PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malachi Lawrence (ranked 7166 p4p, 2545 weight class) and Bobby Brawler (ranked 689 p4p, 369 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lawrence
vs
Brawler

180 cm
24
174
9 - 7 - 0

180 cm
24
180
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bobby Brawler!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence takes a swing at Brawler's ribcage but misses.

Brawler pushes Lawrence up against the cage in a clinch.
Brawler lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lawrence throws a head punch that misses.
Brawler has a couple of punches blocked by Lawrence.
Lawrence misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Lawrence's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lawrence tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Brawler's elbow.
Lawrence goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lawrence has Brawler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brawler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Brawler scores with a nice hook to the head.
Brawler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lawrence's elbow.

Brawler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Brawler as he connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brawler tries to score with a low kick but Lawrence moves his leg out of the way.
Lawrence darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Brawler fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bobby Brawler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brawler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lawrence.
Brawler is looking to chop away at Lawrence's legs.
Lawrence is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brawler fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lawrence on the side of the head.
Brawler connects with a looping right hand.
Bobby Brawler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Brawler. That's going to slow Lawrence down.
Brawler fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lawrence on the side of the head.
Lawrence changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brawler tries to avoid it but Lawrence manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brawler to the ground. Brawler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Brawler looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malachi Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Lawrence is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brawler sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Brawler looks to score with a jab to the body but Lawrence is just out of range.
Brawler misses the jab.
Brawler listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Lawrence takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lawrence has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Brawler.
Brawler lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lawrence will feel that in the morning.
Brawler swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brawler with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Brawler throws out a leg kick but Lawrence moves out of range and Brawler only half commits.
Brawler looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Brawler lands a jab to Lawrence's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brawler fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Brawler dodges the punch combination from Lawrence.
Lawrence scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lawrence bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Brawler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Brawler throws a head kick but Lawrence moves out of range.
Brawler getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Brawler misses with a kick to the body.
Lawrence checks a low kick from Brawler.
Brawler keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lawrence.
Brawler tries a quick counter leg kick but Lawrence is wise to it.
Brawler scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Brawler throws a leg kick but Lawrence sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lawrence tries to bum rush Brawler with a series of wild strikes but Brawler uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lawrence is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lawrence!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Brawler scoring well with a low kick there.
Lawrence throws a hook but Brawler avoids it easily.
Lawrence throws a chopping leg kick but Brawler manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Brawler looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Brawler looks to score with a jab to the body but Lawrence is just out of range.
Lawrence moves out of range as Brawler throws a body kick.
A nice leg kick from Brawler, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lawrence throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lawrence is looking to clinch but Brawler is avoiding it.
Lawrence misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Brawler looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lawrence will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawrence closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brawler circles away.
Brawler has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Lawrence tries to clinch there but Brawler circles away.
Brawler staying out of range there.
Brawler fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lawrence.
Brawler looks to throw the jab but Lawrence is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brawler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Brawler jabs at Lawrence's body.
Brawler throws a big shot that misses.
Brawler misses with a hook. Lawrence ducked under it nicely.
Lawrence throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Brawler stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab by Brawler.
Brawler throws an overhand right that lands on Lawrence's shoulder, as Lawrence tries to avoid the shot.
Lawrence misses with a double jab.
Brawler throws out a counter right but Lawrence avoids it with no problem.
Brawler throws the kick towards the body but Lawrence avoids it.
Lawrence drops down looking for a counter takedown but Brawler sprawls and moves away.
Lawrence tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lawrence takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Brawler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lawrence.
Brawler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brawler listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Brawler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brawler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Brawler with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Brawler cracks a nice hook into Lawrence's ribs.
Brawler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lawrence.
Brawler drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lawrence misses with a lunging right hand
and Brawler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Brawler thumps Lawrence with a low kick.
Brawler lands a glancing blow to the side of Lawrence's head.
Lawrence tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Brawler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence throws a looping overhand right but Brawler ducks down to avoid it.

Brawler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Brawler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brawler blocks a body shot from Lawrence.
Brawler lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brawler.
Brawler misses with a body punch.
Brawler lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brawler prevents a body shot from Lawrence.
Brawler misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brawler blocks a body shot from Lawrence.
Brawler scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brawler throws a head punch that misses.
Brawler lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Brawler.
Brawler lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Brawler manages to break the clinch.
Brawler with the inside leg kick.
Brawler dodges the punch combination from Lawrence.
Lawrence throws a body punch but Brawler moves out of range.
A jab from Brawler misses.
Brawler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawrence.
Lawrence drops down looking for a counter takedown but Brawler sprawls and moves away.
Brawler throws a big shot that misses.

Brawler clinches up with Lawrence and pushes him back against the cage.
Brawler trying to control the position but instead, Lawrence has worked for underhooks and has pushed Brawler into the cage.
Lawrence works on Brawler's body with a couple of short punches.
Brawler is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lawrence is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Brawler.
Lawrence blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lawrence misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lawrence has a couple of punches blocked by Brawler.
Lawrence throws a punch but it's blocked by Brawler.
Lawrence misses with a hook from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brawler.
Lawrence struggles to land a body shot inside as Brawler controls his hands.
Lawrence tries to throw a body punch but Brawler avoids it by throwing Lawrence back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Brawler.
Brawler lands a left hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Brawler.
Brawler prevents a body shot from Lawrence.
Bobby Brawler seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Brawler blocks a body shot from Lawrence.
Brawler lands a left hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lawrence.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brawler throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Lawrence blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lawrence tries a body shot but Brawler blocks it.
Brawler gets through Lawrence's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lawrence tries to work over Brawler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Brawler has Lawrence pressed against the cage.
A short right from Brawler on the inside.
Lawrence goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Brawler makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Brawler.
Brawler lands a shoulder strike.
Brawler lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.

It looks like Malachi Lawrence has been cut.
Brawler pushes Lawrence back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Brawler.
Brawler lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brawler lands an uppercut.
Brawler will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lawrence up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence struggles to land a body shot inside as Brawler controls his hands.
Brawler just leaning against Lawrence, taking a breather.
Lawrence throws a punch but it's blocked by Brawler.
Brawler pushes Lawrence back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lawrence misses with a body punch.
Brawler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brawler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lawrence's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Brawler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brawler taking a breather.
Brawler lands with a light punch inside.
Brawler throws a head punch that misses.

Brawler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brawler connects with a right hand. Lawrence shakes it off.
Brawler fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lawrence is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Brawler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Malachi Lawrence's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lawrence will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Brawler scoring well with a low kick there.
Brawler looks to land a body kick but Lawrence moved away.
Brawler throws a hook but Lawrence blocks it.
Brawler comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Brawler connects with a solid leg kick.
Lawrence cracks Brawler with a good jab.
Brawler's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lawrence under the eye.
Lawrence takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Brawler scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lawrence's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Brawler connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lawrence scrambles back to his feet.
Brawler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawrence waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Brawler.
Lawrence checks a leg kick nicely.
Bobby Brawler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brawler is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brawler takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Brawler looks for the body kick but Lawrence saw that one coming.
Lawrence feinted with a counter takedown.
Brawler digs a good hook to Lawrence's body.
Brawler scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Brawler lands a leg kick that knocks Lawrence off balance momentarily.
Brawler tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Brawler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Lawrence does no damage.
Brawler slips under a jab.
Lawrence takes one on the button.
Brawler dodges the punch combination from Lawrence.
Brawler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lawrence misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brawler.
Brawler misses with a low kick.
Brawler misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence connects with a jab.
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!
Sloppy strikes from Lawrence. Those never looked like landing.
Lawrence moves forwards but Brawler connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Brawler takes a shot to the body in his stride.
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 just misses with a punch to the body.
Lawrence throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawrence displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Brawler throws out the jab.
Lawrence takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lawrence moves away from the strike by Brawler.
Lawrence shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brawler sprawls well. Brawler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lawrence gets slowly back to his feet.
Brawler tries to land a front kick but Lawrence steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lawrence feinted with a counter takedown.
Lawrence fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lawrence has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Brawler.
Malachi Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Brawler coming out on top.
Brawler dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lawrence. That did some damage!
Brawler throws a body kick that misses.
Brawler throws a leg kick

so Lawrence counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Brawler manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Brawler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lawrence blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Brawler blocks a body shot from Lawrence.
Lawrence misses with a body punch.
Lawrence makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brawler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lawrence misses with a body punch.
Brawler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lawrence can't find room to land a body shot as Brawler controls the action.
Brawler lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Brawler.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brawler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Brawler lands a shot to the body.
Brawler lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.
Brawler lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brawler prevents the takedown attempt.
Brawler lands with a right to the head.
Brawler lands a hook that snaps the head of Lawrence backwards.
Brawler works on Lawrence's body with a couple of short punches.
Lawrence working aggressively here.
Brawler lands with a short shot to the head.
Brawler gets through Lawrence's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawrence misses with some punches.
Lawrence goes for a takedown in the clinch but Brawler prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malachi Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brawler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lawrences head.
Bobby Brawler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lawrence looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Brawler lands a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Brawler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brawler 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Brawler!
During a confident post fight interview, Bobby Brawler thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.