PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Power's entrance music is miehen tyo. A fine choice. Hawk has chosen Everytime I Die as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Power
vs
Hawk

183 cm
20
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
179 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Power!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Hawk!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Power as Hawk shoots in.
Power shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hawk counters with a single leg into guard. Power didn't expect that.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Power is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Power has his foot on Hawk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hawk works his way back into a safe position though.

Hawk stands up from Power's guard - Hawk perhaps looking for a knockout.
A big right from Hawk misses.

Power has closed the distance and engaged Hawk in a clinch.
Power looking for a takedown.
Hawk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Power just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hawk wants to break free but Power has control.
Hawk drops down looking for an ankle pick but Power pulls his leg out and moves away.
Max Power has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Hawk.

Power rushes Hawk and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power scores with a shot to the side of Hawk's head.
Power unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hawk lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hawk prevents Power from breaking the clinch.
Power wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hawk has him pressed against the cage.
Power looking to throw knees to the head but Hawk is blocking nicely.
Power is trying to break free.

Hawk jumps into guard, dragging Power to the mat.
Hawk keeping moving, preventing Power from controlling successfully.
Hawk controls Power momentarily but Power frees himself.
Power wants to control from the top but Hawk keeps moving.
Hawk pulls Power in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Power trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawk seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hawk keeping full guard, as Power tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hawk keeps the fight on the outside.
Power tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hawk paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hawk moves into the clinch.
Hawk tries to work over Power's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Power is working for takedown but Hawk is calmly controlling the position for now.
Power digs a right hand underneath Hawk's ribcage. Hawk let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Power on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hawk wants to break the clinch but can't.
Power stops a takedown attempt from Hawk.

Power breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hawk throws a nice looking combination but Power bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hawk has his takedown stuffed

and Power holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hawk tries to score a body lock takedown but Power shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hawk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hawk tries for a takedown but Power manages to get underhooks.
Hawk looks gassed!

Power jumps guard and drags Hawk to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hawk wanted to stand there but Power had control of the position.

Hawk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hawk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I looks like Hawk might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Power trying to keep a closed guard but Hawk is proving a slippery customer.
Hawk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hawk trying to control but Power is working from the bottom.
Power tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawk looking to sit in guard and control but Power gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hawk preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Hawk dominated that 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.

Power tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Power has taken the fight to the clinch.

Power breaks the clinch.
Power lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Power rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawk moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Max Power is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Power has Hawk up against the cage in a clinch.
Hawk is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Power gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Power wants to break free but Hawk has control.
Hawk lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Power or not.

Hawk breaks from the clinch.
Mike Hawk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Power takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hawk moves in looking to clinch but Power pushes him off.

Hawk feints and as Power raises his hands in defense, Hawk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Power lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hawk!
Hawk is breathing heavily.
Hawk manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk tries to roll over but Power keeps him under control.

Hawk pushes Power off and gets back to his feet.
Power lands with a nice body punch.
Hawk tries to land a body kick

and Power counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hawk wants to stand but Power is controlling the position.
Power trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hawk holds on and takes a little breather.
Hawk trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk wants to stand and escape but Power is having none of it.

Hawk has his foot on Power's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Power works his way back into a safe position though.
Hawk working a defensive guard here.
Power has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawk is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Hawk manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hawk misses with a takedown

and Power holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Hawk has picked Power up - he's going for a ride! Hawk dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Power throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hawk content to control rather than advance.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hawk connects with a nice short shot to Power's temple.
Mike Hawk has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk throwing shots but Power is blocking nicely.
Hawk trying to control the action but Power is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Power manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Power will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hawk trying to control but Power is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Power as Hawk shoots in.
Max Power has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Hawk.

Power fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hawk, pushing him back against the cage.

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.
Hawk tries to pull guard but Power holds him up against the cage and eventually Hawk drops back down to his feet.
Hawk avoiding damage as Power throws knees to the body.
Hawk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Power gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hawk has Power pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Power manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Hawk is trying to trip Power. He has hold of a leg but Power is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hawk persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Power preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Power keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Power is keeping the position for now.
Hawk passes Power's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Hawk seems content to control.
Power tries to roll over but Hawk keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Hawk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hawk decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hawk in particular looking to stall.

Hawk is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Power defends it well.
Hawk takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hawk wants to take a breather but Power is having none of it.
Power is looking to improve his position.
Power is not content to let Hawk control the position.
Power manages to get to full guard.
Power controls Hawk momentarily but Hawk frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hawk's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Power isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hawk stacks Power on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hawk!
Hawk is looking to take a break and control but Power is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Power wants to control but Hawk postures up.
Power is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Power wants to improve his position but Hawk is controlling well.
Power moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hawk postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Hawk 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.
Power pulls Hawk in to control the position.
Hawk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hawk preventing the sweep.
Hawk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hawk looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Power tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Power moves away.
Hawk throws a body kick that misses.
Horrible takedown by Hawk or perhaps it was just good defense by Power which made him look bad.
Power shoots and misses

and Hawk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Power's guard now.
Hawk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Hawk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Power looks to clinch

and Hawk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Power!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawk throwing strikes here but Power is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Power is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power is working hard here to advance position.
Power wants to hold on but Hawk pushes him away.
Max Power has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Power is trying desperately to improve position.
Hawk can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Power is looking to escape.
Power is working to get back to half guard.

Hawk has hold of Power's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Power manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Hawk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hawk winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Hawk!