PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dalton Hawley (ranked 4439 p4p, 24860 weight class) and Arsalan Mahdi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawley's entrance music is Tyler Herro. A fine choice. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hawley
vs
Mahdi

210 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
215
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 New York, Dalton Hawley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arsalan Mahdi!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hawley working hard to break the clinch.
Hawley gets underhooks to prevent Mahdi's takedown attempt.
Mahdi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hawley pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mahdi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dalton Hawley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arsalan Mahdi.

Mahdi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mahdi clinches with his opponent.
Hawley is working for takedown but Mahdi is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawley is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Mahdi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hawley drives through and clinches with Mahdi against the cage.
Mahdi prevents Hawley from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahdi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hawley.
Mahdi wants to break free but Hawley has control.
Hawley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hawley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mahdi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mahdi shoots in and drives through. Hawley sprawls well.
Hawley throws a series of punches but Mahdi avoids them all with ease.

Mahdi has managed to clinch.
Hawley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mahdi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mahdi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hawley.
Hawley looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahdi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hawley is pressed up against the cage. Mahdi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hawley down to the mat. Hawley avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mahdi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mahdi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hawley is looking for a counter combo.
Hawley tries to clinch but Mahdi moves out of range.
Hawley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mahdi counters with a nice body kick.
Hawley moves in looking to clinch but Mahdi pushes him off.

Hawley gets tackled into the cage by Mahdi. Mahdi maintains the clinch.
Mahdi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hawley is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mahdi tries to score a body lock takedown but Hawley shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mahdi wants to take the fight to the mat but Hawley manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahdi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hawley smiles and moves away.
Hawley tries to clinch but Mahdi moves out of range.
Mahdi unleashes a big counter combination but Hawley bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hawley stuffs the takedown attempt from Mahdi. Mahdi gets slowly back to his feet.
Hawley throws a series of punches but Mahdi avoids them all with ease.

Mahdi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hawley prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee calls for Mahdi to work.
Mahdi just leaning against Hawley, taking a breather.
Mahdi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mahdi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mahdi throws a sloppy head kick and Hawley moves out of range easily.
A combination from Hawley does no damage.
Mahdi closes the distance but Hawley moves to the side
and Hawley counters with a series of strikes. Mahdi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mahdi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mahdi blocks a head kick by Hawley.
Nice takedown defense from Hawley. No joy for Mahdi on that attempt.
Hawley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mahdi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hawley tries to clinch but Mahdi is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mahdi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mahdi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hawley but Hawley pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Mahdi looks to move away, Hawley throws a big counter combo but Mahdi just gets out of the way.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arsalan Mahdi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mahdi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mahdi clinches with his opponent.

Mahdi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hawley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hawley fails with a takedown attempt.

Hawley closes the distance and pushes Mahdi back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahdi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hawley up against the cage.
Arsalan Mahdi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mahdi tries to throw a body punch but Hawley avoids it by throwing Mahdi back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mahdi manages to break the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hawley, as that shot connected.
Hawley is looking to clinch but Mahdi is avoiding it.

Hawley has closed the distance and engaged Mahdi in a clinch.

Mahdi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawley is looking to clinch.
Hawley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mahdi circles away quickly and effectively.
Mahdi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mahdi shoots in and drives through. Hawley sprawls well.

Mahdi clinches up against the cage.
Mahdi jumps guard but Hawley turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Mahdi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawley tries to clinch but Mahdi moves out of range.
Mahdi feints the counter takedown.

Mahdi has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahdi working hard to break the clinch.
Mahdi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawley just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dalton Hawley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arsalan Mahdi.
Mahdi stalling in the clinch.
Mahdi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hawley's efforts to push away.

Hawley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mahdi fails to land the takedown.
Mahdi digs a good body shot into Hawley's ribs.
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!
Hawley stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hawley wants it to stay on the feet.
Mahdi wants to clinch up but Hawley keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawley misses with a double jab.
Hawley tries a head kick but it misses.
Dalton Hawley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawley throws a sloppy head kick and Mahdi moves out of range easily.
Mahdi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hawley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mahdi sprawls well. Mahdi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hawley gets slowly back to his feet.
Dalton Hawley is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mahdi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hawley defends it nicely.
Mahdi checks a leg kick nicely.
Mahdi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hawley swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hawley tries to clinch but Mahdi moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawley moves out of range of the body kick from Mahdi.

Mahdi rushes Hawley and presses him up against the cage.

Mahdi breaks from the clinch.
Mahdi has a takedown stuffed.
Mahdi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hawley tries to counter with a takedown but Mahdi is quick to defend against it.
Hawley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hawley throws a head kick but Mahdi moves out of range.
Hawley wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawley tries to clinch up.
Mahdi is looking for the big counter here.
Mahdi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hawley sprawls well. Hawley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mahdi gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dalton Hawley will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mahdi clinches.
Hawley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mahdi's efforts to push away.
Mahdi fails to pull guard.
Mahdi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hawley avoids it.
Hawley goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mahdi prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahdi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hawley misses.
Mahdi lands with a nice combination. Hawley backs away looking to recover.
Mahdi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hawley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mahdi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mahdi is looking to clinch.

Hawley clinches up against the cage.
Mahdi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hawley prevents it.
Mahdi is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mahdi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mahdi is looking to land body kicks.
Hawley is looking to counter the offense by Mahdi and move into the clinch.
Mahdi shoots for a double leg takedown but Hawley sprawls well. He's pushed Mahdi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dalton Hawley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arsalan Mahdi.
A head kick by Hawley misses
and Mahdi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mahdi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mahdi connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hawley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mahdi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mahdi is trying to break the clinch but Hawley has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahdi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hawley tries to break free but Mahdi pushes him back against the cage.
Mahdi throws an elbow but it misses.

Mahdi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mahdi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hawley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hawley tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mahdi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hawley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mahdi tries to land a leg kick but Hawley saw it coming and moves away.
Hawley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawley throws a series of punches but Mahdi avoids them all with ease.

Mahdi rushes Hawley and presses him up against the cage.
Mahdi lands with a light punch inside.
Mahdi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mahdi is struggling to control the position.
Mahdi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mahdi fails to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mahdi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hawley wants to take the fight to the mat but Mahdi manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arsalan Mahdi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mahdi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arsalan Mahdi!
The defeated Dalton Hawley had this to say: 'Yo, the judges got paid off clearly and or werent watching that fight.'.