PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abraham Safforn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wilfrid Laurier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Safforn
vs
Laurier

205 cm
25
279 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
29
260 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abraham Safforn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Wilfrid Laurier!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Laurier.
Laurier blocks a leg kick.

Safforn moves into the clinch.
Safforn has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Laurier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laurier letting Safforn take a breather here.
Safforn throws a head punch that misses.

Laurier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laurier lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
No joy there for Laurier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Laurier connects with an inside leg kick.
Safforn ducks under a wild hook from Laurier.
Laurier pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safforn looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Safforn lands a jab to the head.
Safforn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laurier lands a lovely overhand right.
Laurier throws a head kick that misses.
Wilfrid Laurier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Safforn instigates a clinch.
Safforn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Laurier is trying to break the clinch but Safforn has him pressed against the cage.
Safforn throws a head punch that misses.
Safforn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Safforn lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safforn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Laurier's elbow.
Laurier blocks an uppercut.
Safforn has a couple of punches blocked by Laurier.
Laurier taking a breather.
Safforn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Safforn lands a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Safforn can't find room to land a body shot as Laurier controls the action.
Safforn lands a left hand.
Laurier working hard to break the clinch.
Laurier blocks an uppercut.
Laurier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Safforn working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safforn pushes Laurier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Safforn scores with a shot to the side of Laurier's head.
Safforn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Safforn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Laurier is looking to break free of the clinch but Safforn has double underhooks.

Safforn manages to break the clinch.
Wilfrid Laurier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Safforn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laurier.
Laurier swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Safforn.

It looks like Abraham Safforn has been cut.
Laurier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Laurier throws a jab when Safforn was well out of range.
Laurier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Safforn was well out of range. Poor timing from Laurier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Safforn checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Safforn fakes the leg kick and cracks Laurier in the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laurier throws a hook but Safforn avoids it easily.
Safforn cracks Laurier with an open hand slap.
Safforn misses with a straight left.
Safforn throws a leg kick which misses Laurier's front leg but catches the back leg as Laurier tries to avoid it.
Laurier defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Safforn.
Laurier scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice jab there from Laurier.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laurier walks into a jab.
A punch combination from Laurier misses.
Laurier blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Safforn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abraham Safforn's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Safforn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Laurier is trying to improve his position.
Laurier managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Safforn.
Safforn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Laurier is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Laurier defending against the ground and pound.
Laurier can't do much from the bottom here.
Laurier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Laurier wants to get back to his feet but Safforn drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurier is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Safforn wants to control but Laurier is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laurier is trying to improve his position.
Safforn wants to control but Laurier is keeping him busy.
Laurier is pushing Safforn's head away, looking to escape. Safforn manages to hold on to the position though.
Safforn is putting a hurting on Laurier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Laurier parries the strikes from Safforn easily there. Safforn is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Laurier to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laurier is not content to let Safforn control the position.
Laurier dodges the ground and pound from Safforn.
Safforn fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Safforn tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Safforn working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Safforn is chipping away with strikes.
Laurier parries the strikes from Safforn easily there. Safforn is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Laurier to escape.
Safforn wants to control but Laurier is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laurier prevents Safforn from moving into mount.
The ground and pound from Safforn seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Abraham Safforn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Safforn trying to control the action but Laurier is working from the bottom.
Safforn in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Laurier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Laurier avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Safforn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laurier takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Laurier is not content to let Safforn control the position.
Laurier is looking to reverse the position.
The ground and pound from Safforn seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An elbow from Safforn crashes against the mat.
Laurier is trying to control Safforn's posture but Safforn avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Safforn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Abraham Safforn's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Laurier misses with a looping right.
Laurier jabs at Safforn's body.
Laurier misses with a left hand

and Safforn counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Safforn content to stall in guard here.
Safforn postures up in Laurier's guard and throws a big left but Laurier blocks it.
Laurier pulls Safforn in to control the position.
Let's hope that Laurier has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Safforn trying to control but Laurier is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Safforn is looking to slow Laurier down with leg kicks.
Safforn is looking to clinch.
A cross from Laurier lands.
Laurier jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Safforn has managed to clinch.
Safforn tries a body shot but Laurier blocks it.
Laurier tries to break free but Safforn pushes him back against the cage.
A short left from Safforn.
A head punch on the inside from Safforn fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safforn tries to throw a body punch but Laurier avoids it by throwing Safforn back against the cage.
Laurier working hard to break the clinch.
Laurier pressing his opponent against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Safforn.

Safforn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Safforn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laurier scores with a leg kick.
Laurier misses with a hook.
Laurier moves out of range of the body kick from Safforn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laurier misses with an uppercut.
Laurier misses with a right hand

and Safforn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Laurier is trying to control but can't.
Safforn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Safforn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Laurier blocking the ground and pound attempt from Safforn.
Safforn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Safforn is just content to waste time from the top position. Laurier takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Safforn preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safforn with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wilfrid Laurier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Safforn throws a big right hand that misses.
Safforn prevents Laurier from getting back to his feet.
Safforn throwing strikes from guard but Laurier blocks nicely.
Abraham Safforn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Safforn trying to control but Laurier is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Safforn is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abraham Safforn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Safforn has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abraham Safforn!
Abraham Safforn thanked the fans post fight for their support.