karpo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lawrence is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence wants to sweep but no luck.
Karpo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lawrence swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lawrence is trying to control the position but Karpo postures up.
Lawrence might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Karpo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Lawrence is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Karpo defends well.
Karpo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lawrence is looking for a triangle but Karpo pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lawrence showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Karpo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lawrence moves out of range as Karpo strikes.
Lawrence dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence swings for the body but Karpo moves out of range.
Lawrence steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karpo.
Karpo misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawrence has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karpo stuffs the takedown attempt from Lawrence. Lawrence gets slowly back to his feet.
Karpo throws a right hand that Lawrence ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawrence also avoids with ease.
Lawrence appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
John Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karpo keeps the fight on the outside.
Lawrence misses with a wild body shot.
John Lawrence seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lawrence defending well as Karpo loads up on a big left hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lawrence.
An attempted straight right counter from Karpo misses the target.
Hannu Karpo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lawrence.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Karpo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Karpo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lawrence lands an overhand right.
Karpo misses with a double jab.
Karpo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lawrence keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Karpo blocks a low kick nicely.
Lawrence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Karpo throws a right hand that Lawrence ducks under and follows up with a left that Lawrence also avoids with ease.
Karpo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Karpo throws a jab when Lawrence was well out of range.
Lawrence tries a quick counter leg kick but Karpo is wise to it.
No luck for Lawrence with that takedown attempt.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Karpo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hannu Karpo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lawrence ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karpo moves away.

Karpo gets caught napping as Lawrence dives in and scores a takedown. Karpo manages to retain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawrence wants to control from the top but Karpo keeps moving.
Lawrence postures up in Karpo's guard and throws a big left but Karpo blocks it.
Karpo seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Karpo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lawrence slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lawrence advances to full mount.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Lawrence looking to control but Karpo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Karpo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Lawrence throwing shots but Karpo is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karpo manages to get to full guard.
John Lawrence has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karpo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lawrence trying to control from the bottom.

Lawrence is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Karpo pulls his head out easily.
Lawrence takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawrence is trying to get back to full guard.
Lawrence trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Lawrence can't escape the position.
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.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lawrence tries to roll over but Karpo keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence trying to hold on to Karpo's head to control him but Karpo postures up.
Karpo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lawrence moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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

Lawrence is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karpo is aware though and is defending well.
John Lawrence is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Karpo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Karpo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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 Hannu Karpo.
Well Lawrence has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight for John Lawrence!
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight for John Lawrence!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for John Lawrence!

John Lawrence wins by unanimous decision!
Post fight, an emotional John Lawrence said 'Put him in a body bag!'.