PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thufir Hawat (ranked 1650 p4p, 2089 weight class) and George Pierre (ranked 227 p4p, 276 weight class). Pierre has chosen O Canada as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hawat
vs
Pierre

185 cm
29
178
17 - 19 - 0

178 cm
30
171
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Leiko Leaf Clothing

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 17 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thufir Hawat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Pierre!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Pierre misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hawat. Pierre shrugs it off though.
Pierre gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pierre lands the left hand.
Pierre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawat circles away.
Pierre shoots for a takedown but Hawat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pierre takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hawat scores with a jab to the body.
Hawat throws the left hand but Pierre avoids the punch easily.
Pierre looks for a takedown but Hawat sprawls well.
Thufir Hawat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Pierre.
Pierre takes a jab right on the kisser.
Pierre is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawat.
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!
Hawat slips a jab and a cross from Pierre.

Pierre moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Pierre has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hawat after a bit of a struggle.
Hawat stops a takedown attempt from Pierre.
Hawat misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawat avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pierre drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hawat pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pierre looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawat is just out of range.
Hawat's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pierre under the eye.
Pierre misses with a looping left.
Pierre moves out of range as Hawat strikes.
Thufir Hawat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawat misses with an uppercut. Pierre saw that one coming.
Hawat with the inside leg kick.
Hawat throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hawat fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pierre has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hawat swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pierre.
Hawat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hawat throws a hook but Pierre avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawat misses with a few strikes there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pierre gets a clinch.
Pierre is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hawat pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pierre goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hawat prevents it.
Hawat prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawat avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pierre is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hawat gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pierre is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pierre wants to take the fight to the mat but Hawat manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hawat's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Pierre has clasped his hands together around Hawat's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Pierre is putting a hurting on Hawat here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hawat regains half guard, as Pierre was trying to land strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawat keeping control of the position.
Hawat gets back to full guard.
Pierre content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pierre throws a strike but Hawat rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Pierre wants to get back to his feet but Hawat is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierre keeping full guard, as Hawat tries to pass.
Hawat seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thufir Hawat dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pierre throws a jab when Hawat was well out of range.
Pierre gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Crunch! Hawat slams his shin into Pierre's torso.
Pierre avoids the body shot from Hawat.
A good leg kick by Hawat.
Hawat needs to keep his hands up - Pierre had a free shot at his head there.
Hawat's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pierre under the eye.
Hawat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pierre can do to turn this around?
A lazy left from Hawat finds it's target.
Pierre rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawat moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pierre walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hawat.

Pierre throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hawat tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Pierre is in Hawat's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pierre with a nice head shot there.
Hawat wants to sweep here but Pierre controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pierre postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hawat utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pierre lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've been hearing good reports from Hawat's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hawat pulls Pierre in close to prevent any damage.
Hawat wants to sweep here but Pierre controlling him for the moment.
Pierre throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hawat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pierre throws an elbow that misses. Hawat uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pierre's guard. Nice move by Hawat!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawat sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hawat in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hawat sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawat advances to half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Still in half guard, Hawat seems content to control.
Thufir Hawat overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hawat scores with a head kick.

It looks like George Pierre has been cut.
Thufir Hawat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good standup being displayed there by Hawat as he connects with a hook.
A punch combination from Hawat misses.
Pierre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierre misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hawat scoring well with a low kick there.
Hawat throws the kick towards the body but Pierre avoids it.

Pierre moves into the clinch.
Pierre is looking for a takedown.

Hawat breaks from the clinch.
Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.
Pierre on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pierre swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Hawat to counter with a crisp jab.
George Pierre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawat misses with a two punch combination.
A jab from Hawat finds it's way through Pierre's defenses.
Thufir Hawat is winning the standup battle so far.
Hawat misses with a wild combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thufir Hawat dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on George Pierre's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawat gets tackled into the cage by Pierre. Pierre maintains the clinch.
Pierre tries to score a body lock takedown but Hawat shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hawat takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Pierre gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hawat regains guard.
Pierre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hawat has his hands on Pierre's head, controlling the position.
Pierre postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pierre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pierre loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pierre postures up and lands a big shot to Hawat's brow.
Hawat is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat wants to sweep but no luck.
Pierre throwing strikes but missing.
Pierre postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pierre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nice defenses there by Pierre.
Hawat swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Pierre to counter with a crisp jab.
Hawat moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hawat lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pierre shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hawat thuds his shin into the meat of Pierre's side.
Hawat lands a leg kick that knocks Pierre off balance momentarily.
Thufir Hawat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierre blocks the body kick.
Hawat slaps away a takedown attempt from Pierre, before circling back to the center of the mat.
An attempted straight right counter from Hawat misses the target.
Thufir Hawat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Pierre.
Pierre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hawat feints and then cracks Pierre's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pierre down.
Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pierre takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hawat is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hawat lands a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawat lands a nice looking body shot.
Pierre walks into a left hand.
Hawat misses with a wild combination.
Pierre fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch but Hawat swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hawat thinks about countering with a body kick.
Pierre ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hawat showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pierre.
George Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawat throws a series of strikes that have Pierre backpedaling.
Hawat moves away from the strike by Pierre.
A shot to the liver by Hawat. Beautiful body shot.
Hawat throws the left hand but Pierre avoids the punch easily.
Pierre is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hawat misses with a two punch combination.
As Hawat backs off Pierre throws a huge counter combo but Hawat manages to avoid it all.
Hawat connects with a nice looking jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hawat, as that shot connected.
Hawat connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawat connects with a looping right hand.
Hawat buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pierre tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawat sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pierre somewhat.
Hawat lands a nice looking kick to the body. Pierre takes a step back to recover.
Hawat throws an overhand right that lands on Pierre's shoulder, as Pierre tries to avoid the shot.
Pierre has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Pierre there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pierre takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hawat with a nice calf kick.
Hawat shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hawat connects with a body shot that sends Pierre's belly button to the back.
Hawat takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thufir Hawat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hawat, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thufir Hawat!
In his post fight interview, Thufir Hawat started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.