PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lawson has chosen Another Victory as his entrance music. Shane Dela Cruz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eric Lawson's chin.

Dela Cruz
vs
Lawson

187 cm
35
199 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

190 cm
27
190 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Cyclone Nutrition Company

$300

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 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shane Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Lawson. No joy for Dela Cruz on that attempt.
Dela Cruz connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd cheers as Dela Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lawson doesn't seem phased though.
Dela Cruz thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lawson if he has to take too many more of those.
Lawson checks a low kick from Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dela Cruz is trying to control. Lawson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dela Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dela Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lawson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dela Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Lawson defends it.

Dela Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lawson is just riding it out for now. Dela Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Lawson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dela Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lawson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lawson keeping full guard, as Dela Cruz tries to pass.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lawson has control of Dela Cruz's left arm, preventing Dela Cruz from doing any damage.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Shane Dela Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lawson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dela Cruz.

It looks like Shane Dela Cruz has been cut.
Lawson slaps away a takedown attempt from Dela Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lawson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Dela Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lawson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position.

Dela Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lawson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lawson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Dela Cruz is looking for a triangle but Lawson pushes his legs off easily.

Dela Cruz has his foot on Lawson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lawson works his way back into a safe position though.

Dela Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lawson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dela Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Dela Cruz controls Lawson momentarily but Lawson frees himself.
Lawson trying to control but Dela Cruz is working from the bottom.
Lawson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dela Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lawson wants to control from the top but Dela Cruz keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lawson is pushing down on Dela Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dela Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Lawson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dela Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dela Cruz trying to hold on to Lawson's head to control him but Lawson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Dela Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shane Dela Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lawson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lawson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Lawson cracks Dela Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dela Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dela Cruz looks to land a left hand but Lawson moved out of range nicely.
Dela Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lawson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lawson slips under a jab from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dela Cruz looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
Lawson slips a straight right by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz takes one to the chin there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawson misses with a leg kick.
Dela Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lawson leaves Dela Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz throws a head kick but Lawson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dela Cruz moves away.
Lawson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dela Cruz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lawson throws a body kick that misses.
Dela Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Lawson sprawls well. He's pushed Dela Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shane Dela Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dela Cruz is defended easily by Lawson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dela Cruz.
Sloppy strikes from Lawson. Those never looked like landing.
Dela Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dela Cruz scores with a decent looking hook.

Dela Cruz shoots in and bounces Lawson off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Dela Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lawson's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dela Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lawson defending well though.
Dela Cruz prevents Lawson from improving his position.
Dela Cruz trying to control the action but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Lawson is trying to stand.

Dela Cruz seems to be working for a kimura but Lawson defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson has hold of Dela Cruz's hands but Dela Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lawson is not content to let Dela Cruz control the position.
Dela Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dela Cruz moves into full mount! Lawson won't be happy about that!
Lawson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz trying to control but Lawson is having none of it.
Lawson tries to hold on but Dela Cruz pushes him away.
Dela Cruz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Dela Cruz is stalling here but it's allowed Lawson to get half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dela Cruz not doing much here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lawson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Dela Cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shane Dela Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Dela Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Lawson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Eric Lawson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dela Cruz blocks a head kick by Lawson.
Dela Cruz lands a jab.
Lawson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dela Cruz throws a head kick but Lawson moves out of range.
Lawson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawson thows a body kick. Dela Cruz tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lawson tests Dela Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lawson swings for the body but Dela Cruz moves out of range.
Dela Cruz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lawson throws a wild body kick that Dela Cruz sees coming a mile off.
Lawson throws the kick towards the body but Dela Cruz avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dela Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lawson defends it nicely.
Dela Cruz swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz misses with a looping right.
Lawson leaves Dela Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Dela Cruz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lawson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lawson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lawson misses with a body shot.
Lawson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A big left from Dela Cruz misses.
Lawson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dela Cruz lands a glancing blow to the side of Lawson's head.

Lawson sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Dela Cruz to the ground! Lawson dives into full mount looking to finish!

Dela Cruz is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dela Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Oh Dela Cruz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dela Cruz sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lawson controlling the pace.
Lawson is nestled in close to Dela Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lawson is looking to take a break and control but Dela Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lawson lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lawson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Lawson prevents Dela Cruz from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lawson is keen to just control but Dela Cruz is a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Eric Lawson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lawson connects with a jab.
Dela Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lawson counters with a crisp right that sends Dela Cruz to the canvas! Lawson follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eric Lawson!
Our winner, Eric Lawson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.