PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Hawkings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Perl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Hawkings
vs
Perl

184 cm
21
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

183 cm
22
193 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Shawn Hawkings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jon Perl!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perl tries to bum rush Hawkings with a series of wild strikes but Hawkings uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Perl throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hawkings.
A jab from Hawkings finds it's way through Perl's defenses.
Hawkings lands a jab to the head.
Perl rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawkings moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Hawkings misses.
Nice takedown defense from Hawkings. No joy for Perl on that attempt.
Hawkings lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hawkings swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Perl counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hawkings!
Perl trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Perl throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hawkings because Perl loaded up on that one.
Hawkings is squirming around, avoiding Perl's attempts to control the action.
Hawkings tries to hold on but Perl pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkings tries to buck Perl off but he can't manage it.
Perl controlling the pace for now.
Hawkings is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Perl punching from mount but Hawkings doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Perl can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawkings is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Perl throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Perl goes for an armbar but Hawkings turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hawkings.

Perl escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hawkings gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Perl working for a triangle but Hawkings defends it easily.

Perl throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Perl trying to keep a closed guard but Hawkings is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hawkings gets to his feet - Perl follows without any prompting.
Hawkings scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Perl shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawkings tries to sprawl out of it but Perl keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hawkings manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hawkings throws a right and a left that Perl avoids nicely.
Nice defenses there by Perl.
Hawkings throws a big shot that misses.
Perl tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hawkings swivels and escapes.
Shawn Hawkings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Perl.
Perl shoots in and drives through. Hawkings sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Hawkings dominated that round.
That's time! Hawkings's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hawkings keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perl.
Hawkings throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice body kick there by Hawkings.
Shawn Hawkings is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Perl throws a big shot that misses.
Hawkings ducks right into an uppercut from Perl.
Perl walks into a jab.
Perl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hawkings is fending him off so far but Perl persists. Nope, Hawkings circles away and we're back to standing.
Hawkings misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Hawkings does no damage.
Hawkings showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Perl.
Hawkings lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Perl backs up against the cage.

Perl drives through with a takedown into guard.

Perl drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hawkings manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Perl has Hawkings in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perl is breathing heavily.
Hawkings trying to stand up but can't free himself from Perl's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Perl throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Perl controlling Hawkings's posture.
Perl is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Perl keeping moving, preventing Hawkings from controlling successfully.
Hawkings is really struggling to control Perl but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Perl trying to keep a closed guard but Hawkings is proving a slippery customer.

Perl is looking for a triangle but Hawkings pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hawkings misses with a combination

and Perl counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hawkings's guard now.
Perl throws a strike but Hawkings rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Perl tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Perl is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Perl wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkings throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Perl has his foot on Hawkings's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hawkings works his way back into a safe position though.
Perl trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hawkings accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Perl throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hawkings throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hawkings lands a jab to Perl's midsection.
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 Shawn Hawkings will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hawkings darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hawkings throws a series of punches but Perl avoids them all with ease.
Perl is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hawkings sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hawkings waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perl.
Hawkings will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hawkings throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hawkings looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hawkings scores with a body shot.
Hawkings misses with a combination

and Perl counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Perl.
Hawkings looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Perl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Perl looking to sit in guard and control but Hawkings gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perl looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hawkings is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Perl is trying to keep Hawkings in close.
Hawkings trying to control the position from guard on top but Perl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perl is trying to keep Hawkings in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Perl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Perl scores with a jab. Hawkings acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A lazy left from Hawkings finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkings throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hawkings stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hawkings wants it to stay on the feet.
Shawn Hawkings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Perl.
Hawkings throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Perl counters with a single leg into guard. Hawkings didn't expect that.
Hawkings wants to get back to his feet but Perl is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Perl tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkings is retaining full guard.
Perl is looking to advance position but Hawkings has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Hawkings controlling the pace for now.
Shawn Hawkings is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perl is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hawkings controlling the position easily from mount.
Perl wants to hold on but Hawkings pushes him away.
Jon Perl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Perl is squirming around, avoiding Hawkings's attempts to control the action.
Perl is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Perl comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hawkings 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Hawkings!