PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Morello Hawthorne (ranked 908 p4p, 3608 weight class) and Boko Haram (ranked 76 p4p, 229 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hawthorne
vs
Haram

159 cm
26
130
9 - 10 - 1

173 cm
26
146
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)
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 9 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Morello Hawthorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Boko Haram!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawthorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Haram circles away.
Haram fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hawthorne looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Haram gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hawthorne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Haram wants to stand up but Hawthorne is controlling him.
Hawthorne trying to control but Haram is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Haram 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne pushing down on Haram's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Hawthorne is looking for a kimura but Haram is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hawthorne to get the leverage.

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

Haram is defending against the submission attempts here by Hawthorne.
Haram tries to get to full guard but Hawthorne has control of the leg.
Haram is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hawthorne is keen to just control but Haram is a slippery customer.
Haram works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawthorne trying to control the position from guard on top but Haram is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hawthorne fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hawthorne pushes Haram up against the cage in a clinch.
Hawthorne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Haram just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hawthorne jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Haram walks away with a smile on his face. Hawthorne gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haram looks to throw the jab but Hawthorne is out of range.
Hawthorne tries to counter with a takedown but Haram is quick to defend against it.
Haram misses the shot to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Hawthorne takes one to the side of the head.

Hawthorne rushes Haram and presses him up against the cage.
Hawthorne swings wildly with an uppercut but Haram uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hawthorne working aggressively here.
Hawthorne tries to pull guard but Haram holds him up against the cage and eventually Hawthorne drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morello Hawthorne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haram leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haram.
Hawthorne misses with some punches.
Hawthorne misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haram.
Hawthorne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hawthorne throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Harams head.
Hawthorne gets through Haram's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawthorne is trying to pull guard but Haram turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Haram lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Morello Hawthorne will probably get the nod.
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.

Hawthorne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Haram, pushing him back against the cage.
Haram looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Hawthorne manages to pull guard.
Hawthorne pulls Haram in close to prevent any damage.

Hawthorne working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Haram has passed into half guard!
Still in half guard, Haram seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne trying to control but Haram postures up.
Haram content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Haram jumps into side control!
Hawthorne regains half guard.
Hawthorne wants to get back to full guard but Haram has mounted him!
Hawthorne is looking to improve his position but Haram isn't that keen on the idea.
Haram controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne wants to hold on but Haram pushes him away.

Haram stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Hawthorne closes the distance but Haram moves to the side
and Haram counters with a straight right hand.
Hawthorne fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Haram circles away.
Haram works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hawthorne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawthorne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Haram pinned against the cage. Haram gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haram swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hawthorne staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne blocks a jab.
Haram throws a right and a left that Hawthorne avoids nicely.
Hawthorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Haram circles away.
It seemed like Haram was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Haram slaps away a takedown attempt from Hawthorne, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haram looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morello Hawthorne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haram misses with a wild body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawthorne shoots in for a double leg but Haram sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Haram is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hawthorne shoots in looking for a takedown. Haram tries to sprawl out of it but Hawthorne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Haram manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Haram appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Boko Haram showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hawthorne clinches with his opponent.
Hawthorne lands a nice uppercut.

Hawthorne gets control of Haram's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hawthorne will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Haram avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hawthorne looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Haram passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne tries to roll over but Haram keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haram is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hawthorne trying to control from the bottom.
Well, if Haram is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hawthorne is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Haram wants to free his trapped foot but Hawthorne is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Haram moves nicely into side control.
Hawthorne tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Haram presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hawthorne looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Haram trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Boko Haram has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haram not allowing Hawthorne to control his hands.
Haram is hanging on to Hawthorne's back as he tries to escape.
Haram has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Will Haram go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haram is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Haram controlling the position well here. Hawthorne rolled but Haram kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Boko Haram comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Haram 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boko Haram!
Boko Haram seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.