PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sako Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hawk
vs
Li

170 cm
20
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sako Li!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li misses with a takedown

and Hawk counters with a left hand that sends Li to the canvas!

Li is rocked!

It looks like Sako Li has been cut.

Hawk drops back, looking for a kneebar! Li looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Li looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Li!

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hawk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hawk tries to improve position but can't.
Hawk wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawk 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but Hawk is defending well.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hawk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Li looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hawk knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.
Hawk is looking for a sweep.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but Hawk is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but Hawk is defending well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hawk is trying to buck Li off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Li looks gassed!
Hawk is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Li has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hawk is looking to reverse the position.

Li is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hawk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hawk throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Hawk tries to clinch up but Li circles away and keeps his distance.
Hawk looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li fails with the takedown

and Hawk counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Li is still in real trouble! Can Hawk finish him?
Hawk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Li seems to have recovered his senses.
Hawk is stalling in the full guard.
Hawk throwing strikes from guard but Li blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Hawk wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Hawk closes the distance and pushes Li back into the cage.

Hawk lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hawk scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Hawk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sako Li's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li with a lazy takedown attempt

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

Hawk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawk misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from Hawk.
Hawk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Hawk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Li is breathing heavily.
Hawk looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Li preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Li should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hawk throws and elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hawk's guard. Nice move by Li!

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Li 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.
Li prevents Hawk from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Hawk thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Li slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hawk struggling a bit here.

Li tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Li thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk tries to improve position but can't.
Mike Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but Hawk is defending well.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hawk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Li wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hawk, who protects the arm well.

Hawk bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Li misses with a takedown attempt

and Hawk counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mike Hawk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sako Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawk has picked Li up - he's going for a ride! Hawk dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hawk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hawk wants to pass the guard but Li is defending well.
Hawk is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hawk controlling the action here.
Hawk passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Li!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Hawk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sako Li's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawk throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Li misses with a takedown

and Hawk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hawk.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hawk gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hawk wants to control but Li is keeping him busy.
Hawk working Li over with strikes.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Li keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.
Hawk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hawk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Li is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hawk, into his guard.

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two 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.
Li stops Hawk from standing up.

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

Li drops back looking for a leg! Hawk is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hawk manages to kick Li off! Li jumps back into Hawk's guard.

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Li 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.

Hawk working for a triangle but Li defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk keeping full guard, as Li tries to pass.

Hawk looking for a guillotine here but Li defends easily.
Li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hawk is keeping the position for now.

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Li 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hawk throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Li 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.

Li got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hawk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Li has managed to get both his arms back between Hawk's legs - danger averted.

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hawk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sako Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Hawk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hawk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Li.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Hawk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hawk has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

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