PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lawler (ranked 4673 p4p, 516 weight class) and Pat Yaj (ranked 8283 p4p, 691 weight class). Pat Yaj will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lawler
vs
Yaj

199 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Lawler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pat Yaj!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yaj defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawler.
Lawler has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Play House in the buildup to the fight.

Lawler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lawler showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Lawler drops back looking for a leg! Yaj is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yaj manages to kick Lawler off! Lawler jumps back into Yaj's guard.
Lawler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lawler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lawler pushing down on Yaj's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lawler trying to mount his opponent but Yaj defends it.
Still in half guard, Lawler seems content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lawler closes the distance and clinches up with Yaj, looking for a takedown. Lawler pushes Yaj against the ropes but Yaj circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lawler walks into a stiff left hand from Yaj.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler looks for a takedown but Yaj sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yaj moves into the clinch successfully.
Lawler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lawler jumps guard but Yaj turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.

Lawler has Yaj pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lawler pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Yaj tumbling to the mat - Lawler dives into Yaj's guard.
Lawler is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Yaj is trying to control the position but Lawler postures up.
Lawler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yaj looking to control.
Lawler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Lawler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yaj looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lawler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lawler dominated that 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.

Yaj drives through and clinches with Lawler against the ropes.
Lawler is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Yaj gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yaj tries a body shot but Lawler blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yaj lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yaj is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Yaj - that landed with a thud.
Lawler blocks a body shot from Yaj.
A short left from Yaj.
A short right from Yaj on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Lawler tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yaj throws a punch but it's blocked by Lawler.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Lawler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yaj struggles to land a body shot inside as Lawler controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yaj is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yaj lands a left hand.
Yaj lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lawler wants to take the fight to the mat but Yaj manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yaj.
Nice body punch from Yaj - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yaj scores with a shoulder strike.
Lawler prevents a body shot from Yaj.
Lawler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yaj smiles and moves away.
Yaj jabs at Lawler's body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lawler takes a shot to the head.
Yaj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawler blocks a body shot from Yaj.
Lawler takes a shot to the head.

Lawler is rocked!
Yaj throws a big uppercut that drops Lawler! More strikes from Yaj and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Lawler lies dazed against the ropes as Yaj celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pat Yaj!
Pat Yaj gave a mention to Quark's in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).