PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Espada (ranked 5764 p4p, 6352 weight class) and Robby Lawler (ranked 583 p4p, 619 weight class). Robby Lawler has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Espada
vs
Lawler

180 cm
18
180
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
180
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael Espada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robby Lawler!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Lawler misses with a straight right.
Lawler lands a jab to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Lawler. Those never looked like landing.
Lawler scores with a hook.
Lawler throws a hook but Espada blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Espada avoids the body shot from Lawler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lawler.
Lawler lands a slapping body shot.
Espada takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lawler misses with a lunging right hand
and Espada counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lawler misses with a wild body shot.
A quick step to the side and Espada tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawler lunges at Espada with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Espada's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espada has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lawler wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Espada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lawler.
Espada was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Espada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawler.
Lawler wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawler misses with a body shot
and Espada counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a series of strikes that have Espada backpedaling.
Nice uppercut lands for Lawler. That snapped Espada's head back.
Lawler lands with a shot to the body.
Lawler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Espada appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lawler.
Lawler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It looked like Espada was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lawler lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lawler duly obliges.

Espada is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawler jabs at Espada's body.
Lawler misses with a right hand
and Espada counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lawler has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Lawler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Espada is looking for a counter combo.
The fighters circling - Lawler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lawler misses with a combination
and Espada counters with a one-two to the body.
Lawler lands the left hand.
Lawler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Espada sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lawler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawler throws a series of punches but Espada moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Espada.
Lawler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Espada is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lawler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawler. Espada does a little dance to reset his feet.
Espada seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lawler with a jab.
Lawler swings widly with a right hand
and Espada counters with a nice uppercut.
Lawler lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Espada at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espada takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lawler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Espada was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lawler jabs Espada right on the nose. Espada blinks but takes it well.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Lawler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lawler works Espada's body with a nice hook.
Lawler displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Robby Lawler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler scores with a nice head shot.
Espada takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A punch combination from Lawler misses.
As Lawler looks to move away, Espada throws a big counter combo but Lawler just gets out of the way.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawler. Espada does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawler misses with a wild body shot.
Espada swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lawler throws a body punch but Espada moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler throws a lazy uppercut
and Espada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lawler looks to land a combination but Espada avoids it well.
It looked like Espada wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lawler throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Espada stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Espada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawler.
Espada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Espada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Espada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lawler rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Espada counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Robby Lawler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Espada walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lawler takes a swing at Espada's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Lawler misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Espada misses the target.
Lawler connects with a single shot there.
Lawler thuds a left hand into Espada's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espada moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lawler tries to bum rush Espada with a series of wild strikes but Espada uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler misses with a body punch
and Espada counters with a stiff right hand.
Some wild striking there from Lawler.
Espada is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lawler.
Lawler rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Espada counters with a right hand to the body.
Robby Lawler seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses with a combination
and Espada counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lawler lands a nice looking body shot.
Lawler misses with a wild body shot.
As Lawler looks to move away, Espada throws a big counter combo but Lawler just gets out of the way.
Lawler is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Lawler.
Lawler scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Espada bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Espada appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Espada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lawler.
Espada gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lawler swings away with a body shot that misses
and Espada counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses with a hook to the body
enabling Espada to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawler misses the shot to the body.
Lawler lands with an overhand left.
Espada avoids the body shot from Lawler.
Espada was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lawler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lawler.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawler throws a right hand that misses
and Lawler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robby Lawler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lawler 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robby Lawler!