PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

North
vs
Lauzon

174 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marcus North!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Lauzon!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
North displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lauzon.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Lauzon moves out of range easily.
North lands with a slapping head kick.
Lauzon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but North is out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from North.
North tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lauzon was well out of range. Poor timing from North.
Lauzon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from North.
Lauzon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
North cracks the inside of Lauzon's front leg.
Lauzon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as North throws out the jab.
North bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lauzon's head backwards.
Lauzon blocks a head kick by North.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
North lands a head kick. Lauzon smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Lauzon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lauzon thows a big elbow that misses.
North 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.
Lauzon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
North has his hands on Lauzon's head, controlling the position.
North being controlled here, momentarily.
Lauzon trying to control but North is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lauzon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
North keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.
North on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if North tries to get out of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sam Lauzon.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lauzon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon shoots in but North avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marcus North has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Lauzon.
Lauzon throws a lazy head kick
and North counters with a flying knee. Nice.
North checks a leg kick.
North throws a hook but Lauzon avoids it easily.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Lauzon moves out of range easily.
North lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lauzon at a distance.
North with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Marcus North is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lauzon.
Nice uppercut lands for North. That snapped Lauzon's head back.
Lauzon has a takedown stuffed.
Lauzon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts North as he jumps to the side.
Lauzon looks gassed!
North connects with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lauzon takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lauzon looks for a takedown but North sprawls well.
North tries a head kick but it misses.
North throws a sloppy head kick and Lauzon moves out of range easily.
North throws a head kick that Lauzon semi-blocks.
North throws a head kick that misses.
North throws a shot to the body.
North throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lauzon's head.
North throws a hook to the side of Lauzon's head but Lauzon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
North will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A telegraphed right hand from North misses the target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
North stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and North wants it to stay on the feet.
North throws a head kick that misses.
North throws a head kick that half lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus North dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

North gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lauzon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lauzon stays in close to North's body and controls the position.
North is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lauzon is controlling him.
North 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.
North trying to keep a closed guard but Lauzon is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lauzon wants to pass the guard but North is keeping the position.
North keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.
Lauzon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
North wants to get back to his feet but Lauzon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lauzon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lauzon trying to control the position from guard on top but North is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lauzon drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lauzon jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
North throws a head kick that Lauzon semi-blocks.
A nice leg kick lands there from North.
North lands with a kick to the temple. Lauzon shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A looping hook to the body misses from North. Lauzon does a little dance to reset his feet.

Lauzon moves into the clinch successfully.
North can't break the clinch.
North tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lauzon smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
North lands a glancing blow to the side of Lauzon's head.
Marcus North seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lauzon moves forwards but North connects with a nice, crisp jab.
North circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lauzon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts North as he jumps to the side.
Lauzon shoots for a takedown but North saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North scores with a leg kick.
North lands with a right hand.
North throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lauzon.
North connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A thudding body kick lands there by North!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lauzon.
Lauzon trying to control the position but North is working away.
North trying to remain calm as Lauzon controls from the top position.
North is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lauzon is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Lauzon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Lauzon on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lauzon tries to clinch but North moves away
and North counters with a big head kick but Lauzon shrugs it off.
North misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
North misses with a hook.
Lauzon tries to score a power double leg takedown but North sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lauzon somewhat.
Lauzon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around North's waist but North gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lauzon off to one side.
Lauzon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from North.
North buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
North lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lauzon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marcus North has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Lauzon.
Lauzon shoots in but North avoids the takedown attempt easily.
North loads up on a big right hand but Lauzon slips the punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from North as Lauzon shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North connects with a high kick.
Lauzon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lauzon misses with a straight right.
A kick lands to the mid section there for North.
Lauzon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling North to score with a decent uppercut.

Lauzon forces North back against the cage and clinches.
North working hard to break the clinch.

North manages to break the clinch.
North lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lauzon at a distance.
North is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
North ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lauzon moves away.
North tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
North throws a series of punches but Lauzon avoids them all with ease.
North works over Lauzon's head and body with a nice combination.

North gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lauzon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lauzon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon trying to control but North is working from the bottom.
Lauzon wants to stand but North has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
North is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon throws a big right hand that misses.

Lauzon gets to his feet. North looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Lauzon manages to break the clinch.
North misses with a jab, cross combination.
A swing and a miss from North.
North swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sam Lauzon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick by North misses

and Lauzon counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in North's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lauzon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lauzon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. North is keeping the position for now.
Lauzon controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Lauzon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lauzon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Lauzon!