PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lazar Cristi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gauthier Lambert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Lazar Cristi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cristi
vs
Lambert

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
28
181 lbs
11 - 17 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lazar Cristi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gauthier Lambert!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cristi forces Lambert back against the cage and clinches.
Lambert dodges an elbow strike from Cristi.
Lambert tries to score a body lock takedown but Cristi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Lambert turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Lambert manages to end up in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lambert content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Cristi is looking for a sweep.
Cristi is not content to let Lambert control the position.
Lambert just content to control the position.
Cristi is trying to get back to his feet.
Lambert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cristi keeps working.
Lambert is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cristi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Cristi can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristi is trying to buck Lambert off.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gauthier Lambert was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Lambert bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cristi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lambert wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lambert working away.
Lambert tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Cristi is looking to regain half guard here but Lambert keeps moving and retains side control.
Lambert trying to control the position but Cristi is working away.
Lambert might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cristi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lambert takes a little break here. Cristi wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cristi prevents Lambert from improving position.
Lambert really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cristi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lambert controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lambert working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cristi misses with a two punch combination.

Lambert closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cristi trying to control here.
Lambert wants to take a breather but Cristi is having none of it.
Lambert controlling the pace.
Cristi is staying active underneath Lambert, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gauthier Lambert wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lambert looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cristi is looking to land body kicks.
Cristi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lazar Cristi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gauthier Lambert.
Cristi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lambert swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lambert gets a takedown into half guard.

Cristi kicks off Lambert and gets to his feet.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown but Cristi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lambert looks winded!

Cristi gets caught flat footed, as Lambert shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cristi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lambert is one step ahead there.
Lambert trying to control the position from guard on top but Cristi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cristi wants to stand but Lambert is controlling the position.
Lambert engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Gauthier Lambert has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Lambert closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cristi did well to prevent Lambert getting side control.
Cristi wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cristi moves into full guard.
Cristi wants to stand but Lambert is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gauthier Lambert dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Lambert.

Cristi looking to score a takedown here. Lambert is defending well but Cristi drives through and ends up in Lambert's guard.
Cristi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cristi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lambert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cristi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lambert is keeping the position for now.
Cristi wants to stand but Lambert has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cristi looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cristiis looking to pass into half guard but Lambert pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lambert is in guard.

Lambert got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cristi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lambert has managed to get both his arms back between Cristi's legs - danger averted.
Lambert trying to control the position from guard on top but Cristi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cristi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lambert sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gauthier Lambert wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lambert fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Lambert gets tackled into the cage by Cristi. Cristi maintains the clinch.
Cristi throws an elbow that misses.
Lambert drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lazar Cristi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gauthier Lambert.

Cristi has picked Lambert up - he's going for a ride! Cristi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cristi is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Lambert reverses the position - he's now on top in Cristi's guard.
Lambert trying to control but Cristi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cristi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cristi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lambert defends well.
Cristi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lambert is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lambert stops Cristi from standing up.
Gauthier Lambert has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cristi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lambert controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gauthier Lambert.

Cristi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lambert keeping hold of Cristi's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lambert manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lambert 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.
Lambert keeping full guard, as Cristi tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Cristi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lambert shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cristi is trying to defend but Lambert finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Still in half guard, Lambert seems content to control.
Cristi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lambert is working away from the top position though.
Lambert is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Lambert prevents Cristi from getting the reversal.
Lambert controlling from the full mount.
Cristi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lambert can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cristi is looking to escape.
Lambert content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lambert tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cristi wants to hold on but Lambert pushes him away.
Lambert controlling from mount.
Cristi can't escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lambert looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cristi is trying to escape the mount.
Cristi is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert content just to control the position here.
Cristi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Lambert content just to control the position here.
Lambert trying to control but Cristi is having none of it.
Lambert controlling the pace for now.
Lambert can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cristi is looking to escape.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gauthier Lambert.

Cristi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lambert to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lambert trying to control but Cristi is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gauthier Lambert was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cristi is looking to clinch but Lambert is avoiding it.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cristi lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Lambert dives in and scores a takedown into Cristi's guard.
Lambert trying to control but Cristi is working from the bottom.
Lambert preventing the sweep.
Lambert controlling from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lambert trying to control but Cristi is working from the bottom.
Lambert controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gauthier Lambert wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cristi is looking to clinch but Lambert is avoiding it.
Lambert fails to land the takedown.
Lambert misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gauthier Lambert comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lambert 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gauthier Lambert!
Gauthier Lambert spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.