PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carmine Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tank Abrahms (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawkins comes into the arena with Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hawkins
vs
Abrahms

182 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
175 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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Machina Clothing and Apparel - Basics $15 a piece

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carmine Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tank Abrahms!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins scores with the left hand. Abrahms knows he should have avoided that one.
Hawkins is looking to clinch but Abrahms is avoiding it.
Jab by Hawkins.
Abrahms moves in looking to clinch but Hawkins pushes him off.
Hawkins tries to clinch

and Abrahms counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Abrahms looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hawkins connects with a knee to the head.
Abrahms fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hawkins lands a nice knee to the body.
A shot in the inside from Hawkins.
Hawkins trying to land knees to the body.
Hawkins has a couple of punches blocked by Abrahms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Abrahms.

Abrahms successfully pulls guard.
Hawkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Abrahms swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hawkins prevents Abrahms from getting back to his feet.
Hawkins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawkins controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins wants to control from the top but Abrahms keeps moving.
Hawkins stops Abrahms from standing up.
Hawkins stays in close to Abrahms's body and controls the position.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hawkins misses with a series of wild punches.
Abrahms avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Abrahms misses with a body kick.
Hawkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Abrahms.

Abrahms drives through and clinches with Hawkins against the cage.
Abrahms blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hawkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hawkins tries to throw a body punch but Abrahms avoids it by throwing Hawkins back against the cage.
Hawkins is trying to stall.
Abrahms is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Abrahms throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abrahms tries to land a knee to the head but Hawkins blocks with his arms.
Hawkins works on Abrahms's body with a couple of short punches.

Hawkins breaks from the clinch.

Hawkins has Abrahms up against the cage in a clinch.
Hawkins working Abrahms over with knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Hawkins.
Hawkins works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hawkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Hawkins.
Hawkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Abrahms tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hawkins avoids it.
Abrahms lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Abrahms lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hawkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Abrahms has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawkins avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hawkins scores with a hook to the body.
Abrahms looks gassed!
Hawkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hawkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Abrahms.
Abrahms tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Carmine Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tank Abrahms.
Hawkins lands with a light punch inside.
Nice body punch from Hawkins.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abrahms is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hawkins is keeping busy.
A short body shot lands from Hawkins as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hawkins landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A lazy left from Hawkins finds it's target.
Abrahms gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Abrahms uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawkins.
Abrahms takes one to the chin there.
Hawkins clinches but Abrahms breaks the clinch
enabling Abrahms to counter with a crisp jab.
Hawkins sizes up Abrahms with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hawkins scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Abrahms slips a jab and a cross from Hawkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmine Hawkins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Abrahms shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Abrahms has managed to clinch.
Hawkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Abrahms backwards.
Hawkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Abrahms controls his hands.
A body shot lands from Hawkins.
Hawkins misses with the head strike.
Abrahms is looking to control Hawkins's arms but Hawkins gets an underhook and turns him. Now Abrahms has his back to the cage.
Hawkins unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Abrahms is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hawkins crunches a lovely knee into Abrahms's ribcage.
Hawkins digs a right hand underneath Abrahms's ribcage. Abrahms let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hawkins lands a left hand.
Carmine Hawkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hawkins.
Hawkins lands a body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hawkins'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.
Abrahms is breathing heavily.
Hawkins stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hawkins taking a breather.
Hawkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Abrahms backwards.
Abrahms drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hawkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nice body punch from Hawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hawkins lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Hawkins on the inside.
Hawkins scores with a knee to the head.
Hawkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Abrahms blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawkins is leaning against Abrahms and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hawkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Abrahms backwards.
Hawkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hawkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hawkins with a knee to the head.
Abrahms throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hawkins lands a nice shot to the body.
Hawkins lands a right hand.
Hawkins scores with a hook to the body.
Still in the clinch, Hawkins scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hawkins.
Abrahms lands an elbow that stopped Hawkins in his tracks for a moment.
Abrahms with a knee to the head.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Abrahms blocks it.
Hawkins tries to stall but Abrahms uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hawkins.
Abrahms slowing the pace effectively.
Abrahms misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abrahms tries a knee to the head but Hawkins blocks it.
Abrahms prevents a body shot from Hawkins.
Hawkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hawkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Abrahms misses with a knee to the head.
Abrahms tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Carmine Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tank Abrahms.
Hawkins missing with knees to the body.
Hawkins misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hawkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hawkins avoiding damage as Abrahms throws knees to the body.
Abrahms misses with a knee strike.
Abrahms avoiding damage as Hawkins throws knees to the body.
Abrahms stalling.

Abrahms gets control of Hawkins's arms and successfully pulls guard. Abrahms will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hawkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Abrahms is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawkins stops Abrahms from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Abrahms can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abrahms keeping moving, preventing Hawkins from controlling successfully.

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

Hawkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.
Hawkins content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hawkins trying to stall but Abrahms improves his position.
Abrahms lands an elbow just above Hawkins 's eye.
Abrahms leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hawkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Abrahms looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Abrahms dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nice body punch from Hawkins - that landed with a thud.
Abrahms manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Abrahms lands a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Abrahms - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Abrahms tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawkins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hawkins tries to circle away but Abrahms has him pinned against the cage.

Abrahms's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abrahms shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmine Hawkins dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Hawkins.
Hawkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abrahms.
Abrahms closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawkins circles away.
Hawkins throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Abrahms stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hawkins is looking to clinch.

Hawkins has managed to clinch.
Abrahms throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hawkins blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawkins is pressed up against the cage. Abrahms has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hawkins down to the mat. Hawkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hawkins avoids the head kick by Abrahms.
Nice cross by Hawkins.
Abrahms takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Abrahms swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abrahms walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hawkins is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hawkins wants to clinch.
Hawkins looks to land a right hand but Abrahms moved out of range.
Tank Abrahms is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carmine Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tank Abrahms.
Hawkins scores with a nice strike.
Hawkins connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Abrahms avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawkins looks to clinch
and Abrahms counters with a nice leg kick.
Carmine Hawkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hawkins leaves Abrahms with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Abrahms fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abrahms is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Abrahms shoots in for a double leg but Hawkins sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hawkins lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hawkins throws a jab when Abrahms was well out of range.
Abrahms shoots for a takedown but Hawkins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Abrahms shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hawkins pinned against the cage. Hawkins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hawkins lands with a hook. Abrahms tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hawkins cracks Abrahms with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins jabs Abrahms right on the nose. Abrahms blinks but takes it well.
Abrahms takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hawkins throws a sloppy body shot

and Abrahms counters by clinching up.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hawkins lands a knee to the head.
Abrahms avoiding damage as Hawkins throws knees to the body.
Hawkins trying to land knees to the body.

Abrahms breaks from the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Abrahms or perhaps it was just good defense by Hawkins which made him look bad.
Hawkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawkins punishes Abrahms's body with a nice straight punch.
Abrahms shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawkins tries to sprawl out of it but Abrahms keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hawkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Abrahms ducks right into an uppercut from Hawkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Abrahms tries for a takedown but Hawkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Abrahms takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hawkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hawkins darts in trying to clinch

and Abrahms counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Abrahms wants to break free but Hawkins has control.
Abrahms throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hawkins blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawkins lands an uppercut.
Hawkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tank Abrahms has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawkins lands a nice shot to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hawkins obliges.
A nice left hand lands by Hawkins.
Abrahms misses with an elbow over the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carmine Hawkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hawkins, 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carmine Hawkins!