PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Hawk (ranked 303 p4p, 47 weight class) and Lauri Pekkarinen (ranked 1232 p4p, 174 weight class). Hawk kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deadwood. Lauri Pekkarinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hawk
vs
Pekkarinen

167 cm
40
191 lbs
38 - 19 - 1

188 cm
36
193 lbs
24 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 19 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Hawk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lauri Pekkarinen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pekkarinen.
Hawk throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hawk throws a hook but Pekkarinen blocks it.
Pekkarinen raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Pekkarinen blocks a jab.
Pekkarinen unleashes a big counter combination but Hawk bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Pekkarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pekkarinen lands with an uppercut that bounces Hawk off the ropes and back into range.
Nice defenses there by Hawk.
Hawk swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Pekkarinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawk.
Pekkarinen throws a right hand that Hawk ducks under and follows up with a left that Hawk also avoids with ease.
Hawk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Pekkarinen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hawk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pekkarinen is one step ahead there.
Pekkarinen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pekkarinen stands up over Hawk, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pekkarinen pushes down on Hawk's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk is trying to get back to full guard.
Hawk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hawk utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hawk has momentary wrist control but Pekkarinen slips an elbow through the middle.
Pekkarinen wants to control from the top but Hawk keeps moving.
Hawk is trying to keep Pekkarinen in close.
Hawk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pekkarinen working a defensive guard here.
Pekkarinen keeping full guard, as Hawk tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pekkarinen's head.

It looks like Lauri Pekkarinen has been cut.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Pekkarinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pekkarinen is keeping the position for now.
Pekkarinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hawk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hawk pushes down on Pekkarinen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hawk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pekkarinen defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pekkarinen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lauri Pekkarinen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hawk missing with a left hand there. Pekkarinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hawk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pekkarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab lands there for Pekkarinen.
Hawk shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pekkarinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pekkarinen takes a swing at Hawk's ribcage but misses.
Hawk keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pekkarinen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawk's hands.
Pekkarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pekkarinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawk takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Pekkarinen has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Hawk misses with an uppercut
and Pekkarinen counters with a nice body shot.
Hawk looks to land a body kick but Pekkarinen moved away.
Hawk is looking to clinch.
Pekkarinen looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Pekkarinen slips under a jab.
Pekkarinen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hawk looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Pekkarinen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Pekkarinen does it's job there.
Pekkarinen checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkarinen shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawk tries to sprawl out of it but Pekkarinen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Hawk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hawk turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pekkarinen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hawk throws a big shot that misses.
Hawk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pekkarinen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pekkarinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pekkarinen throws a series of punches but Hawk avoids them all with ease.
Lauri Pekkarinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawk connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pekkarinen. Pekkarinen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pekkarinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pekkarinen goes for a double leg but Hawk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Hawk continues to drive forward.
Hawk bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pekkarinen's head backwards.
Pekkarinen misses with a combination
and Hawk counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Hawk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawk misses with a two punch combination.
Hawk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pekkarinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pekkarinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hawk looks to throw the jab but Pekkarinen is out of range.
Hawk misses with an uppercut.
Pekkarinen tries to clinch but Hawk is having none of it.
Hawk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pekkarinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pekkarinen throws a sloppy head kick and Hawk moves out of range easily.
Pekkarinen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Donk. Hawk catches Pekkarinen right on the button with a cross.
Pekkarinen dives in for a single leg takedown but Hawk sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Thomas Hawk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Pekkarinen.
Hawk moves in looking to clinch but Pekkarinen pushes him off.

Pekkarinen shoots in and gets a takedown into Hawk's guard.

Hawk has his feet on Pekkarinen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pekkarinen throws a lazy right hand but Hawk sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
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 Thomas Hawk will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lauri Pekkarinen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A big left from Pekkarinen misses.
Hawk changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hawk misses with an attempted mid kick.
Pekkarinen misses with a body shot.
It looked like Hawk wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hawk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pekkarinen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Pekkarinen lands a glancing blow to the side of Hawk's head.
A jab from Pekkarinen finds it's way through Hawk's defenses.
Hawk lands a nice hook to Pekkarinen's body. Pekkarinen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pekkarinen throws a leg kick that misses.
Hawk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hawk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pekkarinen moves away.
Good standup being displayed there by Pekkarinen as he connects with a hook.
Pekkarinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hawk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Pekkarinen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pekkarinen tries to throw a body punch but Hawk avoids it by throwing Pekkarinen back against the ropes.

Pekkarinen wants the takedown. Hawk is fighting it off but Pekkarinen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hawk's guard against the ropes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pekkarinen wants to control from the top but Hawk keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkarinen stopping the sweep attempt from Hawk.
Hawk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hawk wants to sweep but no luck.
Hawk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pekkarinen's guard.

Thomas Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawk stopping the sweep attempt from Pekkarinen.
Hawk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pekkarinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pekkarinen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Pekkarinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk won't allow Pekkarinen to sweep him here.
Hawk looking to pass the guard.
Hawk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hawk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pekkarinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pekkarinen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hawk manages to get himself to full guard.

Pekkarinen won't allow Hawk to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pekkarinen really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lauri Pekkarinen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hawk swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pekkarinen lands with a hook. Hawk tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pekkarinen misses with a series of wild punches.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pekkarinen.
An inside leg kick from Hawk misses.
Hawk throws a hook but Pekkarinen blocks it.
Pekkarinen slips a jab from Hawk.
Pekkarinen throws a looping overhand right but Hawk ducks down to avoid it.
Hawk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pekkarinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sloppy strikes from Hawk. Those never looked like landing.
Pekkarinen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pekkarinen cracks Hawk with an open hand slap.
Pekkarinen dips to his left and cracks Hawk with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk walks into a straight right hand from Pekkarinen.

Pekkarinen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pekkarinen showed some decent athleticism there.
Hawk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pekkarinen won't allow Hawk to sweep him here.
Hawk can't keep his opponent in guard - Pekkarinen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hawk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hawk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pekkarinen throwing strikes from guard but Hawk blocks nicely.
Pekkarinen stopping the sweep attempt from Hawk.
Hawk is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pekkarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawk controls Pekkarinen momentarily but Pekkarinen frees himself.
Hawk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hawk keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pekkarinen's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pekkarinen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hawk's guard.

The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pekkarinen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Hawk working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pekkarinen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pekkarinen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hawk keeping full guard, as Pekkarinen tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Pekkarinen dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Lauri Pekkarinen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Hawk misses.
Pekkarinen tries a quick counter leg kick but Hawk is wise to it.
Jab from Pekkarinen.
A shot to the liver by Pekkarinen. Beautiful body shot.
Hawk takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hawk throws a shot from downtown. Pekkarinen moves away and avoids it.
Pekkarinen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hawk lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Pekkarinen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Pekkarinen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Pekkarinen connects with a jab.
Hawk takes a swing at Pekkarinen's ribcage but misses.
Hawk shoots in for a double leg but Pekkarinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hawk misses with a straight right.
Pekkarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawk drops his hands momentarily and Pekkarinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pekkarinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hawk.
Pekkarinen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hawk to score with a decent uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pekkarinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hawk slips a jab and a cross from Pekkarinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawk. Pekkarinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawk avoids the body shot from Pekkarinen.
Hawk was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd cheers as Pekkarinen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hawk doesn't seem phased though.
A clash of legs there as Hawk blocks the low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Hawk misses the target.
Pekkarinen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hawk.
Hawk throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hawk throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A right-left combo lands from Pekkarinen.
Hawk misses with a hook. Pekkarinen ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Hawk.
Hawk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hawk shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pekkarinen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hawk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pekkarinen is fending him off so far but Hawk persists. Nope, Pekkarinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Hawk swings for the body but Pekkarinen moves out of range.
Pekkarinen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thomas Hawk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawk gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pekkarinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hawk looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hawk throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pekkarinen throws a series of punches but Hawk avoids them all with ease.
Hawk just misses with a punch to the body.
Pekkarinen tests Hawk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lauri Pekkarinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hawk throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pekkarinen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
That kick from Pekkarinen tenderised Hawk's leg. Hawk is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pekkarinen throws a good cross that connects.
A shot to the liver by Pekkarinen. Beautiful body shot.
Pekkarinen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pekkarinen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A big right from Hawk misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawk tries to bum rush Pekkarinen with a series of wild strikes but Pekkarinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pekkarinen feints and then cracks Hawk's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hawk down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauri Pekkarinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pekkarinen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Lauri Pekkarinen!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Lauri Pekkarinen!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Lauri Pekkarinen!

Lauri Pekkarinen wins by unanimous decision!
Lauri Pekkarinen is the new middleweight champion!
A relieved looking Lauri Pekkarinen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.