PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawk comes to the cage accompanied by Last ride of the Day: . Thomas Hawk could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eric Skinner's chin.

Hawk
vs
Skinner

167 cm
22
177 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

179 cm
23
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomas Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Skinner!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawk avoids the body shot from Skinner.
Skinner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawk.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It seemed like Skinner was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hawk looks to land a body kick but Skinner moved away.
Hawk uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Skinner.
Hawk connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Skinner scores with a nice right hand.
Skinner throws a right hand that Hawk ducks under and follows up with a left that Hawk also avoids with ease.
Skinner misses the shot to the body.
Hawk tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Skinner manages to circle out of the way.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skinner but Skinner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner misses with an uppercut. Hawk saw that one coming.
Hawk feinted with a counter takedown.
Hawk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skinner manages to avoid it.
Skinner scores with a hook to the body. Hawk takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hawk lands the left hand.
Skinner misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawk fails with the takedown
and Skinner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hawk.
Hawk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice cross by Hawk.
A telegraphed right hand from Skinner misses the target.
Hawk ducks under a wild hook from Skinner.
Skinner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawk looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hawk takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hawk looks for the body kick but Skinner saw that one coming.
Hawk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Skinner.
Hawk lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Skinner misses with a hook.

Skinner tries to sprawl but Hawk drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skinner wants to get back to his feet.

Skinner manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Hawk keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is looking for a takedown.
Skinner tries a body shot but Hawk blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Skinner.
Skinner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hawk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Skinner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Skinner stops a takedown attempt from Hawk.
Skinner misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Skinner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Skinner pushes Hawk back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Skinner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hawk lands a nice uppercut.
Skinner wants to break free but Hawk has control.
Skinner throws a head punch that misses.
Hawk misses with a punch to the body.
Skinner tries to break free but Hawk pushes him back against the cage.
Skinner scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk wants to take the fight to the mat but Skinner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hawk.
Skinner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hawk is working for takedown but Skinner is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hawk wants to take the fight to the mat but Skinner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Skinner swings wildly with an uppercut but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Skinner throws a head punch that misses.
Skinner lands a body shot.
Skinner lands a left hand.

Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eric Skinner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Skinner's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Skinner duly obliges.
Skinner throws a shot to the body.
Skinner leaves Hawk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Eric Skinner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skinner tries to move into range but Hawk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk throws a hook but Skinner avoids it easily.
Hawk walks into a straight right hand from Skinner.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Skinner stuffs the takedown attempt from Hawk. Hawk gets slowly back to his feet.
Skinner swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawk.
Hawk shoots and misses
enabling Skinner to counter with a crisp jab.
Skinner lands with a cross.

Hawk is rocked!
Nice straight punches there by Skinner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Skinner.
Oh Hawk is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Skinner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hawk dodges the punch combination from Skinner.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skinner slaps away a takedown attempt from Hawk, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Skinner dominated that round.
That's time! Hawk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Skinner cracks Hawk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hawk seems to have got his legs back now.
Hawk shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Skinner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Skinner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Skinner lands with a nice body punch.
Skinner connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hawk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
Hawk takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Skinner gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hawk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hawk wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Skinner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Skinner throws a hook to the side of Hawk's head but Hawk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Eric Skinner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Skinner misses with the combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skinner rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Hawk counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner lands a shoulder strike.
Skinner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Skinner misses with a punch to the body.
Hawk misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Skinner.
Skinner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Skinner on the inside.
Skinner has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Hawk seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Skinner can turn it around.

Skinner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hawk doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Skinner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Skinner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Hawk drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The strikes coming from Hawk are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Skinner is not content to let Hawk control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawk scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is working Skinner over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hawk working the ground and pound from side control.
Skinner is trying to control Hawk's posture but Hawk avoids it.
Skinner sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Skinner makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Skinner throws out a loose jab but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Skinner throws a shot from downtown. Hawk moves away and avoids it.
Hawk tries to land a front kick but Skinner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Skinner looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Hawk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hawk trying to pass the guard but Skinner defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is trying to stand up here but Hawk is controlling him well.
Thomas Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawk wants to take a breather but Skinner is having none of it.
Hawk passes into side control, despite Skinner's attempt to control the position.
Hawk wants to control but Skinner is keeping him busy.
Skinner sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Skinner is looking to escape.
Hawk is keen to just control but Skinner is a slippery customer.
Hawk lands with a punch from half guard.
Skinner moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk postures up.
Skinner keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.
Skinner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hawk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Skinner will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skinner has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hawk off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hawk swings for the body but Skinner moves out of range.
Hawk misses with a two punch combination.

Oooooh!!! Skinner has knocked Hawk down with a huge combo! Skinner steps away and waves a wobbly Hawk back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Thomas Hawk has been cut.
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!
Skinner throws a right hand that misses

and Hawk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Skinner is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Skinner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thomas Hawk's cut.
That's time! Hawk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Skinner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Skinner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hawk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hawk tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Skinner manages to circle out of the way.
Skinner misses with a jab, cross combination.
As Skinner tries to get set, Hawk tries to push him back and clinch up but Skinner manages to avoid the attempt.
Skinner sizes up Hawk with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown but Skinner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hawk throws a hook but Skinner blocks it.
Hawk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skinner defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk moves away from the strike by Skinner.
Hawk lands a glancing blow to the side of Skinner's head.
Skinner loads up on a big right hand but Hawk slips the punch.
Skinner misses the jab.
Skinner misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skinner swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skinner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Skinner drops Hawk with a beautiful combination! Hawk stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Skinner is looking for the KO!
Skinner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hawk swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Skinner thuds his right hand into Hawk's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Skinner looks to land a left hand but Hawk moved out of range nicely.
Skinner blocks a head kick by Hawk.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skinner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hawk tries to clinch
letting Skinner counter with a right hand.
Hawk tries to clinch up
and Skinner scores with a counter punch that sends Hawk to the canvas! Skinner smells blood - he's punishing Hawk with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Hawk has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eric Skinner!