PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dragon Li Chai (ranked 3212 p4p, 3789 weight class) and Morello Hawthorne (ranked 175 p4p, 198 weight class). Dragon Li Chai has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Chai
vs
Hawthorne

172 cm
19
145
1 - 2 - 0

159 cm
20
130
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Dragon Li Chai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Morello Hawthorne!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chai connects with an inside leg kick.
Hawthorne takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Chai scores with a shot to the body.
Chai clobbers Hawthorne with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hawthorne throws an overhand right that lands on Chai's shoulder, as Chai tries to avoid the shot.
Hawthorne moves out of range as Chai strikes.
Hawthorne throws a shot from downtown. Chai moves away and avoids it.
Hawthorne stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A nice combination there by Chai.
Chai moves out of range of the strikes.
Chai throws a right and a left that Hawthorne avoids nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawthorne throws a hook but Chai blocks it.
Chai takes a swing at Hawthorne's ribcage but misses.
Chai lands a two punch combo.
Hawthorne walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hawthorne listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Chai lands with a nice body punch.
Hawthorne misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne tries to score with a low kick but Chai moves his leg out of the way.
Hawthorne has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hawthorne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hawthorne looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hawthorne rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hawthorne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chai lands a nice shot that snaps Hawthorne's head back.
Chai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Chai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A shot to the body from Chai misses
and Hawthorne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab lands there for Chai.
Chai shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chai feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hawthornes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Chai slips a straight right by Hawthorne.
We've been told by Chai's head coaches at Master Chai's Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Donk. Chai catches Hawthorne right on the button with a cross.
Chai just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawthorne now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Chai slips a jab from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne slips a straight right by Chai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hawthorne jabs Chai right on the nose. Chai blinks but takes it well.
Dragon Li Chai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawthorne scores with a decent looking hook.
Chai is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice uppercut there from Chai.
A slow jab from Chai misses its intended target.
Chai backing away here, and Hawthorne unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hawthorne uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chai.
Hawthorne looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hawthorne misses with a looping right.
Chai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Chai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Chai throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hawthorne counters with a left to the body.
Hawthorne has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Chai.
Hawthorne scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Chai scores with a jab.
Chai ducks under a wild hook from Hawthorne.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Chai.
Hawthorne misses with a looping right.
A slapping leg kick lands for Chai.
Hawthorne chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Chai can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai scores with a hook.
Hawthorne lands with a nice body punch.
Hawthorne misses with a hook.
Chai throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hawthorne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chai scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hawthorne throws a lazy uppercut
and Chai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Chai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some bone on bone action there as Chai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nice jab there from Chai.
Chai misses with an uppercut
letting Hawthorne counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice body kick there by Chai.
Chai defending well as Hawthorne loads up on a big left hand.
Chai is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hawthorne defending well as Chai loads up on a big left hand.
Chai staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Some wild striking there from Chai.
Hawthorne lands with an overhand left.
Chai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The fighters circling - Chai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hawthorne lands a jab to the nose.
Hawthorne rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Chai counters with a stiff right hand.
Hawthorne just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawthorne takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hawthorne on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chai misses the jab.
Chai misses with a hook to the body
and Hawthorne counters with a nice uppercut.
Chai cracks Hawthorne with a good jab.
Chai throws a leg kick which misses Hawthorne's front leg but catches the back leg as Hawthorne tries to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Hawthorne walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chai goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Chai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawthorne.
Chai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Chai moves away from the strike by Hawthorne.
Chai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hawthorne.
Chai moves out of range as Hawthorne strikes.
Chai tried to counter with a leg kick but Hawthorne avoided it.
Chai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hawthorne can do to turn this around?
Hawthorne on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Chai misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chai. Hawthorne does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chai misses with a hook. Hawthorne ducked under it nicely.
Hawthorne checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Chai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hawthorne. That did some damage!
Dragon Li Chai is winning the standup battle so far.
A swing and a miss from Chai.
Hawthorne has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hawthorne there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawthorne throws a lazy right hand but Chai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hawthorne has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai lands a nice shot to the body.
Hawthorne sizes up Chai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Chai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Chai swings for the body but Hawthorne moves out of range.
Chai slips under a jab.
Hawthorne missing with a left hand there. Chai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hawthorne misses with a looping left.
Chai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Chai throws a nice outside leg kick.
Chai lands a two punch combo.
A telegraphed right hand from Chai misses the target.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hawthorne in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Chai moves into range and connects with a jab.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Hawthorne might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Chai has got the better of the exchanges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chai jabs Hawthorne to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Chai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hawthorne.
Chai throws a leg kick but Hawthorne sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hawthorne is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne takes one to the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Chai.
Decent striking displayed by Hawthorne there.
Chai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawthorne.
A jab from Hawthorne misses.
Chai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Chai looks to land a right hand but Hawthorne moved out of range.
Chai misses with a straight right.
Chai bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hawthorne misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chai misses with a hook
and Hawthorne counters with a series of strikes. Chai will be more careful next time no doubt.
Chai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Chai misses the jab.
Chai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai works the jab nicely.
Chai throws a nice outside leg kick.
Chai tests Hawthorne's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hawthorne looks to land a left hand but Chai moved out of range nicely.
Chai throws an off balance right hand
and Hawthorne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hawthorne throws a jab when Chai was well out of range.
Chai staying out of range there.
Chai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hawthorne backs up against the ropes.
Chai misses with an uppercut.
Hawthorne slips a straight right by Chai.
Chai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hawthorne.
Chai slips a jab from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chai moves away.
Hawthorne walks into a stiff left hand from Chai.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai misses with a hook to the body
and Hawthorne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hawthorne displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chai throws out the jab.
Hawthorne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chai.
Hawthorne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawthorne closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Chai connects with a single shot there.
Hawthorne fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawthorne misses the target.
Chai feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Chai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hawthorne.
Decent striking displayed by Hawthorne there.
Hawthorne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chai.
Hawthorne appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawthorne displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chai throws out the jab.
Hawthorne throws out a counter right but Chai avoids it with no problem.
Chai defending well as Hawthorne loads up on a big left hand.
Chai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hawthorne's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Chai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hawthorne is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Chai with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Chai ducks under a wild hook from Hawthorne.
Chai throws a body shot but no joy.
Hawthorne blocks a jab.
Hawthorne throws a hook to the side of Chai's head but Chai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chai throws a right and a left that Hawthorne avoids nicely.
Hawthorne is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Chai with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chai. Hawthorne does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawthorne swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hawthorne misses with a looping right.
Chai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hawthorne has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Chai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Chai explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Hawthorne jabs Chai right on the nose. Chai blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai ducks right into an uppercut from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne scores with a decent looking hook.
Chai lands a body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Chai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Chai clobbers Hawthorne with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hawthorne misses with a right hand
and Chai counters with a low kick, right behind Hawthorne 's knee.
Chai throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Hawthorne to counter with a crisp jab.
Chai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hawthorne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hawthorne! But no joy.
Hawthorne moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hawthorne scores with a jab. Chai acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hawthorne scores with a shot to the body.
Chai missing with a left hand there. Hawthorne was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sloppy strikes from Hawthorne. Those never looked like landing.
A little feinted left hand from Chai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Chai thuds a left hand into Hawthorne's body.
Chai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hawthorne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chai staying out of range there.
Hawthorne misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hawthorne fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Chai on the side of the head.
Hawthorne fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hawthorne is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Hawthorne throws an overhand right that lands on Chai's shoulder, as Chai tries to avoid the shot.
Chai misses with a wild body shot.
Hawthorne misses with a lunging right hand
and Chai counters with a straight right hand.
Chai darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hawthorne's jab looks to have found its range, popping Chai under the eye.
Hawthorne takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hawthorne bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chai misses with an uppercut
and Hawthorne counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Chai tries a head kick but it misses.
Hawthorne throws an off balance right hand
and Chai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circling - Chai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chai connects with a looping right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Chai, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai throws a series of punches but Hawthorne moves out of range.
Hawthorne tries to bum rush Chai with a series of wild strikes but Chai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice uppercut there from Chai.
Chai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hawthorne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chai.
Chai misses with a lunging right hand
and Chai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters circling a little - Chai finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hawthorne misses with a right hand
and Chai counters with a nice uppercut.
Chai misses with an uppercut.
Chai throws a jab but it's blocked by Hawthorne.
Chai misses with a series of wild punches.
Hawthorne is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hawthorne misses with a hook. Chai ducked under it nicely.
A lazy left from Chai finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice leg kick from Chai, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hawthorne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Hawthorne on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Chai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Chai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hawthorne throws out the jab.
Chai is looking to slow Hawthorne down with leg kicks.
Dragon Li Chai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chai. Hawthorne does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Chai backs off Hawthorne throws a huge counter combo but Chai manages to avoid it all.
Chai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawthorne looks to throw the jab but Chai is out of range.
Chai is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hawthorne takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chai misses with an uppercut. Hawthorne saw that one coming.
Chai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morello Hawthorne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chai misses with a straight right.
Hawthorne misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragon Li Chai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight for Dragon Li Chai!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Dragon Li Chai!
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Dragon Li Chai!

Dragon Li Chai wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Dragon Li Chai made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.