PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malachi Lawrence (ranked 2733 p4p, 1649 weight class) and Gabriel Torres (ranked 378 p4p, 244 weight class). Torres has chosen Juaneco y su Combo - Mujer Hilandera as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lawrence
vs
Torres

180 cm
25
174
10 - 9 - 0

176 cm
25
180
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

The Stuff
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Core Combat

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Gabriel Torres!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torres moves out of range of the strikes.
Despite the aggression on Torres's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Torres takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A swing and a miss from Torres.
Lawrence is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Lawrence scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lawrence throwing shots but Torres is blocking nicely.
Torres is looking to improve his position.
Torres works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Torres pulls Lawrence in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Torres is looking for a triangle but Lawrence pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lawrence accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Torres keeping moving, preventing Lawrence from controlling successfully.
Torres preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Lawrence got a little sloppy there for a moment and Torres has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lawrence has managed to get both his arms back between Torres's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Torres keeping moving, preventing Lawrence from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Torres is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lawrence's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lawrence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Torres is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lawrence defends well.
Lawrence postures up.

Lawrence avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Torres is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Torres is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence postures up.
Lawrence postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lawrence postures up and lands a big shot to Torres's brow.
Torres working a defensive guard here.

Torres is looking for a triangle but Lawrence pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Torres is on top in guard.

Lawrence is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is adopting a defensive guard.
Torres wants to control from the top but Lawrence keeps moving.
Lawrence is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lawrence is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Torres regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Torres looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lawrence lands a couple of digs.
Lawrence content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malachi Lawrence dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lawrence throws a combination that misses
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Malachi Lawrence has been cut.
Torres staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Torres on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lawrence throws a series of strikes that have Torres backpedaling.
Lawrence digs a good body shot into Torres's ribs.
Torres shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawrence as he avoids it easily.
Lawrence dips to his left and cracks Torres with an uppercut!
Lawrence ducks under a wild hook from Torres.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Torres swings for the body but Lawrence moves out of range.
Lawrence loads up on a big right hand but Torres slips the punch.
Torres looks to land a right hand but Lawrence moved out of range.
Lawrence is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Torres can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lawrence missing with a left hand there. Torres was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lawrence lands with a straight right. Torres didn't see that one coming.
Lawrence takes a swing at Torres's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawrence. Torres does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawrence scores with a crisp jab that stopped Torres in his tracks.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but Torres uses good head movement to avoid it.
Torres defending well as Lawrence loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Lawrence.
Torres doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Malachi Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Torres bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Lawrence throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lawrence throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawrence dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lawrence swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Torres feints the counter takedown.
Lawrence throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Torres misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Torres.
Lawrence doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawrence takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Torres darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres throws a series of strikes that have Lawrence backpedaling.

Lawrence feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Torres is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lawrence defends well.
Lawrence is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Torres looking to control but Lawrence passes into half guard.
Lawrence drops an elbow to the side of Torres's head.
Lawrence slips a nice elbow through Torres's hands, connecting with Torres's forehead.
Torres is looking to improve his position.
Torres manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence scoring with some ground and pound.
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 working some strikes from top position.
Lawrence with a nice head shot there.
Lawrence wants to control from the top but Torres keeps moving.
Torres 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.
Lawrence throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malachi Lawrence dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Torres slips a jab from Lawrence.
Lawrence misses with an uppercut. Torres saw that one coming.
Lawrence throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Torres.
Torres changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A big right from Torres misses.
Torres throws a jab but it's blocked by Lawrence.
A punch combination from Torres misses.
Lawrence misses with a combination
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lawrence swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Torres counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Torres keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres needs to keep his hands up - Lawrence had a free shot at his head there.
Lawrence misses with a lunging right hand
and Torres counters with a straight right hand.
Torres displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lawrence throws out the jab.
Torres swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lawrence misses with a straight left.
Torres changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lawrence lands a lovely overhand right.
Lawrence digs a good body shot into Torres's ribs.
Malachi Lawrence is winning the standup battle so far.
Lawrence throws a poor cross that misses
and Torres counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lawrence misses with a straight right.
Torres throws a body punch but Lawrence moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence stalks Torres and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Torres's face. Torres staggers backwards, shaken.

Torres shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawrence controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Lawrence wants to improve his position but Torres is controlling well.
Torres is thwarting Lawrence's attempts to control the position.
Lawrence wants to improve his position but Torres is controlling well.
Lawrence trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Malachi Lawrence overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lawrence rolls, trying to escape but Torres keeps control of the position.
Torres trying to control momentarily.
Torres gets his hands free as Lawrence looks to control.
Lawrence tries to escape the position.
Torres trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Lawrence showing good submission defense here.
Lawrence is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres tries to keep control of the position but Lawrence is staying busy.
Torres is not going to allow Lawrence to sit and survive in this position.
Lawrence looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Torres is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lawrence is defending well though. Torres let's go of the attempt for now.
Gabriel Torres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Torres looking for the RNC.
Lawrence tries to escape the position.

Lawrence has hold of Torres's leg, trying to break free but it's let Torres lock up a rear naked choke! This could be big trouble! Lawrence is turning an unusual color here… he's out! Torres throws him to one side and jumps onto the cage to celebrate with his fans.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gabriel Torres!
Gabriel Torres took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.