PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Morello Hawthorne (ranked 1391 p4p, 1840 weight class) and Dragon Li Chai (ranked 100 p4p, 125 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hawthorne
vs
Chai

159 cm
23
130
7 - 6 - 0

172 cm
23
145
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Morello Hawthorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Dragon Li Chai!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chai catches Hawthorne with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hawthorne is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hawthorne moves out of range as Chai strikes.

Hawthorne drives through with a takedown into guard.
Chai keeping full guard, as Hawthorne tries to pass.
Hawthorne trying to control the position from guard on top but Chai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawthorne wants to pass the guard but Chai is keeping the position.
Chai has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne trying to control but Chai is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne trying to move into half guard but instead Chai has managed to sweep!

Hawthorne is trying to keep Chai in close.
Hawthorne has his hands on Chai's head, controlling the position.

Chai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hawthorne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Chai controls the pace.

Hawthorne is looking for a triangle but Chai pushes his legs off easily.
Chai tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawthorne is retaining full guard.
Hawthorne looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Hawthorne has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawthorne is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hawthorne holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good leg kick by Chai.
Nice uppercut there from Chai.
Chai throws the left hand but Hawthorne avoids the punch easily.
Hawthorne changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hawthorne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chai.
Hawthorne blocks the body kick.
Chai throws a predictable looking body shot

and Hawthorne counters by moving into the clinch.

Chai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Chai circles away.
Chai connects with a crisp jab.
Chai lands with a hook. Hawthorne tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Chai with a nice calf kick.
Chai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hawthorne looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Chai throws a shot from downtown. Hawthorne moves away and avoids it.
Chai misses with a straight right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chai throws a series of punches but Hawthorne avoids them all with ease.

Hawthorne drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hawthorne trying to control but Chai is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawthorne wants to pass the guard but Chai is keeping the position.
Hawthorne trying to control the position from guard on top but Chai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai dominated that round.
That's time! Hawthorne's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch but Chai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawthorne manages to avoid it.
Chai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawthorne manages to avoid it.
Chai scores with the left hand. Hawthorne knows he should have avoided that one.
Chai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Chai stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Chai feints a jab promting Hawthorne to slip. Chai then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hawthorne slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Chai misses the shot to the body.
Chai is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Chai connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne wants to clinch.
Chai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawthorne.
Chai misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hawthorne looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A jab from Chai misses.
Hawthorne changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Chai throws a big shot that misses.
Chai lands with a slapping head kick.
Chai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hawthorne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dragon Li Chai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawthorne wants to clinch up but Chai keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from Chai misses.
Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch but Chai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chai connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawthorne's hands.
Hawthorne avoids the body shot from Chai.

Hawthorne has managed to clinch.
Chai pushes Hawthorne back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Chai.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hawthornes head.
Hawthorne tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Chai smiles and moves away.
Chai misses with an uppercut

and Hawthorne counters by moving into the clinch.
Chai has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Chai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Chai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hawthorne moves out of range of the strikes.
Hawthorne half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Hawthorne shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Hawthorne is trying to work for a kimura but Chai is defending well.
Chai is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawthorne is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chai sees it coming and defends easily.

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

Hawthorne seems to be looking for submissions.
Hawthorne looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hawthorne seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Chai has recovered full guard.
Hawthorne tries to free his leg and advance position but Chai is retaining full guard.

Hawthorne drops back, looking for a kneebar! Chai looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Chai looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Chai!

Hawthorne is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Chai swings for the body but Hawthorne moves out of range.
Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch but Chai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dragon Li Chai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Chai misses with a straight left.
Hawthorne with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chai to score with a decent uppercut.
Hawthorne drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hawthorne tries to clinch there but Chai circles away.
Chai throws out a counter right but Hawthorne avoids it with no problem.
Hawthorne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chai.
Hawthorne shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chai sprawls well. Chai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hawthorne gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne shoots and misses
and Chai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hawthorne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hawthorne with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chai to score with a decent uppercut.
Hawthorne slips under a jab from Chai.
Chai bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai just misses with a punch to the body.
Chai scores with a jab to the head.
Chai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawthorne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch but Chai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chai throws a hook but Hawthorne blocks it.
Chai misses with an uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Chai.
As Chai tries to get set, Hawthorne tries to push him back and clinch up but Chai manages to avoid the attempt.
Chai keeps the fight on the outside.
Chai lands a jab to Hawthorne's midsection.
Chai attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Hawthorne with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morello Hawthorne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chai throws a head kick but Hawthorne moves out of range.
Dragon Li Chai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from Chai misses.
Hawthorne slips under a jab from Chai.
Hawthorne moves in looking to clinch but Chai pushes him off.
Chai throws a jab when Hawthorne was well out of range.
Hawthorne half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Chai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hawthorne tries to clinch but Chai is having none of it.
Hawthorne misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chai scores with a nice right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A swing and a miss from Chai.
Hawthorne half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hawthorne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Chai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hawthorne displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chai throws out the jab.

Hawthorne closes the distance and clinches.
Chai misses with the head strike.
Chai has a couple of punches blocked by Hawthorne.
Hawthorne is trying to pull guard but Chai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Morello Hawthorne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chai has a couple of punches blocked by Hawthorne.
Hawthorne jumps guard but Chai turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Chai lands with a left to the head.
Hawthorne blocking some punches.
Chai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Chai lands with a right to the head.
Hawthorne scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hawthorne misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chai breaks the clinch.
Chai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawthorne walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chai loads up on a big right hand but Hawthorne slips the punch.
Hawthorne attempts a counter takedown but Chai avoids it well and moves away.
Chai misses with a wild combination.
Dragon Li Chai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hawthorne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Chai! But no joy.
Chai swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hawthorne uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Chai throws a shot from downtown. Hawthorne moves away and avoids it.
Hawthorne defending well as Chai loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chai. Hawthorne does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragon Li Chai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Chai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dragon Li Chai!
Dragon Li Chai thanked the fans post fight for their support.