PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David McDonald (ranked 1342 p4p, 173 weight class) and Malachi Lawrence (ranked 3262 p4p, 365 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McDonald
vs
Lawrence

180 cm
23
179 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

180 cm
23
174 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, David McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malachi Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawrence throws a series of punches but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Donk. Lawrence catches McDonald right on the button with a cross.
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawrence has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as McDonald is landing a low percentage of strikes.
McDonald scores with a kick to the body.
Lawrence slips a jab and a cross from McDonald.
McDonald fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lawrence.
Lawrence throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McDonald misses with a head kick.
Lawrence with the counter takedown but McDonald avoids it easily.
McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McDonald throws a head kick but Lawrence moves out of range.
A cross from Lawrence lands.
Lawrence moves out of range of the body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDonald avoids a punch combination nicely.
McDonald is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lawrence counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McDonald!
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lawrence wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Lawrence crashes against the mat.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard.
McDonald manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Lawrence is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lawrence thows a huge punch but McDonald dodges it nicely.
Ground and pound from Lawrence.
Lawrence is nestled in close to McDonald, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lawrence is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

McDonald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence winds up and cracks McDonald with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

McDonald is defending against the submission attempts here by Lawrence.

Lawrence is working for a kimura but McDonald is defending it quite comfortably.
McDonald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McDonald has his foot on Lawrence's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lawrence works his way back into a safe position though.
McDonald wants to sweep here but Lawrence controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence scoring with some ground and pound.
Lawrence in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McDonald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lawrence is one step ahead there.
Lawrence cracks McDonald with a solid left hand.
McDonald keeping full guard, as Lawrence tries to pass.
Lawrence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lawrence sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McDonald's guard.

Lawrence is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McDonald is just riding it out for now. Lawrence eventually gives up the hold.

Lawrence looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
Lawrence is nestled in close to McDonald, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McDonald controlling the position for now.
Lawrence working over McDonald with some ground and pound. McDonald looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malachi Lawrence dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lawrence throws a right and a left that McDonald avoids nicely.
McDonald moves away from the strike by Lawrence.
McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lawrence with the counter takedown but McDonald avoids it easily.
Lawrence misses with a looping right.
McDonald misses with the combination.
Lawrence has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawrence blocks a head kick by McDonald.
McDonald takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McDonald lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
McDonald just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Lawrence.
McDonald went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
McDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence walks into a left hand.
Lawrence avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McDonald there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but McDonald avoids it well.
Lawrence takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McDonald tries a low kick but Lawrence avoids it.
Lawrence dodges the punch combination from McDonald.
Lawrence is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
McDonald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonald wants it to stay on the feet.
McDonald misses with a straight right.
McDonald scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lawrence throws a nice looking combination but McDonald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McDonald tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lawrence on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McDonald. McDonald obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawrence looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McDonald misses with a kick to the body.
Lawrence tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Lawrence getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
McDonald connects with a solid leg kick.
McDonald jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A punch combination from Lawrence misses.
David McDonald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawrence looks to land a combination but McDonald avoids it well.
A combination from Lawrence does no damage.
McDonald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lawrence.
Lawrence has his takedown stuffed
and McDonald counters with a three punch combo that has Lawrence backing up. Lawrence nods at McDonald to acknowledge the strikes.
David McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malachi Lawrence.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence slips a jab and a cross from McDonald.
McDonald walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lawrence checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but McDonald uses good head movement to avoid it.
McDonald throws a head kick but Lawrence moves out of range.
Lawrence drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McDonald defends it well.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown but McDonald shows good takedown defense.

Lawrence has taken the fight to the clinch.
McDonald misses with a hook to the ribs.
McDonald makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lawrence wants a takedown but no success here.
A nice right hand lands inside from McDonald.
Lawrence blocks an uppercut.
Lawrence is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lawrence is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McDonald pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A left hand lands to the body for McDonald.
Lawrence is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawrence tightens his grip and picks McDonald up, before dumping him to the ground. McDonald manages to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald is trying to control the position but Lawrence postures up.

McDonald looking for a guillotine here but Lawrence defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonald is on top in guard.

McDonald wants to control from the top but Lawrence keeps moving.
Lawrence trying to keep a closed guard but McDonald is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David McDonald dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lawrence gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lawrence shoots in but McDonald avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McDonald with a hook.
Lawrence misses with a jab, cross combination.
McDonald stuffs the takedown.
McDonald is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A combination from Lawrence does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lawrence shoots in looking for a takedown but McDonald manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lawrence's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
David McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malachi Lawrence.
Lawrence rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McDonald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McDonald lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lawrence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McDonald circles away quickly and effectively.
McDonald fires out a quick counter leg kick but Lawrence just manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald scores with a jab.
Lawrence throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lawrence avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McDonald scores with a jab to the jaw.
McDonald looks to score with a jab to the body but Lawrence is just out of range.
Lawrence throws a right hand that McDonald ducks under and follows up with a left that McDonald also avoids with ease.
Lawrence misses with a double jab
and McDonald counters with a stiff right hand.
McDonald walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McDonald takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lawrence misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick by McDonald misses

and Lawrence counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is chipping away with strikes.
Malachi Lawrence has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDonald is looking for a sweep.
McDonald can't do much from the bottom here.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lawrence wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lawrence working the head with strikes.
Lawrence lands some shots froms side control.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lawrence wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Lawrence looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lawrence's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McDonald is pressing down on Lawrence's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lawrence scoring with punches to the head and body.

McDonald working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lawrence doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lawrence manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lawrence is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Lawrence avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lawrence lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lawrence postures up and lands a big shot to McDonald's brow.
McDonald is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lawrence stopping the sweep attempt from McDonald.
Lawrence looking to pass the guard.
Lawrence distracts McDonald with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lawrence slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McDonald regains half guard.

Lawrence is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McDonald has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lawrence lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malachi Lawrence comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lawrence 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malachi Lawrence!
David McDonald was interviewed post fight and said 'Man. Fighting's a tough game. '.