PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Lawlor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lloyd Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lawlor comes to the cage accompanied by Loser. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lawlor
vs
Lloyd Cruz

184 cm
24
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

170 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Lawlor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Lloyd Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lawlor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

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

Lawlor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz tries to roll over but Lawlor keeps him under control.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Lawlor is controlling him well.

Lawlor stands up out of the half guard.
Lawlor staying out of range there.
Cruz avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawlor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Lawlor.
Lawlor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like John Lloyd Cruz has been cut.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Lawlor looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lawlor walks into a stiff left hand from Cruz.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Lawlor dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Jab, jab by Cruz - just one landing.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Lawlor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lawlor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz misses with a double jab
and Lawlor counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lawlor throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lawlor counters with a head kick.
Lawlor is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Cruz misses.
Lawlor circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lawlor counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Lawlor pushing down on Cruz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.
Lawlor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lawlor is controlling him.
Lawlor wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawlor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz's guard.
Cruz is trying to stand back up but Lawlor is controlling him

Lawlor escapes and gets back to his feet.
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lawlor makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
John Lloyd Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz tries to clinch up
letting Lawlor counter with a right hand.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Lawlor counters with a big head kick but Cruz shrugs it off.
Lawlor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cruz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lawlor.
Lawlor walks into a straight right hand from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lawlor counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Tom Lawlor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lloyd Cruz.

Lawlor drops back looking for a leg! Cruz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cruz manages to kick Lawlor off! Lawlor jumps back into Cruz's guard.

Lawlor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cruz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lawlor, into his guard.

Lawlor is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Lawlor keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Lawlor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Lloyd Cruz's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lawlor counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Cruz is trying to keep Lawlor in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lawlor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lawlor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lawlor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lawlor prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Lawlor wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.

Lawlor drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cruz dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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

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

Lawlor had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cruz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lawlor Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cruz's back instead.

That's two 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.

Lawlor looking to break Cruz's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cruz remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Lawlor will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Cruz tries to break free.

Cruz is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Cruz has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Lawlor is persistently looking for the submission but Cruz is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Lawlor's arms.
Cruz has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Cruz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cruz has given up his back. Will we see Lawlor going for some submissions?

Cruz showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawlor is looking for the choke from the back position but Cruz is controlling his hands well.

Lawlor is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cruz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Lawlor patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cruz is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz tries to escape but Lawlor has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Lawlor is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Lawlor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Lloyd 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. This is the final round!

Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Lawlor circles away.
Lawlor fakes the leg kick and cracks Cruz in the body.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Cruz misses with a body shot

and Lawlor counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Lawlor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
Cruz pushes Lawlor off looking to stand but Lawlor dives back in and keeps control.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Lawlor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Lawlor stands up out of the half guard.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Lawlor on that attempt.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Lawlor counter with a right hand.
Lawlor slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lawlor misses.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
Cruz throws a combination that misses

and Lawlor counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Lawlor forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lawlor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Lawlor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cruz to the mat! Cruz manages to get full guard.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.

Lawlor drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cruz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lawlor has Cruz in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lawlor working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Lawlor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lawlor keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Lawlor had control of the position.

Lawlor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Lawlor won't let him.
John Lloyd Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Cruz preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lawlor.

Lawlor is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Cruz knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Cruz for a finish.

Lawlor is persistently looking for the submission but Cruz is defending it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lawlor is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cruz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Lawlor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lawlor 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Lawlor!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
61%

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