PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Hawk (ranked 591 p4p, 475 weight class) and Toby Keith Yrkje (ranked 82 p4p, 63 weight class). Yrkje has chosen As Good As I Once Was as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hawk
vs
Yrkje

181 cm
32
174
25 - 9 - 1

187 cm
32
180
25 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
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Conviction

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 25 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ethan Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Toby Keith Yrkje!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Hawk moves in looking to clinch but Yrkje pushes him off.
Hawk tries to clinch up.
Yrkje throws a poor cross that misses
and Hawk counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yrkje's knee momentarily.
Yrkje smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like Ethan Hawk has been cut.
Yrkje misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yrkje keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hawk.
Yrkje now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Hawk pushes Yrkje up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Yrkje misses with a hook to the ribs.

Yrkje drags the fight down to the ground.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Yrkje is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yrkje controlling Hawk's posture.
Hawk pushes down on Yrkje's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yrkje holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hawk passes to full mount!
Yrkje regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yrkje works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yrkje controls Hawk momentarily but Hawk frees himself.
Hawk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yrkje is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yrkje controls Hawk momentarily but Hawk frees himself.
Yrkje pulls Hawk in close to his closed guard and prevents Hawk from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hawk tries to clinch but Yrkje moves away
and Yrkje counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hawk moves into range and clinches up with Yrkje.
Yrkje lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hawk backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Toby Keith Yrkje will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ethan Hawk's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yrkje misses with a hook
and Hawk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yrkje moves to clinch but Hawk breaks away
and Yrkje takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hawk clinches with his opponent.
Yrkje has a couple of punches blocked by Hawk.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yrkje lands with a light punch inside.
Yrkje swings wildly with an uppercut but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yrkje lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hawk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yrkje tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawk just stands there and leans against the cage.
Yrkje lands with a left to the head.
Yrkje misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hawk's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Yrkje tries to pull guard but Hawk forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Yrkje 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 Yrkje can turn it around.
Yrkje throws a head punch that misses.
Yrkje swings wildly with an uppercut but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yrkje throws an elbow but misses.
Yrkje throws a head punch that misses.
Yrkje misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yrkje lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Yrkje on the inside.
Hawk manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yrkje tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hawk's elbow.
Yrkje lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hawk backwards.
Yrkje has a couple of punches blocked by Hawk.
Hawk is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hawk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yrkje has a couple of punches blocked by Hawk.
Yrkje jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hawk walks away with a smile on his face. Yrkje gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ethan Hawk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toby Keith Yrkje.
Yrkje throws a body shot but no joy.
Hawk throws a big counter combination but Yrkje scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk pushes Yrkje up against the cage in a clinch.
Yrkje fails to pull guard.
Yrkje working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yrkje digs a right hand underneath Hawk's ribcage. Hawk let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Yrkje tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yrkje.
Hawk leaning against his opponent.
A bit of stalling here from Yrkje.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hawk.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hawk - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Yrkje is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hawk to keep the fight standing.
Ethan Hawk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk leaning against his opponent.
Hawk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Toby Keith Yrkje seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hawk blocks an uppercut.
Yrkje throws a head punch that misses.
Yrkje misses with a punch to the body.
Yrkje tries to throw a body punch but Hawk avoids it by throwing Yrkje back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yrkje.
Yrkje has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A head punch on the inside from Yrkje fails to land.
Hawk blocks a body shot from Yrkje.
Yrkje goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yrkje tries to throw a body punch but Hawk avoids it by throwing Yrkje back against the cage.
Hawk blocks a body shot from Yrkje.
Yrkje lands with a light punch inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Keith Yrkje showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ethan Hawk's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yrkje swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hawk counters with a stiff right hand.

Hawk closes the distance and clinches.
Yrkje fails to pull guard.
Hawk taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hawk letting Yrkje take a breather here.
Hawk's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Yrkje fails to land.
Yrkje is struggling to control the position.
Hawk stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yrkje swings wildly with an uppercut but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hawk pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Yrkje fails to land.
Yrkje fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hawk is stalling here.
Hawk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hawk taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hawk stalling against the cage.
Hawk seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ethan Hawk.
Hawk checks the leg kick.
Hawk tried to counter with a leg kick but Yrkje avoided it.
Yrkje throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hawk counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yrkje thinking.

Yrkje clinches with his opponent.
Hawk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yrkje makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Yrkje tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yrkje being controlled against the cage.
Hawk is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk pressing his opponent against the cage.
Yrkje throws a punch but it's blocked by Hawk.
Yrkje swings wildly with an uppercut but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yrkje being controlled against the cage.
Hawk blocking some punches.
Yrkje misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hawk stalling the fight.
Yrkje goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yrkje taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Yrkje has a couple of punches blocked by Hawk.
Nice body punch from Yrkje.
Yrkje misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hawk is looking to control Yrkje's arms but Yrkje gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hawk has his back to the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yrkje.
Hawk blocking some punches.
Hawk dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yrkje swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yrkje stalling against the cage.
Toby Keith Yrkje is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A right handed body shot lands from Hawk.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toby Keith Yrkje comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yrkje winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Keith Yrkje!
After winning the bout, Toby Keith Yrkje thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Ethan Hawk spoke after the fight, saying 'In the end he fought like a 'Gentleman', true to his nickname, respecting his mate's money maker.'.