PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Lundgren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Rawlings (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.

Lundgren
vs
Rawlings

193 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 The Island, Joe Lundgren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dave Rawlings!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rawlings closes the distance and clinches.
Lundgren looking for a takedown.
Lundgren takes an elbow to the temple.
Rawlings lands a left hand.

Rawlings breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rawlings displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lundgren.

Rawlings gets a clinch.
Lundgren digs a right hand into Rawlings's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rawlings's gas tank.
Rawlings is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lundgren tries for a takedown but Rawlings manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lundgren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Rawlings's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rawlings forces Lundgren back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lundgren gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lundgren seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rawlings does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lundgren trying to pass the guard but Rawlings defending well.
Rawlings gets back to full guard.
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawlings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rawlings seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lundgren content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lundgren preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rawlings is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lundgren scoring with some ground and pound.
Lundgren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rawlings on the ground.
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawlings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rawlings had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lundgren defends it easily.
Lundgren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lundgren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lundgren throws an elbow that misses. Rawlings uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lundgren's guard. Nice move by Rawlings!

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lundgren holds on and takes a little breather.
Rawlings throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rawlings trying to control the position from guard on top but Lundgren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lundgren has a closed guard, preventing Rawlings from standing up.
Rawlings slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rawlings wants to get up but he can't break Lundgren's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A combination from Lundgren does no damage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rawlings.

Rawlings fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lundgren, pushing him back against the cage.
Lundgren has a couple of punches blocked by Rawlings.
Lundgren tries to pull guard but Rawlings forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Rawlings escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rawlings jabs Lundgren to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rawlings has Lundgren up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Rawlings.
Rawlings lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Rawlings dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lundgren shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lundgren scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rawlings trying to control from the bottom.
Rawlings connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Rawlings gets full guard.
Lundgren wants to control from the top but Rawlings keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lundgren throwing strikes from guard but Rawlings blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lundgren wants to control from the top but Rawlings keeps moving.
Rawlings wants to stand up but Lundgren is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lundgren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawlings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rawlings throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rawlings smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lundgren.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rawlings misses with a takedown attempt
and Lundgren counters with a stiff right hand.

Rawlings clinches.

Rawlings's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rawlings is defended easily by Lundgren.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rawlings forces Lundgren back against the cage and clinches.
Dave Rawlings seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rawlings lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lundgren backwards.
Lundgren wants to take the fight to the mat but Rawlings manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rawlings connects with a knee to the head.
Rawlings has Lundgren pushed against the cage.
Rawlings tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lundgren tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lundgren. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rawlings breaks from the clinch.
Lundgren misses with a takedown attempt - Rawlings sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings shoots in for a takedown but Lundgren shows good takedown defense.
Dave Rawlings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rawlings misses with a takedown attempt - Lundgren sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lundgren shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rawlings pinned against the cage. Rawlings gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rawlings is looking for the big counter here.
Lundgren looks for a takedown but Rawlings sprawls well.

Rawlings clinches up with Lundgren and pushes him back against the cage.
Rawlings unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The referee calls for Rawlings to work.
The crowd are getting on Rawlings's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Rawlings lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lundgren jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rawlings walks away with a smile on his face. Lundgren gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rawlings looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lundgren is fending him off so far but Rawlings persists. Nope, Lundgren circles away and we're back to standing.
Rawlings cracks Lundgren with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rawlings slaps away a takedown attempt from Lundgren, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rawlings has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Rawlings showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rawlings. Lundgren shrugs it off though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rawlings manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Rawlings breaks from the clinch.

Lundgren gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rawlings lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lundgren backwards.
Lundgren is working for takedown but Rawlings is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rawlings is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rawlings manages to break the clinch.

Rawlings moves into range and clinches up with Lundgren.
A knee to the head by Rawlings.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Rawlings.
Rawlings scores with a knee to the head.
Lundgren wants to take the fight to the mat but Rawlings manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lundgren drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lundgren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rawlings lands a nice uppercut.
Rawlings tries to stall but Lundgren uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lundgren is trying to stall.
Rawlings scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Rawlings has hold of one of Lundgren's legs. Lundgren is fighting the takedown attempt but Rawlings gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rawlings trying to control the position from guard on top but Lundgren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rawlings controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lundgren working a defensive guard here.
Rawlings looking to pass the guard.
Lundgren wants to stand up but Rawlings is controlling him.

Rawlings decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lundgren, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rawlings moves into range and clinches up with Lundgren.
Rawlings lands a knee to the head.
Rawlings wants to take the fight to the mat but Lundgren manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rawlings lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lundgren backwards.
Lundgren is trying to pull guard but Rawlings turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Come on Rawlings - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Rawlings escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rawlings gets tackled into the cage by Lundgren. Lundgren maintains the clinch.

Rawlings breaks the clinch.

Rawlings clinches up with Lundgren and pushes him back against the cage.
Rawlings stalling in the clinch but Lundgren improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lundgren can't get the takedown.

Rawlings breaks the clinch.
Dave Rawlings is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rawlings clinches up with Lundgren and pushes him back against the cage.
Rawlings gets through Lundgren's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rawlings is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Rawlings pulls guard successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rawlings avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lundgren is fighting to break Rawlings's control of his arms but Rawlings is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lundgren trying to control but Rawlings is working from the bottom.
Rawlings is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Joe Lundgren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rawlings takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Rawlings comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rawlings has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Rawlings!