PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Lawson (ranked 4777 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolfo Gracie (ranked 5295 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodolfo Gracie will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lawson
vs
Gracie

178 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicky Lawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodolfo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lawson moves into the clinch.
Lawson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lawson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Lawson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Lawson.
Nicky Lawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodolfo Gracie.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lawson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lawson is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Lawson circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie looks winded!

Lawson takes the fight into the clinch.

Lawson breaks the clinch.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawson forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.

Lawson pulls guard successfully.
Gracie being controlled here momentarily.

Lawson working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson trying to control the position.
Lawson keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lawson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lawson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lawson!

Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Lawson scoring with strikes.
Lawson cracks Gracie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Lawson slows the pace down.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lawson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Lawson slips a nice elbow through Gracie's hands, connecting with Gracie's forehead.
Lawson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for a kimura from the bottom but Lawson passes into side control!
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Lawson keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie keeps trying to improve his position.
Lawson controlling the position from side mount.
Lawson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Lawson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gracie on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lawson scoring with punches and elbows.
Lawson working the body and head with strikes.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Lawson keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lawson lands a few punches from side control.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lawson's best efforts.
Lawson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Lawson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lawson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lawson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lawson drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawson pulls his head out easily.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Lawson.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawson pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lawson in particular looking to stall.

Lawson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawson pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Lawson counters by clinching up.
Gracie has Lawson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lawson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lawson gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Lawson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.
Lawson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lawson controlling the action here.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Lawson working Gracie over with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lawson lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Lawson winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Lawson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Lawson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Lawson eventually gives up the hold.
Lawson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lawson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lawson pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lawson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lawson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lawson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Lawson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Lawson eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Lawson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lawson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lawson.
Lawson working Gracie over with strikes.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lawson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lawson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lawson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gracie for as long as he can get away with.
Lawson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lawson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lawson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.

Gracie is looking for a triangle here but Lawson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Lawson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Lawson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Lawson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Lawson clinches with his opponent.

Lawson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lawson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Lawson shoots in and gets a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Lawson lands a couple of digs.
Lawson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lawson content to stall in guard here.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lawson defends well.
Lawson working some strikes from top position.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson lands a couple of elbows.

Gracie has his foot on Lawson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lawson works his way back into a safe position though.
Lawson works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson landing some decent shots from guard.

Gracie 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.
Lawson connects with a couple of short punches.
Lawson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lawson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lawson postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Lawson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Lawson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lawson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Lawson rolls with it to try and escape but Gracie cranks on the arm and Lawson is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rodolfo Gracie!