PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chesney Hawkes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Plenty Raines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hawkes
vs
Raines

190 cm
23
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Experienced

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chesney Hawkes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Plenty Raines!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hawkes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Raines throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hawkes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Raines sprawls well. Raines wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hawkes gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chesney Hawkes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Hawkes with that takedown attempt.

Raines closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hawkes did well to prevent Raines getting side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hawkes taking some punishment here, with Raines in his half guard.

Raines is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hawkes sees it coming and defends easily.
Hawkes tries to get to full guard but Raines has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Raines in particular looking to stall.
Hawkes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Raines is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raines is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Raines stands up out of the half guard.

Raines gets a clinch.
Raines prevents the takedown attempt.
Hawkes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Raines after a bit of a struggle.

Raines escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raines steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hawkes.

Raines throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hawkes was covering up waiting for the punch and Raines finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hawkes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raines is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Raines working some strikes from top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raines throwing strikes but missing.
Raines trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raines wants to pass the guard but Hawkes is keeping the position.
Raines stands up over Hawkes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raines looking to sit in guard and control but Hawkes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Raines wants to sweep here but Hawkes controlling him for the moment.
Raines wants to get back to his feet but Hawkes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Raines trying to keep a closed guard but Hawkes is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkes trying to control but Raines is working from the bottom.
Hawkes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Raines is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Raines wants to sweep here but Hawkes controlling him for the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Raines can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hawkes wants to control from the top but Raines keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Chesney Hawkes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Horrible takedown by Hawkes or perhaps it was just good defense by Raines which made him look bad.
Raines uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hawkes.
Hawkes throws a lazy head kick
and Raines counters with a head kick. That will keep Hawkes thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hawkes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Raines avoids it really well and circles away.
Raines throws a head kick that Hawkes semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkes with a poor takedown
and Raines counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hawkes is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Raines throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hawkes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Raines is in Hawkes's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raines is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Raines landing some decent shots from guard.

Raines got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hawkes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Raines has managed to get both his arms back between Hawkes's legs - danger averted.
Hawkes is breathing heavily.
Hawkes wants to improve his position but instead Raines has moved into half guard.
Raines scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Raines is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hawkes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raines.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raines lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Plenty Raines 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.

Raines drives through and clinches with Hawkes against the cage.

Raines wants the takedown. Hawkes is fighting it off but Raines persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hawkes's guard against the cage.
Raines keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hawkes's head.
Hawkes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Plenty Raines has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raines postures up and lands a big shot to Hawkes's brow.
Hawkes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Raines working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hawkes's head.
Raines trying to control but Hawkes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raines seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Raines working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hawkes's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raines working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Raines advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawkes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Raines pulls his head out easily.
Raines is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hawkes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Raines scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hawkes gets back to full guard.
Raines tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkes is retaining full guard.
Hawkes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Raines sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Hawkes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Raines throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hawkes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raines trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raines postures up in Hawkes's guard and throws a big left but Hawkes blocks it.
Raines trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawkes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Raines must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hawkes working a defensive guard here.
Raines wants to pass the guard but Hawkes is keeping the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hawkes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Raines has passed into side control.
Raines lands a few punches from side control.

Raines stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raines scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Raines content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Raines is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hawkes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raines.
Raines landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hawkes missing with punches from the bottom.
Hawkes wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raines is looking for a kimura here.

Raines looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Raines moves nicely into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawkes takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Raines wants to control but Hawkes is keeping him busy.
Hawkes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hawkes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hawkes is defended easily by Raines.
Hawkes throws a right hand that Raines ducks under and follows up with a left that Raines also avoids with ease.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Raines.
Hawkes misses with a hook.

Raines has managed to clinch.

Raines lands a takedown into guard.
Raines with a nice head shot there.
Raines wants to control from the top but Hawkes keeps moving.
Raines throwing strikes but missing.

Hawkes working for a triangle but Raines defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raines slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raines is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Raines is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hawkes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Raines scores with a couple of nice shots.
Raines tries to pass to full mount but Hawkes defends it.

Raines escapes and gets back to his feet.

Raines moves into range and clinches up with Hawkes.
Hawkes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Raines gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chesney Hawkes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawkes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Raines distracts Hawkes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Raines connects with a couple of short punches.
Raines stopping the sweep attempt from Hawkes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hawkes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raines defends it easily.
Raines works over Hawkes with some ground and pound from guard.
Raines landing some decent shots from guard.
Hawkes trying to strike off his back.
Raines lands a couple of digs.
Hawkes has momentary wrist control but Raines slips an elbow through the middle.

Hawkes is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raines scoring with punches to the head and body.
Oh Hawkes is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Raines trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawkes trying to strike off his back.
Raines advances position into side control!
Hawkes seems to have got his legs back now.
Raines has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawkes is trying to improve his position.
The referee asks Raines politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Raines prefers to stall for the moment though.
Raines cracks Hawkes with a big right hand but Hawkes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hawkes struggling a bit here.
Hawkes takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hawkes is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raines working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Raines controls the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Check out the look on Raines's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Plenty Raines is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Raines controls the position.
Hawkes is working to avoid the ground and pound but Raines connects with a decent elbow.
A lull in the action here.

Raines working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Chesney Hawkes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawkes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raines prevents Hawkes from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Plenty Raines comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raines has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Plenty Raines!
Plenty Raines decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.