PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Muro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawkins has chosen The Second Coming as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Muro
vs
Hawkins

175 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Valhalla Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ryan Muro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins tries to clinch but Muro moves away
and Muro makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hawkins really felt that one!
Hawkins looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Muro shoots in but Hawkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Muro moves into the clinch.

Muro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Muro shoots for a double leg takedown but Hawkins sprawls well. He's pushed Muro's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Muro shoots in for a takedown but Hawkins shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Muro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muro closes the distance and clinches up with Hawkins, looking for a takedown. Muro pushes Hawkins against the cage but Hawkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Muro leaves Hawkins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Muro has a takedown stuffed.
Muro looks for a takedown but Hawkins sprawls well.
Steve Hawkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Muro keeps Hawkins at a distance using the push kick.
Muro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawkins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Muro somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins stuffs the takedown attempt from Muro. Muro gets slowly back to his feet.
Muro dives in and grabs Hawkins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hawkins pushes down on Muro's head and hops out.
Muro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Muro tries a head kick but it misses.

Hawkins manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Muro on his heels. He'll look to pass Muro's guard now, I'm sure.
Muro is trying to control the position but Hawkins postures up.
Hawkins throwing strikes from guard but Muro blocks nicely.
Muro is trying to control the position but Hawkins postures up.
Hawkins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins throws a big elbow that misses.
Muro has momentary wrist control but Hawkins slips an elbow through the middle.

Muro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Muro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hawkins defends well.
Hawkins prevents Muro from getting back to his feet.

Muro pushes Hawkins off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hawkins moves in looking to clinch but Muro pushes him off.
Muro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawkins circles away.
Hawkins stalks Muro and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Muro's face. Muro staggers backwards, shaken.
Muro dives in for a single leg takedown but Hawkins sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Muro breaks from the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hawkins.
Hawkins working the ground and pound from side control.
Muro is looking to regain half guard here but Hawkins keeps moving and retains side control.
Hawkins throws an elbow but Muro slips to the side and avoids it well.
Muro tries to escape but Hawkins is in control.
Muro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Muro is looking to regain half guard here but Hawkins keeps moving and retains side control.
Muro struggling a bit here.
Muro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hawkins connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muro sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Muro could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hawkins misses with a head shot. Muro uses the momentum to regain guard.
Muro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hawkins throws a strike but Muro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Muro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Muro wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ryan Muro will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Muro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hawkins but Hawkins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Muro dives in and grabs Hawkins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hawkins pushes down on Muro's head and hops out.
Hawkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Muro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hawkins swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Muro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muro closes the distance and clinches up with Hawkins, looking for a takedown. Muro pushes Hawkins against the cage but Hawkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Muro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hawkins avoids it really well and circles away.
Hawkins goes for a double leg but Muro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Muro continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Muro closes the distance and clinches.
Muro is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muro tries to pull guard but Hawkins won't allow it.
Muro taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Muro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hawkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Muro tries to pull guard but Hawkins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hawkins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Muro pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Muro as Hawkins tries to tie him up.

Muro gets control of Hawkins's arms and successfully pulls guard. Muro will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hawkins stopping the sweep attempt from Muro.
Muro is looking to stand up but Hawkins isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Muro has wrist control.
Hawkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Muro is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hawkins scoring with punches to the head and body.
Muro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Muro is on top in guard.
Hawkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins landing punches.
Muro tries to hold on but Hawkins pushes him away.
Hawkins raining down shots from the mount!
Hawkins throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hawkins unloads with some shots from mount but Muro bucks and avoids them well.
Muro keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hawkins in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins with shots to the head and body - Muro looks very uncomfortable down there.
Muro wants to control but Hawkins is having none of it.
Muro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Hawkins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawkins keeping moving, preventing Muro from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Muro will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Muro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hawkins pinned against the cage. Hawkins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Muro fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Muro has managed to clinch.
Muro has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawkins avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Muro drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hawkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Muro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawkins tries to break the clinch but Muro is controlling the position.
Muro slowing the pace effectively.
Muro fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Muro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Muro sprawls well. Muro wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hawkins gets slowly back to his feet.
Muro shoots for a double leg takedown but Hawkins sprawls well. He's pushed Muro's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Hawkins moves into the clinch.
Muro dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hawkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muro has him pressed against the cage.
Muro prevents a takedown attempt there.

Muro pulls guard effortlessly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hawkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hawkins works over Muro with some ground and pound from guard.

Muro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hawkins is aware though and is defending well.
Muro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Steve Hawkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hawkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Muro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Muro is looking for a triangle but Hawkins pushes his legs off easily.

Hawkins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Muro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hawkins has managed to get both his arms back between Muro's legs - danger averted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Hawkins lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hawkins preventing the sweep.
Muro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hawkins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hawkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hawkins throwing strikes but missing.
Muro is looking to stand up but Hawkins isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hawkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Muro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Muro wants to sweep here but Hawkins controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Muro is on top in guard.

Hawkins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Muro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ryan Muro.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Muro, 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ryan Muro!
Steve Hawkins was interviewed post fight and said 'I have nothing to say to you stupid people the referee doesn't know what he is doing but me and my manager Don King will makes sure this doesn't go unpunished!'.