PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between TJ Hawkins (ranked 8156 p4p, 662 weight class) and Murray Sterling James (ranked 25150 p4p, 729 weight class). Murray Sterling James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hawkins
vs
Sterling James

188 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

FRESH Inc. (10%)

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, TJ Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Murray Sterling James!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling James misses with a low kick.
Hawkins lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Sterling James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hawkins digs a good hook to Sterling James's body.
Sterling James misses with a few strikes there.
Sterling James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hawkins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hawkins tries to counter with a takedown but Sterling James is quick to defend against it.

Sterling James moves into the clinch successfully.
Hawkins is leaning against Sterling James and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hawkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hawkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hawkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
TJ Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Sterling James.
Sterling James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hawkins prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Sterling James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sterling James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hawkins stalling the fight.

Hawkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sterling James is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hawkins's half guard.
Hawkins is looking to escape.
Sterling James frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hawkins is bucking up trying to escape but Sterling James cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
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.
Sterling James wants to control the pace but Hawkins is squirming around nicely.
Hawkins on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hawkins tries to get out of the position.
Hawkins is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Sterling James landing strikes from the mount.
Hawkins is working to get back to half guard.
Sterling James throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sterling James landing shots from mount.
Sterling James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James has control of Hawkins's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hawkins regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sterling James in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sterling James with the ground and pound from mount.
Sterling James wants to control the pace but Hawkins is squirming around nicely.
Sterling James breaks from Hawkins's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James controlling his opponent.
Hawkins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sterling James.
Sterling James wants to control the pace but Hawkins is squirming around nicely.
Sterling James controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like Sterling James might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Sterling James dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Sterling James.
Hawkins lands a body shot.
Murray Sterling James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawkins tries to clinch there but Sterling James circles away.
Hawkins tries to clinch but Sterling James is having none of it.
Sterling James tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sterling James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sterling James with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Hawkins counter with a right hand.
Hawkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Sterling James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hawkins wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
TJ Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Sterling James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins lands the left hand.
Murray Sterling James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sterling James has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hawkins.
Sterling James misses with a takedown attempt
and Hawkins makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sterling James with a poor takedown
and Hawkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sterling James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawkins looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sterling James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sterling James.
Sterling James is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James walks into a stiff left hand from Hawkins.
Sterling James shoots in looking for a takedown but Hawkins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sterling James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sterling James keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawkins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hawkins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sterling James closes the distance but Hawkins moves to the side
and Hawkins counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hawkins buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sterling James tries to clinch but Hawkins moves out of range.
Hawkins is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sterling James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hawkins goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sterling James tries to clinch but Hawkins moves out of range.
Hawkins connects with a high kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hawkins.
Sterling James wants to clinch.
A head kick from Hawkins lands but Sterling James takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins lands with a good body shot.
Sterling James tries for a takedown but Hawkins circles away easily
and Hawkins makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Sterling James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hawkins slows down the pace here.
Hawkins tries to break free but Sterling James pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sterling James is trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Hawkins dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sterling James misses with a takedown attempt
and Hawkins counters with a nice body shot.
Sterling James misses with a few strikes there.
Sterling James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hawkins's waist but Hawkins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sterling James off to one side.
Hawkins wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sterling James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hawkins.
Sterling James takes one to the chin there.
Hawkins throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hawkins darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkins connects with a high kick.
Sterling James swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins lands with a slapping head kick.
Hawkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sterling James is looking to clinch but Hawkins is avoiding it.
Hawkins thinks about countering with a head kick.
Hawkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sterling James can do to turn this around?
Sterling James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hawkins as he jumps to the side.
TJ Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Sterling James.
Sterling James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sterling James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice takedown defense from Hawkins. No joy for Sterling James on that attempt.
As Sterling James tries to get set, Hawkins tries to push him back and clinch up but Sterling James manages to avoid the attempt.
TJ Hawkins is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawkins cracks Sterling James with an open hand slap.
Sterling James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Sterling James tries to get set, Hawkins tries to push him back and clinch up but Sterling James manages to avoid the attempt.

Hawkins darts in and clinches Sterling James up against the cage.
A short left from Hawkins.
A short right from Hawkins.
Sterling James trying to control the position but instead, Hawkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sterling James into the cage.
Sterling James is trying to push Hawkins away but Hawkins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins lands a body punch.
Sterling James trying to stall but Hawkins improves his position.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good leg kick by Hawkins there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hawkins throws a nice head kick!
Hawkins is looking to clinch.
Hawkins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sterling James at a distance.
Sterling James fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins instigates a clinch.
Hawkins is trying to break free.
Sterling James tries to break free but Hawkins pushes him back against the cage.
Hawkins wants to break free but Sterling James has control.
Hawkins wants to break free but Sterling James has control.
Hawkins digs a right hand into Sterling James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sterling James's gas tank.
Sterling James stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawkins has had enough of the clinch but Sterling James keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Hawkins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hawkins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Hawkins!
TJ Hawkins decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.