PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Linwood Lawrence (ranked 25157 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alter Nicel (ranked 5795 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lawrence
vs
Nicel

190 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Linwood Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alter Nicel!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nicel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lawrence's guard.
Nicel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lawrence tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nicel looking to pass the guard.
Nicel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Nicel tries for a kimura but Lawrence is defending well.
Lawrence tries to buck Nicel off but Nicel is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An elbow from Nicel crashes against the mat.
Lawrence is looking to regain half guard here but Nicel keeps moving and retains side control.

Nicel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Nicel has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence wants to take the fight to the mat but Nicel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Nicel pulls guard successfully.
Lawrence trying to control but Nicel is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nicel is pulling down on Lawrence's head to control his posture.
Nicel is continuing to stall.
Nicel keeping moving, preventing Lawrence from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lawrence preventing the sweep.
Nicel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lawrence controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nicel working a defensive guard here.
Nicel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nicel throws a head kick that misses.
Alter Nicel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lawrence gets a double leg takedown into Nicel's guard.
Nicel looking for a sweep. Not yet Nicel, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicel controls Lawrence momentarily but Lawrence frees himself.

Nicel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lawrence gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lawrence won't allow Nicel to get back to his feet.
Lawrence not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nicel seems keen to control Lawrence's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lawrence is looking to stand up but Nicel won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Nicel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nicel.
Lawrence tries to pull guard but Nicel holds him up against the cage and eventually Lawrence drops back down to his feet.
Lawrence tries to pull guard but Nicel won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Linwood Lawrence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicel just stands there and leans against the cage.

Nicel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nicel throws a sloppy head kick and Lawrence moves out of range easily.

Lawrence closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nicel's guard.

Lawrence gets to his feet - Nicel follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alter Nicel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nicel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Nicel moves into the clinch.
Lawrence fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nicel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lawrence's defenses.

It looks like Linwood Lawrence has been cut.

Nicel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nicel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nicel is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lawrence manages to get himself to full guard.

Nicel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lawrence being controlled here, momentarily.
Nicel preventing the sweep.
Nicel is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Lawrence is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lawrence is trying to keep Nicel in close.
Nicel trying to control but Lawrence is working from the bottom.
Lawrence looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Nicel takes the fight into the clinch.
Lawrence tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nicel jumps guard and drags Lawrence to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence postures up.
Lawrence trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nicel trying to control the position here.
Nicel striking off his back but it's not causing Lawrence any problems.
Lawrence trying to control but Nicel is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lawrence wants to stand but Nicel is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Nicel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Lawrence pushes Nicel off and gets back to his feet.
Nicel throws a sloppy head kick and Lawrence moves out of range easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nicel. That's going to slow Lawrence down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nicel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lawrence sprawls well initially but Nicel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Nicel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nicel is breathing heavily.
Nicel prevents Lawrence from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alter Nicel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Linwood Lawrence's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Lawrence tries to sprawl but Nicel drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nicel is taking a breather. Lawrence says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nicel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Nicel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nicel throwing shots but Lawrence is blocking nicely.
Nicel is pressing down on Lawrence's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lawrence is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nicel stands up and beckons Lawrence to join him on the feet.

Nicel gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nicel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Nicel pulls Lawrence into guard.
Lawrence wants to get up but he can't break Nicel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nicel wants to hit a switch here but Lawrence passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nicel there!
Lawrence won't let Nicel get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Nicel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lawrence performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicel is looking to improve his position.
Nicel is trying to control but can't.
Alter Nicel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nicel is trying to stand back up but Lawrence is controlling him
Nicel tries to get to full guard but Lawrence has control of the leg.
Lawrence tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lawrence.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lawrence thows a huge punch but Nicel dodges it nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nicel stalks Lawrence and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lawrence's face. Lawrence staggers backwards, shaken.
Lawrence has a takedown stuffed.
Nicel is looking for the big counter here.
Nicel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lawrence seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Nicel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nicel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nicel is looking for a kimura but Lawrence is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nicel to get the leverage.
Lawrence avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nicel.
Nicel is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to roll over but Nicel keeps him under control.
Lawrence trying to control here.
Lawrence wants to get back to full guard.
Lawrence is working hard here to advance position.
Lawrence is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nicel.
Linwood Lawrence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alter Nicel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Nicel controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alter Nicel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nicel 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alter Nicel!