PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jan Sobieski (ranked 1469 p4p, 183 weight class) and Ladera Hawthorne (ranked 1790 p4p, 221 weight class). Hawthorne has chosen Beef Rap as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sobieski
vs
Hawthorne

199 cm
25
215 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
217 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class 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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jan Sobieski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ladera Hawthorne!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawthorne avoids the head kick by Sobieski.
Hawthorne misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hawthorne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sobieski avoids a kick to the body.
Sobieski tries to counter with a takedown but Hawthorne is quick to defend against it.
Hawthorne misses with a straight left.
Sobieski looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Sobieski gets a takedown into half guard.
Sobieski with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sobieski lands a nice short elbow.
Sobieski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hawthorne really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sobieski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hawthorne keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieski lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sobieski looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hawthorne trying to hold on to Sobieski's head to control him but Sobieski postures up.

Sobieski is working for a submission of some sort.
Sobieski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.
Hawthorne avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sobieski.

Sobieski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sobieski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sobieski is taking a breather. Hawthorne says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hawthorne trying to hold on to Sobieski's head to control him but Sobieski postures up.
Hawthorne is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sobieski not doing much here.
Sobieski seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hawthorne for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobieski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sobieski in particular looking to stall.
Sobieski has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sobieski thows a huge punch but Hawthorne dodges it nicely.
Sobieski seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sobieski with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sobieski lands with a punch from half guard.

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.
Sobieski content to control rather than advance.
Sobieski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hawthorne defending well though.
Sobieski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sobieski is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Sobieski is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hawthorne doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sobieski.
Hawthorne is staying active underneath Sobieski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sobieski wants to pass the guard but Hawthorne is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Sobieski dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hawthorne fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hawthorne slaps away a takedown attempt from Sobieski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Sobieski.
Hawthorne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hawthorne misses with a straight right.
Hawthorne moves out of range as Sobieski throws a body kick.
Hawthorne circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sobieski slips a straight right by Hawthorne.
Hawthorne connects with a leg kick. Sobieski looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hawthorne fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hawthorne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sobieski moves out of range as Hawthorne throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieski blocks a jab.
Hawthorne looks to score with a jab to the body but Sobieski is just out of range.
Hawthorne goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sobieski half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hawthorne feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sobieski's calf.
Hawthorne lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sobieski fails with the takedown.
Hawthorne loads up on a big right hand but Sobieski slips the punch.
Sobieski takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sobieski throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hawthorne lands a leg kick that knocks Sobieski off balance momentarily.
Sobieski looks for the body kick but Hawthorne saw that one coming.
A lazy left from Hawthorne finds it's target.
Sobieski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hawthorne's waist but Hawthorne gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sobieski off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Sobieski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobieski throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawthorne throws a body shot but no joy.
Sobieski connects with a right hand. Hawthorne shakes it off.
Hawthorne scores with a head kick.
Hawthorne throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sobieski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sobieski tries to clinch
and Hawthorne counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hawthorne thuds his right hand into Sobieski's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Hawthorne gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sobieski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hawthorne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sobieski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hawthorne is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sobieski throws an elbow that misses. Hawthorne uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sobieski's guard. Nice move by Hawthorne!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sobieski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawthorne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sobieski trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawthorne trying to control but Sobieski is working from the bottom.
Hawthorne slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hawthorne preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Jan Sobieski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawthorne looking to pass the guard.
Hawthorne postures up.
Sobieski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hawthorne controlling the position for now.
Hawthorne won't allow Sobieski to pass to mount.
Sobieski working over Hawthorne with some ground and pound. Hawthorne looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sobieski seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ladera Hawthorne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Hawthorne throws an overhand right that lands on Sobieski's shoulder, as Sobieski tries to avoid the shot.
Hawthorne throws a body punch but Sobieski moves out of range.
Hawthorne throws out a loose jab but Sobieski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sobieski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawthorne circles away.
Sobieski moves out of range of the strikes.
Sobieski half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Sobieski fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hawthorne sprawls well initially but Sobieski persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sobieski trying to control from half guard but Hawthorne is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawthorne is controlling Sobieski's trapped leg to prevent Sobieski from advancing to side control.
Sobieski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sobieski wants to work for an arm triangle but Hawthorne is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hawthorne is positioning himself well to prevent Sobieski advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne is refusing to be controlled, as Sobieski sits in half guard.
Hawthorne trying to control but Sobieski postures up.
Sobieski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sobieski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hawthorne can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sobieski lands a nice short elbow.
Hawthorne is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sobieski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hawthorne wants to control but Sobieski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sobieski perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobieski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sobieski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hawthorne defending well though.
Sobieski with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sobieski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hawthorne is looking for a sweep. Sobieski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hawthorne has his hands clasped together around Sobieski's back. He's all about the action.
Hawthorne taking some punishment here, with Sobieski in his half guard.
Sobieski looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sobieski continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sobieski is trying to work for a kimura but Hawthorne is defending well.

Sobieski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hawthorne is just riding it out for now. Sobieski eventually gives up the hold.
Hawthorne is looking for a sweep. Sobieski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hawthorne is defending against the submission attempts here by Sobieski.
Sobieski trying to control the action but Hawthorne is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sobieski connects with a nice short shot to Hawthorne's temple.
Sobieski wants to pass the guard but Hawthorne is defending well.
Sobieski controlling the action here.
Sobieski is looking to advance position but Hawthorne won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Sobieski seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Sobieski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sobieski 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Sobieski!
After the big win, Jan Sobieski made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Destructive Striking Clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.