PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuro Kazuhiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hawk
vs
Kazuhiro

191 cm
23
192 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

185 cm
23
192 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp
Australian Xtreme - NEW 159 Energy!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Katsuro Kazuhiro!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazuhiro avoids the body shot from Hawk.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawk. Kazuhiro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kazuhiro shoots for a takedown but Hawk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kazuhiro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hawk throws an overhand right that lands on Kazuhiro's shoulder, as Kazuhiro tries to avoid the shot.
Hawk throws a right and a left that Kazuhiro avoids nicely.

Hawk gets caught flat footed, as Kazuhiro shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazuhiro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kazuhiro works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kazuhiro works his way into full mount!

Kazuhiro working for a submission but Hawk is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Kazuhiro jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hawk manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Kazuhiro goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hawk has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kazuhiro but great work by Hawk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kazuhiro wants to control but Hawk postures up.
Hawk fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hawk trying to control the action but Kazuhiro is working from the bottom.
Kazuhiro tries to buck Hawk off but Hawk is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawk misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kazuhiro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hawk's best efforts.
Hawk has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kazuhiro wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hawk.
Kazuhiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro wants to control but Hawk is having none of it.
Kazuhiro can't escape the position.
Hawk scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kazuhiro is trying to escape the mount.
Hawk tries to control but Kazuhiro wriggling away.
Hawk avoids the attempt from Kazuhiro to control.
Kazuhiro is looking to get to half guard.
Hawk punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kazuhiro working to try and regain half guard.
Kazuhiro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro regains half guard.
Kazuhiro looks gassed!
Hawk is trying to control. Kazuhiro wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hawk throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hawk lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hawk thows a huge punch but Kazuhiro dodges it nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kazuhiro is trying to maintain the position but Hawk is very close to passing his half guard.
Kazuhiro manages to get to full guard.
Hawk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kazuhiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Hawk will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kazuhiro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawk.

Kazuhiro closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hawk to the mat! Hawk manages to get full guard.
Kazuhiro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kazuhiro passes Hawk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Kazuhiro wants to work for an arm triangle but Hawk is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kazuhiro trying to pass the guard but Hawk defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kazuhiro seems to be looking for submissions.
Hawk won't allow Kazuhiro to pass to mount.

Hawk is defending against the submission attempts here by Kazuhiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kazuhiro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hawk knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hawk knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kazuhiro on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kazuhiro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hawk tries to avoid it but Kazuhiro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hawk to the ground. Hawk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hawk lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kazuhiro backs up against the cage.

It looks like Katsuro Kazuhiro has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kazuhiro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kazuhiro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kazuhiro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kazuhiro swings around for an armbar but Hawk sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kazuhiro's guard.
Kazuhiro controlling Hawk's posture.
Kazuhiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Kazuhiro, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hawk throwing strikes but missing.
Hawk trying to control but Kazuhiro is working from the bottom.
Hawk stopping the sweep attempt from Kazuhiro.
Hawk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kazuhiro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hawk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kazuhiro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kazuhiro is looking for a kimura but Hawk is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kazuhiro to get the leverage.
Kazuhiro tries to pass to full mount but Hawk defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuro Kazuhiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Katsuro Kazuhiro's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hawk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kazuhiro throws a leg kick that misses.

Hawk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kazuhiro to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Kazuhiro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hawk dives on top into guard.
Katsuro Kazuhiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kazuhiro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hawk manages to get himself to full guard.
Kazuhiro advances to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kazuhiro wants to pass to mount but Hawk is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuhiro is looking to pass Hawk's guard but actually Hawk recovers to full guard.
Kazuhiro wants to pass the guard but Hawk is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kazuhiro passes Hawk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hawk is trying to stand up here but Kazuhiro is controlling him well.

Kazuhiro is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kazuhiro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hawk doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kazuhiro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro is pressing down on Hawk's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hawk is holding on for now.
Kazuhiro stops Hawk from getting back to his feet.

Kazuhiro is working for a kimura but Hawk is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Kazuhiro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hawk is just riding it out for now. Kazuhiro eventually gives up the hold.
Kazuhiro trying to mount his opponent but Hawk defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsuro Kazuhiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kazuhiro 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsuro Kazuhiro!