PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Muhammed Lawal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Hovi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Lawal
vs
Hovi

183 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
27
220 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Muhammed Lawal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Seppo Hovi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hovi.

Hovi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Lawal drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hovi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lawal has Hovi in his guard.

Hovi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawal 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi wants to pass the guard but Lawal is keeping the position.
Lawal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lawal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hovi slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Lawal.
Lawal is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hovi trying to control from half guard but Lawal is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lawal slips a jab and a cross from Hovi.
Hovi digs a good hook to Lawal's body.
Hovi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Seppo Hovi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hovi misses with a two punch combination.
Hovi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hovi wants it to stay on the feet.
Hovi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Lawal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hovi, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Hovi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lawal fails to pull guard.
Lawal lands a body shot in the clinch.
Lawal stalling.

Hovi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lawal is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hovi to the mat. Hovi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hovi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hovi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lawal.
Hovi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Lawal drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hovi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hovi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hovi!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawal is trying to improve his position.
Lawal is breathing heavily.
Lawal regains half guard.

Hovi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lawal defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Seppo Hovi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hovi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawal.
Lawal slips a jab and a cross from Hovi.

Lawal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lawal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lawal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lawal wants to control from the top but Hovi keeps moving.
Hovi working a defensive guard here.
Hovi is breathing heavily.
Lawal with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawal tries to free his leg and advance position but Hovi is retaining full guard.
Lawal trying to control the position from guard on top but Hovi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawal content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lawal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lawal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lawal scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hovi is trying to keep Lawal in close.
Lawal is looking to work some ground and pound but Hovi has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawal trying to control but Hovi is working from the bottom.

Hovi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lawal defends well.
Lawal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hovi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hovi keeping moving, preventing Lawal from controlling successfully.
Lawal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hovi on the ground.
Lawal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lawal slips under a jab from Hovi.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lawal avoids a punch combination nicely.

Lawal shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lawal was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lawal scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Lawal lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hovi hang on?
Lawal in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Lawal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lawal wants to control the pace but Hovi is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawal lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hovi hang on?
Lawal wants to control the pace but Hovi is squirming around nicely.
Hovi regains half guard.
Hovi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lawal scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lawal is nestled in close to Hovi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammed Lawal dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lawal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hovi tries to avoid it but Lawal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hovi to the ground. Hovi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hovi throws a right and a left that Lawal avoids nicely.

Lawal gets a clinch.
Hovi can't break the clinch.

Lawal pulls guard.
Lawal wants to stand and escape but Hovi is having none of it.
Lawal wants to control the position but Hovi says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hovi wants to work for an arm triangle but Lawal is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hovi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hovi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lawal doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hovi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawal desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Hovi prevents Lawal from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lawal tries to roll over but Hovi keeps him under control.
Lawal is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hovi swats away the attempt to clinch by Lawal.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lawal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lawal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hovi defending well though.
Lawal takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hovi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lawal is working away from the top position though.
Lawal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hovi defending well though.
Muhammed Lawal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lawal tries to pass to full mount but Hovi defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lawal.
Hovi is refusing to be controlled, as Lawal sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Hovi.
Hovi walks into a left hand.

Lawal shoots in and bounces Hovi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lawal trying to control but Hovi is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muhammed Lawal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lawal has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhammed Lawal!