PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard McAuliffe (ranked 1936 p4p, 218 weight class) and Albert Lawrence (ranked 4726 p4p, 456 weight class). Albert Lawrence has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McAuliffe
vs
Lawrence

174 cm
26
157 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

MMA Underwear Laundry

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard McAuliffe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Lawrence!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Lawrence looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawrence connects with a solid leg kick.

McAuliffe looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McAuliffe throws a big elbow that misses.
Lawrence working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McAuliffe.
Lawrence keeping moving, preventing McAuliffe from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McAuliffe is really struggling to control Lawrence but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McAuliffe 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.
McAuliffe trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawrence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lawrence wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and McAuliffe is now in half guard.
McAuliffe is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lawrence is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
McAuliffe trying to pass the guard but Lawrence defending well.
McAuliffe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

McAuliffe is working for a kimura but Lawrence is defending it quite comfortably.
Lawrence trying to hold on to McAuliffe's head to control him but McAuliffe postures up.
McAuliffe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lawrence looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lawrence does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McAuliffe controlling the pace.
McAuliffe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lawrence is trying to stand.
Lawrence is trying to control but McAuliffe manages to pass to mount!
McAuliffe fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

McAuliffe looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
McAuliffe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lawrence is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Lawrence regains half guard.

McAuliffe is trying to work for a kimura but Lawrence is defending well.
McAuliffe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
McAuliffe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McAuliffe throwing shots but Lawrence is blocking nicely.
McAuliffe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lawrence blocking the ground and pound attempt from McAuliffe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard McAuliffe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McAuliffe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lawrence moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lawrence throws the kick towards the body but McAuliffe avoids it.
Lawrence looks to clinch
and McAuliffe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McAuliffe lands a lovely overhand right.
Lawrence takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McAuliffe lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lawrence backs up against the cage.
Lawrence misses with a low kick.
McAuliffe connects with a right hand. Lawrence shakes it off.
A jab from McAuliffe does it's job there.
Lawrence fails with an attempt to clinch.
McAuliffe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McAuliffe is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McAuliffe cracks Lawrence with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuliffe tries a head kick but it misses.
Lawrence tries to clinch up but McAuliffe circles away and keeps his distance.

Lawrence clinches with his opponent.
McAuliffe jumps guard but Lawrence turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McAuliffe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lawrence tries to break the clinch but McAuliffe is controlling the position.
McAuliffe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Lawrence.

McAuliffe pulls guard successfully.
Lawrence wanted to stand there but McAuliffe had control of the position.
McAuliffe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McAuliffe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lawrence can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence looking to pass the guard.

McAuliffe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lawrence trying to control but McAuliffe is working from the bottom.
McAuliffe controls Lawrence momentarily but Lawrence frees himself.
Lawrence trying to control but McAuliffe is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lawrence takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lawrence moves away from the strike by McAuliffe.

Lawrence pushes McAuliffe up against the cage in a clinch.
McAuliffe wants a takedown but no success here.
Lawrence connects with a nasty looking knee right to McAuliffe's face.
McAuliffe drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lawrence pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard McAuliffe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawrence lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
McAuliffe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McAuliffe throws a lazy head kick
and Lawrence cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Albert Lawrence seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence fails with the takedown.
McAuliffe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McAuliffe clinches.
Lawrence working hard to break the clinch.
McAuliffe avoids a wild elbow strike from Lawrence.

McAuliffe has hold of one of Lawrence's legs. Lawrence is fighting the takedown attempt but McAuliffe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Lawrence uses the cage to get back to his feet.
McAuliffe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lawrence looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard McAuliffe dominated that second round.
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!

McAuliffe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lawrence throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Richard McAuliffe has been cut.
Lawrence dives in and grabs McAuliffe's left leg, looking for a takedown. McAuliffe pushes down on Lawrence's head and hops out.
Lawrence on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McAuliffe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lawrence has time to react.
Lawrence has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McAuliffe finds it's way round the side to connect with Lawrence's head.
McAuliffe tries a head kick but it misses.

McAuliffe has managed to clinch.

Lawrence pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McAuliffe scores with a jab.

McAuliffe tries to keep at a distance but Lawrence has taken the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lawrence's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Richard McAuliffe is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuliffe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawrence moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lawrence tries to clinch
and McAuliffe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lawrence throws the left hand but McAuliffe avoids the punch easily.
Lawrence moves to clinch but McAuliffe breaks away
letting McAuliffe counter with a right hand.
McAuliffe throws a good cross that connects.

Lawrence drives through and clinches with McAuliffe against the cage.

Lawrence pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence tries to clinch up
and McAuliffe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Lawrence is rocked!
It looks like McAuliffe has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McAuliffe lands a jab to the head.
Lawrence is still on wobbly legs! Can McAuliffe finish him?
McAuliffe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lawrence seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lawrence tries to close the distance and clinch up but McAuliffe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McAuliffe blocks a head kick by Lawrence.
Lawrence takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawrence keeps McAuliffe at a distance using the push kick.
McAuliffe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

McAuliffe gets a double leg takedown into Lawrence's guard.
McAuliffe trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawrence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McAuliffe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lawrence is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lawrence working a defensive guard here.
McAuliffe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lawrence keeping full guard, as McAuliffe tries to pass.

McAuliffe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McAuliffe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Richard McAuliffe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

McAuliffe stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lawrence moves to clinch but McAuliffe breaks away
and McAuliffe counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Richard McAuliffe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

McAuliffe closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lawrence is looking to improve his position.
McAuliffe thows a huge punch but Lawrence dodges it nicely.
McAuliffe working over Lawrence with some ground and pound. Lawrence looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
McAuliffe passes to full mount!
McAuliffe landing strikes from the mount and Lawrence is in trouble!

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard McAuliffe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McAuliffe, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard McAuliffe!
Richard McAuliffe tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.