PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gray Hawkes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howarth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawkes's entrance music is Not Gonna Die. A fine choice. James Howarth told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hawkes
vs
Howarth

200 cm
27
235 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gray Hawkes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Howarth!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkes wants to clinch.
Howarth fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Howarth scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Howarth swinging wildly here.
Hawkes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Howarth in his tracks.
Hawkes tries to clinch but Howarth is having none of it.
Hawkes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Howarth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Howarth blocks the leg kick.
Hawkes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Hawkes clinches.
Howarth working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawkes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Howarth changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Howarth lands a nice looking body shot.
Hawkes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hawkes tries to clinch but Howarth moves out of range.
Hawkes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howarth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hawkes scores with a jab to the head.
Hawkes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hawkes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
James Howarth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howarth feints a jab promting Hawkes to slip. Howarth then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hawkes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawkes shoots for a double leg takedown but Howarth sprawls well. He's pushed Hawkes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hawkes is breathing heavily.
Hawkes walks into a left hand.
Hawkes ducks right into an uppercut from Howarth.
Howarth fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Hawkes to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Hawkes looks to clinch but Howarth throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Hawkes taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). James Howarth!
Gray Hawkes spoke after the fight, saying 'Should have trained better.'.