PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jovan Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hawkwoods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Belcher
vs
Hawkwoods

191 cm
21
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

171 cm
23
169 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Jovan Belcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Hawkwoods!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belcher lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hawkwoods backs up against the cage.
Hawkwoods shoots in but no luck this time.
Belcher lands a two punch combo.
Hawkwoods shoots in for a double leg but Belcher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Belcher tries to clinch there but Hawkwoods circles away.
Belcher throws a nice looking combination but Hawkwoods bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jab, jab by Hawkwoods - just one landing.

Belcher lands a left and a right that send Hawkwoods crashing to the mat, dazed. Belcher thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Hawkwoods is rocked!

It looks like James Hawkwoods has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belcher swinging wildly here.
Hawkwoods is still on wobbly legs! Can Belcher finish him?
No joy there for Belcher, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Belcher misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hawkwoods seems to have recovered his senses.

Hawkwoods shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Belcher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hawkwoods.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkwoods keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hawkwoods is trying to control the action in half guard but Belcher is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hawkwoods is looking for a kimura but Belcher is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hawkwoods to get the leverage.

Hawkwoods is looking for a kimura here.
Hawkwoods looks gassed!

Hawkwoods is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Belcher defends it well.
Belcher is looking to escape.

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.
Hawkwoods trying to control from half guard but Belcher is working away.

Hawkwoods is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Belcher has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hawkwoods is working for a kimura but Belcher is defending it quite comfortably.
Belcher is trying to stand up here but Hawkwoods is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Belcher looks to land a combination but Hawkwoods avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Hawkwoods with that takedown attempt.
Jovan Belcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Hawkwoods.
Hawkwoods avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hawkwoods shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Belcher fails with the takedown.

Belcher closes the distance and clinches.

Belcher escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Belcher throws a series of punches but Hawkwoods moves out of range.
Hawkwoods throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belcher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hawkwoods circles away quickly and effectively.

Hawkwoods rushes Belcher and presses him up against the cage.

Belcher manages to break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Belcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Hawkwoods circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belcher is defended easily by Hawkwoods.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hawkwoods.
Belcher looks to land a combination but Hawkwoods avoids it well.
Hawkwoods connects with a jab.
Hawkwoods shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belcher but Belcher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hawkwoods fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hawkwoods has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nice takedown defense from Hawkwoods. No joy for Belcher on that attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawkwoods throws an overhand right that lands on Belcher's shoulder, as Belcher tries to avoid the shot.

Hawkwoods looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawkwoods wants to control but Belcher is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jovan Belcher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Hawkwoods's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hawkwoods shoots in and drives through. Belcher sprawls well.

Belcher clinches up against the cage.
Belcher has had enough of the clinch but Hawkwoods keeps him there for the moment.

Belcher breaks the clinch.
Belcher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belcher misses with a jab, cross combination.
A jab from Hawkwoods misses.
Jovan Belcher is winning the standup battle so far.
Belcher misses with the combination.
Belcher throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belcher throws a nice looking combination but Hawkwoods bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belcher with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hawkwoods counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hawkwoods thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Belcher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hawkwoods.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkwoods is stalling in the full guard.
Belcher wants to stand but Hawkwoods is controlling the position.
Hawkwoods with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hawkwoods trying to control the position from guard on top but Belcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawkwoods stops Belcher from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belcher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jovan Belcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Hawkwoods.
Hawkwoods throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belcher's waist but Belcher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hawkwoods off to one side.
Belcher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hawkwoods circles away quickly and effectively.
Hawkwoods stuffs the takedown attempt from Belcher. Belcher gets slowly back to his feet.
Belcher fails to land with a series of punches.
Hawkwoods looks to land a left hand but Belcher moved out of range nicely.
Hawkwoods throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belcher scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Belcher fails with the takedown.
Jovan Belcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawkwoods lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Belcher throws a series of punches but Hawkwoods avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Hawkwoods misses.
Belcher blocks a jab.
Belcher looks to land a left hand but Hawkwoods moved out of range nicely.
Belcher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Belcher misses with a wild combination.

Hawkwoods decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hawkwoods wants to control but Belcher is keeping him busy.

Hawkwoods is trying to work for a kimura but Belcher is defending well.
Hawkwoods trying to mount his opponent but Belcher defends it.
Belcher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hawkwoods.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawkwoods is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Belcher is just riding it out for now. Hawkwoods eventually gives up the hold.
Belcher is trying to stand up here but Hawkwoods is controlling him well.
Hawkwoods seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Belcher does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belcher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hawkwoods showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Hawkwoods's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Belcher misses with a double jab.
Hawkwoods digs a good body shot into Belcher's ribs.
A combination from Belcher does no damage.
Belcher is looking to clinch but Hawkwoods is avoiding it.
Belcher closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hawkwoods fails to land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Hawkwoods or perhaps it was just good defense by Belcher which made him look bad.
Hawkwoods showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Belcher.
Belcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hawkwoods counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belcher won't be happy with that.
Belcher on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Belcher tries to get out of the position.
Hawkwoods prevents Belcher from escaping the position.
Belcher trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Belcher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hawkwoods on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hawkwoods wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belcher keeps working.
Belcher avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hawkwoods.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkwoods wants to control but Belcher is keeping him busy.

Hawkwoods wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Belcher, who protects the arm well.
Belcher wants to get back to his feet but Hawkwoods drags him back down.
Hawkwoods trying to control the action but Belcher is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Belcher wants to get back to his feet.

Hawkwoods is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belcher is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Belcher is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hawkwoods is controlling him well.

Hawkwoods tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hawkwoods has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawkwoods is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Belcher has escaped the position, nice work there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Belcher scores with a three punch combo!
Belcher with a poor takedown

so Hawkwoods counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hawkwoods trying to control the position from guard on top but Belcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hawkwoods 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.
Hawkwoods throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Belcher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkwoods wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hawkwoods throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Belcher wants to stand and escape but Hawkwoods is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Belcher clinches.
Hawkwoods drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
Belcher misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hawkwoods comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hawkwoods has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hawkwoods!