PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Milton Vessey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandy Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hawkins's choice of entrance music: Enter Sandman. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Vessey
vs
Hawkins

165 cm
22
157 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
20
162 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

White Gorilla Nutrition
Marvel Combat

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Milton Vessey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sandy Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vessey swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawkins.
Hawkins looks to throw the jab but Vessey is out of range.
Hawkins on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vessey looks to land a right hand but Hawkins moved out of range.
Vessey bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Vessey connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Vessey ducks under a wild hook from Hawkins.
Hawkins slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hawkins needs to keep his hands up - Vessey had a free shot at his head there.
Hawkins wants to clinch up but Vessey keeps it at a distance.
Hawkins moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A left lands for Vessey.
Hawkins ducks right into an uppercut from Vessey.
Hawkins misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vessey goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hawkins shoots in and drives through. Vessey sprawls well.
Hawkins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vessey throws out the jab.
Hawkins takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hawkins misses with a hook. Vessey ducked under it nicely.
Hawkins tries to clinch up.
Vessey scores with a three punch combo!
Vessey misses with a body punch

and Hawkins counters by moving into the clinch.
Vessey misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vessey is trying to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling him.
Hawkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.
Vessey tries to break free but Hawkins pushes him back against the cage.
Hawkins putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vessey in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hawkins has Vessey pressed against the cage, preventing Vessey from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hawkins stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but Vessey blocks with his arms.
Hawkins stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vessey looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins has Vessey pressed against the cage, preventing Vessey from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vessey tries to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling the position.
Hawkins lands an elbow just above Vessey 's eye.
Vessey working hard to break the clinch.
Vessey looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vessey managing to block the knees to the body from Hawkins.
Hawkins crunches a lovely knee into Vessey's ribcage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vessey has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vessey wants to get back to striking at distance but Hawkins won't allow it.
Hawkins has Vessey pressed against the cage, preventing Vessey from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hawkins pulls guard.
Hawkins controlling Vessey's posture.
Vessey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hawkins trying to control the position.
Hawkins pulls Vessey in close to his closed guard and prevents Vessey from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins keeping full guard, as Vessey tries to pass.
Hawkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vessey tries to lock up and control but Hawkins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hawkins won't let Vessey get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hawkins cracks Vessey with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

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.
Hawkins looking to control but Vessey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vessey is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A nice elbow there by Hawkins.
Vessey is trying to stand.
Hawkins controlling the pace for now.
Vessey tries to reverse the position but Hawkins maintains control.

Hawkins is going olschool here, as he tries to force Vessey to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Vessey shrugs it off.
Vessey tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hawkins working for a guillotine from mount but Vessey is in no mood to give up.
Hawkins looking to control but Vessey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandy Hawkins dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hawkins shoots in and drives through. Vessey sprawls well.
Hawkins connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vessey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawkins throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Hawkins shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vessey manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vessey keeping full guard, as Hawkins tries to pass.
Hawkins preventing the sweep.

Hawkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hawkins wants to pass the guard but Vessey is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vessey wants to stand and escape but Hawkins is having none of it.
Vessey trying to control the position.
Hawkins trying to control but Vessey is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hawkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vessey is refusing to be controlled, as Hawkins sits in half guard.
Hawkins trying to mount his opponent but Vessey defends it.
Hawkins wants to control but Vessey is keeping him busy.
Hawkins slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vessey trying to hold on to Hawkins's head to control him but Hawkins postures up.
Hawkins is keen to just control but Vessey is a slippery customer.
Hawkins working the head and body with strikes.
Hawkins trying to control the action but Vessey is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vessey slaps away a takedown attempt from Hawkins, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vessey lands with a shot to the body.
Hawkins on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins tries to move into range but Vessey moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Vessey swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawkins.
Vessey misses with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vessey is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hawkins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vessey is fending him off so far but Hawkins persists. Nope, Vessey circles away and we're back to standing.
Milton Vessey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandy Hawkins.
Vessey misses with a hook. Hawkins ducked under it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hawkins.
Hawkins walks into a straight right hand from Vessey.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vessey changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Vessey scores with a jab to the head.
Hawkins shoots in for a takedown but Vessey shows good takedown defense.
Hawkins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hawkins is breathing heavily.
Vessey scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hawkins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vessey cracks Hawkins with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hawkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vessey fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hawkins looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vessey swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Milton Vessey will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hawkins takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sandy Hawkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vessey lands with a shot to the body.
Hawkins throws a sloppy head kick and Vessey moves out of range easily.
Hawkins misses the body punch
and Vessey counters with a straight right hand.
Sandy Hawkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Vessey misses its intended target.
Vessey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawkins manages to avoid it.
Vessey lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hawkins backs up against the cage.
Hawkins throws a combination that misses
letting Vessey counter with a right hand.
Hawkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vessey counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hawkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vessey fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hawkins on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vessey bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hawkins's head.
Hawkins shoots for a double leg takedown but Vessey sprawls well. He's pushed Hawkins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vessey swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawkins.
Hawkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vessey pinned against the cage. Vessey gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Milton Vessey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandy Hawkins.
Vessey moves into range and connects with a jab.
Vessey swings for the body but Hawkins moves out of range.
Vessey scores with a nice strike.
Hawkins takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A lazy left from Vessey finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vessey counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Milton Vessey is winning the standup battle so far.

Hawkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hawkins lands a good knee to the midsection. Vessey won't want to take too many of those.
Vessey stalling in the clinch but Hawkins improves position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hawkins.
Hawkins jumps guard but Vessey stands there with Hawkins around his waist. Hawkins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Vessey manages to break the clinch.
Hawkins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vessey makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hawkins takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hawkins drops his hands momentarily and Vessey takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hawkins shoots and misses
letting Vessey counter with a right hand.
Hawkins walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hawkins ducks right into an uppercut from Vessey.
Vessey digs a good hook to Hawkins's body.
Hawkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawkins misses the body punch
and Vessey counters with a nice body shot.
Hawkins on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hawkins closes the distance but Vessey moves to the side
and Vessey counters with a left to the body.
Vessey looks to throw the jab but Hawkins is out of range.
Vessey misses with a few strikes there.
Vessey thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins digs a good hook to Vessey's body.
Vessey takes a swing at Hawkins's ribcage but misses.
Hawkins tries to clinch but Vessey moves away
and Vessey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hawkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vessey.
Vessey is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hawkins.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Vessey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hawkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vessey manages to avoid it.
Hawkins has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hawkins moves in looking to clinch but Vessey pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vessey stuffs the takedown attempt from Hawkins. Hawkins gets slowly back to his feet.
Hawkins fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vessey checks it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Milton Vessey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vessey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milton Vessey!