PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derek Erwin (ranked 1911 p4p, 2394 weight class) and Malachi Lawrence (ranked 252 p4p, 314 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Erwin
vs
Lawrence

176 cm
29
175
16 - 10 - 0

180 cm
30
174
14 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derek Erwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from Erwin.
Erwin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Erwin.
Erwin throws a hook but Lawrence blocks it.
Lawrence moves out of range as Erwin throws a body kick.
Erwin needs to keep his hands up - Lawrence had a free shot at his head there.
Derek Erwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawrence looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lawrence throws the left hand but Erwin avoids the punch easily.
Erwin lands a jab to Lawrence's midsection.
Lawrence swings for the body but Erwin moves out of range.
Lawrence scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence jabs Erwin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lawrence tries to move into range but Erwin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Erwin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lawrence.
We've been told by Erwin's head coaches at Randall's Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Erwin lands a jab to the nose.
Lawrence swings for the body but Erwin moves out of range.
Lawrence takes one to the side of the head.
Erwin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Erwin lands a head shot.
A swing and a miss from Lawrence.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Lawrence.
Erwin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lawrence sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lawrence takes a swing at Erwin's ribcage but misses.
Lawrence needs to keep his hands up - Erwin had a free shot at his head there.
Lawrence throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Erwin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Erwin misses with an uppercut. Lawrence saw that one coming.
Lawrence swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Erwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawrence manages to avoid it.
Erwin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Erwin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Erwin thumps Lawrence with a low kick.
Lawrence has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A jab from Lawrence misses.
Erwin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lawrence misses with an uppercut. Erwin saw that one coming.
Erwin throwing a counter right hand but Lawrence manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Lawrence.
Lawrence just misses with a punch to the body.
Lawrence misses the shot to the body.
Erwin misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawrence. Erwin does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lawrence.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Erwin misses with a leg kick
enabling Lawrence to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawrence misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawrence takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lawrence throws a jab but it's blocked by Erwin.
Erwin is looking to counter punch.
Erwin misses the shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Lawrence as he connects with a hook.
Lawrence misses with a few strikes there.
Lawrence takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Erwin throws a series of punches but Lawrence avoids them all with ease.
Lawrence now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Erwin throws a jab but it's blocked by Lawrence.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lawrence! But no joy.
Lawrence throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Erwin misses with a straight right.
Lawrence throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Some wild striking there from Lawrence.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erwin looks to land a left hand but Lawrence moved out of range nicely.
Lawrence throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Erwin throws a shot from downtown. Lawrence moves away and avoids it.
Erwin moves out of range of the strikes.
Erwin misses the jab.
Erwin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Erwin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lawrence jabs Erwin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A punch combination from Lawrence misses.
Erwin misses the shot to the body.
Derek Erwin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawrence jabs Erwin right on the nose. Erwin blinks but takes it well.
Lawrence fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Erwin manages to avoid it.
Lawrence ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A chopping leg kick lands by Erwin.
Erwin throws a series of punches but Lawrence avoids them all with ease.
Lawrence scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Lawrence.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence misses with a hook. Erwin ducked under it nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Erwin.
Lawrence looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Erwin throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Erwin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Erwin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawrence.
Lawrence throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Erwin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice shot by Lawrence.
The fighters circle momentarily. Erwin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheers as Lawrence lands an impressive looking overhand right. Erwin doesn't seem phased though.
Lawrence throws a push kick but Erwin slaps the foot to one side.
Lawrence takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Erwin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice body punch from Erwin.
Lawrence uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Erwin.
Erwin lands with a hook. Lawrence tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A telegraphed right hand from Lawrence misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Derek Erwin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice jab there from Erwin.
Lawrence misses with a double jab
and Erwin counters with an outside leg kick.
Erwin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lawrence. That did some damage!
Erwin throws a looping overhand right but Lawrence ducks down to avoid it.
Lawrence scores with a jab.
Erwin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lawrence jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lawrence misses with a wild body shot.
Erwin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lawrence has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Erwin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lawrence takes a swing at Erwin's ribcage but misses.
Lawrence swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Erwin misses with an uppercut
and Lawrence counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Erwin lunges at Lawrence with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lawrence's hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Erwin throws a low kick but Lawrence avoids it.
Erwin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Derek Erwin is winning the standup battle so far.
Erwin slips under a jab.
Erwin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erwin misses with an uppercut.
Erwin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lawrence uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lawrence avoids a punch combination nicely.
Erwin tries a low kick but Lawrence avoids it.
It seemed like Lawrence was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Erwin connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Lawrence misses.
Lawrence bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Erwin's head.
Erwin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lawrence's head.
Lawrence slips under a jab from Erwin.
Lawrence swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Erwin feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Erwin misses with an uppercut
and Lawrence counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Erwin throws the left hand but Lawrence avoids the punch easily.
Lawrence looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Erwin fails to land with a series of punches.
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!
Erwin connects with a solid leg kick.
Erwin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lawrence's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Erwin on the side of the head.
Erwin throws a hook to the side of Lawrence's head but Lawrence sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Erwin is looking to chop away at Lawrence's legs.
Erwin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lawrence misses with a hook to the body
and Erwin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lawrence dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Erwin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lawrence.
Lawrence lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good exchange - Erwin coming out on top.
Erwin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Erwin lands a jab to the head.
Erwin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lawrence fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Erwin throws a looping overhand right but Lawrence ducks down to avoid it.
Lawrence blocks a leg kick.
Erwin slips a jab from Lawrence.
Lawrence lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Erwin misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Lawrence does it's job there.
Lawrence ducks under a wild hook from Erwin.
Some wild striking there from Lawrence.
Erwin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Erwin connects with a solid leg kick.
Erwin throws a hook to the side of Lawrence's head but Lawrence sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Erwin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lawrence on the side of the head.
Erwin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lawrence sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lawrence throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Erwin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lawrence throws out the jab.
Erwin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Erwin scores with a punch to the head.
Erwin sizes up Lawrence with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Malachi Lawrence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawrence takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawrence slips a straight right by Erwin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erwin is looking to score with low kicks.
Lawrence steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Erwin.
Lawrence scores with a body shot.
Erwin explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Erwin defending well as Lawrence loads up on a big left hand.
Erwin looks to land a right hand but Lawrence moved out of range.
Erwin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lawrence.
Erwin slips under a jab from Lawrence.
Lawrence changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawrence connects with a looping right hand.
Lawrence takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lawrence misses with a body shot.
Erwin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawrence.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Erwin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lawrence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Erwin circles away quickly and effectively.
Lawrence throws a right and a left that both miss.
Erwin throws a hook but Lawrence avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Derek Erwin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lawrence blocks a head kick by Erwin.
Lawrence takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A jab lands there for Erwin.
Erwin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lawrence has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lawrence smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Erwin looks to land a right hand but Lawrence moved out of range.
A punch combination from Erwin misses.
Lawrence swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Erwin connects with a body shot that sends Lawrence's belly button to the back.
Erwin misses with a few strikes there.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but Erwin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Erwin misses with a straight right.
Lawrence defending well as Erwin loads up on a big left hand.
Lawrence throws an off balance right hand
letting Erwin counter with a right hand.
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!
Nice uppercut there from Erwin.
Lawrence throws out a loose jab but Erwin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Erwin half committed to a counter leg kick.
Erwin thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence throws a body punch but Erwin moves out of range.
Erwin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Erwin lands a jab.
Lawrence throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lawrence swings for the body but Erwin moves out of range.
Erwin lands an overhand right.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Erwin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lawrence sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Erwin with the inside leg kick.
Erwin slips under a jab.
Lawrence scores with a jab.
Erwin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawrence.
Erwin scores with a jab. Lawrence acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lawrence has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Erwin was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lawrence.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erwin scores with a jab. Lawrence acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Erwin misses with a lunging right hand

and Lawrence counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Erwin!
Erwin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Erwin tries to get to full guard but Lawrence has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Erwin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Derek Erwin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Erwin has Lawrence pulled in close to control his posture.
Lawrence missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Erwin pulls Lawrence in close to his closed guard and prevents Lawrence from doing any damage or advancing position.
Erwin trying to keep a closed guard but Lawrence is proving a slippery customer.
Malachi Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erwin is pulling down on Lawrence's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erwin trying to keep a closed guard but Lawrence is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Erwin throws a hook but Lawrence avoids it easily.
Lawrence throws a body shot but no joy.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lawrence looking to score a takedown here. Erwin is defending well but Lawrence drives through and ends up in Erwin's guard.
Erwin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Erwin is trying to keep Lawrence in close.
Lawrence throws a strike but Erwin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lawrence trying to control the position.
Lawrence striking off his back but it's not causing Erwin any problems.
Erwin wants to stand but Lawrence is controlling his posture from full guard.
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Erwin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Erwin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Erwin!
An out of breath Derek Erwin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.