PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Morello Hawthorne (ranked 2554 p4p, 3003 weight class) and Cathal Tiernan (ranked 184 p4p, 212 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hawthorne
vs
Tiernan

159 cm
24
130
7 - 8 - 0

175 cm
24
130
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

NARCOS

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 - 8 - 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cathal Tiernan!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Chris Dean and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiernan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawthorne is just out of range.
Tiernan keeps the fight on the outside.
Tiernan loads up on a big right hand but Hawthorne slips the punch.
Hawthorne is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tiernan.

Hawthorne darts in and clinches Tiernan up against the cage.
Tiernan misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Tiernan fails to land.
Hawthorne is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tiernan to keep the fight standing.
Tiernan scores with a shot to the side of Hawthorne's head.
Tiernan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hawthorne throws a punch but it's blocked by Tiernan.
Tiernan scores with a shot to the side of Hawthorne's head.
A hook to the body from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne tries a body shot but Tiernan blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tiernan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tiernan's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hawthorne working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hawthorne.
Hawthorne blocking some punches.
Hawthorne fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiernan manages to break the clinch.
Tiernan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawthorne is just out of range.
Cathal Tiernan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hawthorne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tiernan, pushing him back against the cage.
Hawthorne blocking some punches.
Hawthorne blocks an uppercut.
Tiernan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hawthorne backwards.
Tiernan lands a left hand.

Hawthorne gets control of Tiernan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hawthorne will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hawthorne throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tiernan uses it to pass to side control.
Hawthorne is looking to regain half guard here but Tiernan keeps moving and retains side control.
Hawthorne sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hawthorne wants to improve his position but Tiernan is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiernan wants to stand up but Hawthorne has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Hawthorne looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tiernan seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hawthorne is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tiernan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tiernan's back!
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!
Tiernan is trying to get back to his feet but Hawthorne has full control of the position and if anything, Tiernan has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiernan defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hawthorne's arms.
Hawthorne wants to control but Tiernan is keeping busy.
Hawthorne looking to hold on to the position here but Tiernan rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Tiernan is trying to keep Hawthorne in close.
Tiernan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hawthorne is controlling him.
Hawthorne is pushing down on Tiernan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tiernan is fighting to maintain full guard but Hawthorne has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tiernan pushes Hawthorne off looking to stand but Hawthorne dives back in and keeps control.
Tiernan tries to roll over but Hawthorne keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawthorne looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tiernan wants to get back to his feet.
Hawthorne moves nicely into side control.
Hawthorne prevents Tiernan from escaping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cathal Tiernan will probably get the nod.
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 tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tiernan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hawthorne looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tiernan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Hawthorne counters with a shoot takedown. Tiernan fights it but they end up in guard.
Tiernan wants to stand and escape but Hawthorne is having none of it.
Hawthorne tries to free his leg and advance position but Tiernan is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawthorne controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hawthorne trying to control but Tiernan is working from the bottom.
Tiernan wants to stand up but Hawthorne is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne tries to clinch up but Tiernan circles away and keeps his distance.

Hawthorne looking to score a takedown here. Tiernan is defending well but Hawthorne drives through and ends up in Tiernan's guard.
Hawthorne trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiernan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiernan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hawthorne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tiernan is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne 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.
Tiernan keeping moving, preventing Hawthorne from controlling successfully.
Hawthorne passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tiernan tries to bench press Hawthorne off him but Hawthorne keeps the position.

Hawthorne working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hawthorne looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiernan wants to get back to his feet but Hawthorne drags him back down.

Hawthorne looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hawthorne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tiernan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tiernan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hawthorne's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.
Tiernan looks like he's trying to stand up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tiernan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hawthorne shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tiernan defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiernan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It seemed like Tiernan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tiernan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawthorne is just out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Morello Hawthorne dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hawthorne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tiernan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tiernan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tiernan throws the left hand but Hawthorne avoids the punch easily.
Tiernan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A countering left hand to the body from Tiernan misses.
Tiernan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tiernan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hawthorne moves out of range as Tiernan strikes.
Tiernan throws a jab but it's blocked by Hawthorne.
Hawthorne takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hawthorne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tiernan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne needs to keep his hands up - Tiernan had a free shot at his head there.
Tiernan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tiernan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hawthorne looks for a takedown but Tiernan sprawls well.
Cathal Tiernan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tiernan counters with a straight right hand.
Tiernan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tiernan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tiernan throws an overhand right that lands on Hawthorne's shoulder, as Hawthorne tries to avoid the shot.
Tiernan looks to land a left hand but Hawthorne moved out of range nicely.
As Tiernan tries to get set, Hawthorne tries to push him back and clinch up but Tiernan manages to avoid the attempt.
Tiernan is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tiernan with a hook.
Tiernan lands with a hook. Hawthorne tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hawthorne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tiernan swivels and escapes.
Tiernan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tiernan digs a good body shot into Hawthorne's ribs.
Tiernan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawthorne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hawthorne drives through with a takedown into Tiernan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Tiernan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawthorne looking to pass the guard.
Hawthorne won't allow Tiernan to get back to his feet.
Hawthorne looking to pass the guard.
Tiernan wants to get back to his feet but Hawthorne is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne slips nicely into half guard.

Hawthorne is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hawthorne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tiernan pushes Hawthorne off looking to stand but Hawthorne dives back in and keeps control.
Hawthorne trying to control from Tiernan's half guard. Tiernan has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tiernan is looking to stand up but Hawthorne isn't so interested in that idea.
Hawthorne is pushing down on Tiernan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tiernan is fighting to maintain full guard but Hawthorne has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tiernan wants to get back to his feet.

Tiernan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hawthorne is trying to control the action in half guard but Tiernan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tiernan is trying to stand up here but Hawthorne is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tiernan misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cathal Tiernan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tiernan 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!