PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Short Badass (ranked 496 p4p, 74 weight class) and Ladera Hawthorne (ranked 2364 p4p, 264 weight class). Hawthorne is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Beef Rap. This should be fireworks!

Badass
vs
Hawthorne

175 cm
26
210 lbs
15 - 5 - 2

190 cm
25
217 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 15 - 5 - 2, fighting out of London, Short Badass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ladera Hawthorne!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Badass throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hawthorne misses with a wild body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hawthorne, as that shot connected.
Good exchange - Hawthorne coming out on top.
Badass tries to clinch up.
Badass gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Badass thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hawthorne swats away the attempt to clinch by Badass.
Hawthorne with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Badass finds it's way through Hawthorne's defenses.
Hawthorne swings for the body but Badass moves out of range.
Hawthorne thuds a left hand into Badass's body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hawthorne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne throws an overhand right that lands on Badass's shoulder, as Badass tries to avoid the shot.
Hawthorne misses with a body kick.
Badass keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hawthorne.
Badass drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hawthorne misses with a kick to the body.
Hawthorne looks to land a right hand but Badass moved out of range.
Hawthorne throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Badass throws a poor cross that misses
and Hawthorne counters with a leg kick.
Badass walks into a stiff left hand from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hawthorne throws a poor cross that misses
and Badass counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hawthorne's knee momentarily.
Hawthorne misses with a body shot.
Badass doesn't manage to clinch there - Hawthorne circles away.
Hawthorne rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Badass counters with a straight right hand.

Badass darts in and clinches Hawthorne up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne has had enough of the clinch but Badass keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Badass.
Hawthorne is trying to push Badass away but Badass has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Badass.

It looks like Ladera Hawthorne has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawthorne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hawthorne is trying to push Badass away but Badass has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hawthorne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hawthorne goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Our sources have told us that Badass has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Badass lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hawthorne backwards.

Hawthorne breaks the clinch.
Hawthorne throws a shot to the body.
Hawthorne scores with a jab. Badass acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ladera Hawthorne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Hawthorne misses.
A big right from Hawthorne misses.
As Hawthorne backs away, Badass returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hawthorne misses with an uppercut
and Badass counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hawthorne thinking.
Hawthorne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne connects with a body shot that sends Badass's belly button to the back.
Badass misses with a body shot.
Hawthorne is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hawthorne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hawthorne rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Badass counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Badass on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Badass checks the leg kick nicely there.
A little feinted left hand from Badass on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hawthorne.
Hawthorne lands with a shot to the body.
Nice body kick there by Hawthorne.
Badass rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hawthorne counters with a straight right hand.
Badass takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hawthorne throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Badass on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Badass wants to clinch up but Hawthorne keeps it at a distance.
Badass gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hawthorne.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Badass stuns Hawthorne with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hawthorne checks a leg kick nicely.
Badass ducks right into an uppercut from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne misses with a right hand
and Badass counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Badass lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hawthorne getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Badass is looking to slow Hawthorne down with leg kicks.
Hawthorne pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Hawthorne tries to get set, Badass tries to push him back and clinch up but Hawthorne manages to avoid the attempt.
Hawthorne tries to land a front kick but Badass steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hawthorne throws a lazy right hand but Badass sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Badass tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawthorne was well out of range. Poor timing from Badass.
Hawthorne looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawthorne. Badass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawthorne misses with a jab to the body
and Badass counters with a nice leg kick.
Hawthorne blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ladera Hawthorne dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ladera Hawthorne's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hawthorne misses with a straight left.
Badass feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawthorne. Badass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawthorne has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Hawthorne works Badass's body with a nice hook.
Badass throws a front kick aimed at Hawthorne's knee but Hawthorne avoids it well.
Hawthorne replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Badass blocks it well.
Hawthorne scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The fighters circling - Hawthorne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hawthorne takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Badass misses with a body shot.
Badass pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hawthorne is out of range and Badass settles back down.
Hawthorne misses with a head kick.
It looked like Badass wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne throws a looping overhand right but Badass ducks down to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Badass misses the target.
Badass keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Badass appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Badass.
Ladera Hawthorne seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawthorne lands a nice looking body shot.
Badass swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne throws a lazy body kick
and Badass counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Badass ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawthorne moves away.
The fighters circling - Badass throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hawthorne misses with a body shot
letting Badass counter with a right hand.
Badass misses with a looping right.
Despite the aggression on Hawthorne's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hawthorne throws a combination. Badass tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
An inside leg kick lands from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Both fighters circling a little - Hawthorne finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hawthorne misses with a body punch
and Badass counters with a thumping low kick.
A swing and a miss from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne lunges at Badass with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Badass's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawthorne scores with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badass swings for the body but Hawthorne moves out of range.
Hawthorne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Badass manages to avoid it.
Jab from Badass.
Hawthorne looks to score with a jab to the body but Badass is just out of range.
Badass appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hawthorne looks to throw a body kick
and Badass counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hawthorne thinking.
Hawthorne works Badass's body with a nice hook.
Hawthorne throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Badass counters with a nice body shot.
Hawthorne scores with a nice head shot.
Badass uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hawthorne misses with a hook
and Badass counters with an inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Badass.
Badass misses with an uppercut.
Hawthorne lands a really nice looking cross but Badass seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Badass. Hawthorne does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawthorne throws a body kick that misses
and Badass counters with a good low kick that Hawthorne was not able to check.
Badass defending well as Hawthorne loads up on a big left hand.
Badass takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hawthorne's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hawthorne throws a sloppy body shot
and Badass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Badass ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawthorne moves away.
Hawthorne throws an overhand right that lands on Badass's shoulder, as Badass tries to avoid the shot.
Hawthorne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Badass.
Badass was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Badass bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hawthorne bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hawthorne misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Badass scores with a decent looking hook.
Hawthorne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne lands a body shot.
Hawthorne misses with a shot to the body
and Badass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawthorne swings for the body but Badass moves out of range.
Hawthorne misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Hawthorne misses.
Badass lands a jab.
Badass takes a swing at Hawthorne's ribcage but misses.
A slow jab from Hawthorne misses its intended target.
Hawthorne throws the left hand but Badass avoids the punch easily.
Badass on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hawthorne. Hawthorne obviously looking to wear him down.
Hawthorne rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Badass counters with a nice body shot.
A shot to the body from Hawthorne misses
and Badass counters with a nice uppercut.
Hawthorne fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Badass checks it well.
Hawthorne with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Badass to score with a decent uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ladera Hawthorne will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ladera Hawthorne's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hawthorne throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hawthorne misses with an uppercut. Badass saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Badass misses the target.
Badass walks into a straight right hand from Hawthorne.
Badass misses with an uppercut. Hawthorne saw that one coming.
Badass fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hawthorne is out of range.
Hawthorne connects with the punch.
Badass takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Badass looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Badass takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice shot lands for Badass.
Badass misses with an uppercut. Hawthorne saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Badass shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Badass throws the left hand but Hawthorne avoids the punch easily.
Hawthorne looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hawthorne looks to land a left hand but Badass moved out of range nicely.
Hawthorne throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badass on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hawthorne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawthorne swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Badass connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hawthorne looks to score with a jab to the body but Badass is just out of range.
Hawthorne looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hawthorne throws a jab but it's blocked by Badass.
Badass is looking to counter punch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hawthorne.
Hawthorne lands a really nice looking cross but Badass seems unphased.
Badass swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawthorne throws a lazy body kick
letting Badass counter with a right hand.
Hawthorne slips a straight right by Badass.
Badass moves in looking to clinch but Hawthorne pushes him off.
Badass gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hawthorne takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Badass throws a body shot but no joy.
Short Badass has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Badass closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hawthorne.
Badass comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hawthorne wants to get back to striking at distance but Badass won't allow it.
Badass blocks a body shot from Hawthorne.

Hawthorne breaks from the clinch.
Hawthorne lands a jab.
Badass misses with a hook.
Badass connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hawthorne connects with a jab.
Hawthorne jabs Badass right on the nose. Badass blinks but takes it well.
Hawthorne throws a big shot that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Badass misses the target.
A jab from Hawthorne does it's job there.
Badass stuns Hawthorne with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Badass has managed to clinch.
Badass struggles to land a body shot inside as Hawthorne controls his hands.
Hawthorne is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Hawthorne's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Badass lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hawthorne takes an elbow to the forehead.
Badass lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hawthorne backwards.
Badass tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Badass.
Hawthorne throws a head punch that misses.
Badass lands an elbow inside.
Badass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Badass keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hawthorne's efforts to push away.
Hawthorne is trying to push Badass away but Badass has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hawthorne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Badass has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne working hard to break the clinch.
Badass tries a body shot but Hawthorne blocks it.
Badass lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Badass lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Badass misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Badass lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawthorne wants to get back to striking at distance but Badass won't allow it.
Badass lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hawthorne takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Badass.
Hawthorne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Badass has him pressed against the cage.
Badass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Hawthorne fails to land.
Badass cracks Hawthorne with a nice body shot.
Hawthorne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Badass lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hawthorne or not.
Hawthorne has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Badass pushes Hawthorne back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Short Badass has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Badass digs a right hand into Hawthorne's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hawthorne's gas tank.
Ladera Hawthorne is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice body punch from Badass - that landed with a thud.
A short body shot lands from Badass as the two fighters clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Short Badass showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hawthorne 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ladera Hawthorne!
During a confident post fight interview, Ladera Hawthorne thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.