PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dusan Smirnov (ranked 3738 p4p, 2956 weight class) and Dean Hawthrone (ranked 348 p4p, 291 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smirnov
vs
Hawthrone

178 cm
23
154
3 - 3 - 0

176 cm
22
145
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dusan Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dean Hawthrone!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawthrone darts in looking for a takedown but Smirnov gets double underhooks and turns Hawthrone into the cage.
Smirnov fails to land with a series of punches.

Smirnov rushes Hawthrone and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hawthrone has clasped his hands together around Smirnov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Smirnov is looking for a sweep.
Smirnov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hawthrone off and has taken his back!

Smirnov is persistently looking for the submission but Hawthrone is defending it well.
Hawthrone has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Hawthrone felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smirnov gets his hands free as Hawthrone looks to control.
Smirnov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Smirnov looking for the choke from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthrone is trying to break free.

Hawthrone is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Hawthrone can't escape the position.
Smirnov trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Hawthrone manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smirnov's guard. Nice work there by Hawthrone.
Smirnov has Hawthrone pulled in close to control his posture.
Hawthrone trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is trying to keep Hawthrone in close.
Hawthrone scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hawthrone content to stall in guard here.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Hawthrone from controlling successfully.
Smirnov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hawthrone sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smirnov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hawthrone defends it easily.
Smirnov keeping full guard, as Hawthrone tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is trying to control the position but Hawthrone postures up.
Hawthrone content to stall in guard here.
Hawthrone wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.
Hawthrone is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Hawthrone is fighting to break Smirnov's control of his arms but Smirnov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hawthrone wants to pass the guard but Smirnov is keeping the position.
Smirnov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smirnov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawthrone sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hawthrone on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

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.
Smirnov misses the jab.

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into Hawthrone's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawthrone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smirnov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawthrone avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hawthrone looking for a sweep. Not yet Hawthrone, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawthrone keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dusan Smirnov dominated that round.
That's time! Smirnov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A left and a right from Smirnov both land. Nice combination.
Hawthrone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smirnov is fending him off so far but Hawthrone persists. Nope, Smirnov circles away and we're back to standing.
Smirnov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hawthrone tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smirnov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hawthrone somewhat.
Dusan Smirnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov throws a right hand that Hawthrone ducks under and follows up with a left that Hawthrone also avoids with ease.
Hawthrone with the counter takedown but Smirnov avoids it easily.
Smirnov tries to clinch there but Hawthrone circles away.
Hawthrone feints the counter takedown.
Smirnov lands with a good body shot.
Smirnov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Smirnov misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hawthrone manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hawthrone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dusan Smirnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Hawthrone.
Smirnov fails to land with a series of punches.
Dusan Smirnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smirnov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hawthrone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dusan Smirnov is winning the standup battle so far.
Smirnov throws a left and a right that both miss

so Hawthrone counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smirnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hawthrone can do to turn this around?
Hawthrone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smirnov is keeping the position for now.
Hawthrone slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Smirnov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hawthrone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hawthrone won't allow Smirnov to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looking to control.

Smirnov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hawthrone landing with the ground and pound.
Smirnov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smirnov controls Hawthrone momentarily but Hawthrone frees himself.
Hawthrone trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smirnov trying to keep a closed guard but Hawthrone is proving a slippery customer.

Smirnov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hawthrone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smirnov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthrone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hawthrone is still trying to improve position.
Smirnov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hawthrone throws a big elbow that misses.
Smirnov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smirnov has control of Hawthrone's left arm, preventing Hawthrone from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smirnov stalks Hawthrone and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hawthrone's face. Hawthrone staggers backwards, shaken.
Smirnov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hawthrone eats them both and turns towards Smirnov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smirnov lands with a shot to the body.
Hawthrone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A right-left combo lands from Smirnov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawthrone has a takedown stuffed.

Smirnov gets a double leg takedown into Hawthrone's guard.
Hawthrone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hawthrone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dusan Smirnov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawthrone needs to keep his hands up - Smirnov had a free shot at his head there.
Smirnov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hawthrone.
Some wild striking there from Smirnov.

Smirnov closes the distance and clinches.

Smirnov has picked Hawthrone up - he's going for a ride! Smirnov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov slips a nice elbow through Hawthrone's hands, connecting with Hawthrone's forehead.

Smirnov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Smirnov seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Hawthrone is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Dusan Smirnov!
A victorious Dusan Smirnov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.