PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between mitsi fili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hawkins's choice of entrance music: California. Steve Hawkins looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

fili
vs
Hawkins

180 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

172 cm
20
138 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, mitsi fili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins moves forwards but fili connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Steve Hawkins has been cut.
Hawkins keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawkins moves in looking to clinch but fili pushes him off.
Hawkins avoids the body shot from fili.
Hawkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawkins swats away the attempt to clinch by fili.
Hawkins swinging wilding here.

fili gets caught flat footed, as Hawkins shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
fili wants to stand but Hawkins is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins thows a big elbow that misses.

fili has his feet on Hawkins's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
fili wants to clinch up but Hawkins keeps it at a distance.
fili lands with a nice body punch.
fili really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hawkins looks gassed!
fili scores with the left hand. Hawkins knows he should have avoided that one.
fili connects with a jab.

Hawkins shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches fili napping and manages to drive through into side control!
fili wants to get back to his feet but Hawkins drags him back down.

fili sneaks out the side door and pushes Hawkins away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Hawkins takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd cheers as fili lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hawkins doesn't seem phased though.

fili instigates a clinch.
fili stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins trying to stall but fili improves his position.
fili lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
fili lands a nice shot to the body.
fili stalling the fight.
fili lands on the inside with an uppercut.
fili lands with a short shot to the head.
fili lands a nice uppercut.
fili lands with a short punch from the clinch.
fili digs a right hand underneath Hawkins's ribcage. Hawkins let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short body shot lands from fili as the two fighters clinch.
fili gets through Hawkins's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
fili scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from fili.
fili holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hawkins wants to break free but fili has control.
fili slowing the pace effectively.
fili lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili lands with a light punch inside.
fili lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
fili tries to score a body lock takedown but Hawkins shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A nice left hand lands by fili.
Still in the clinch, fili scores with a nice short uppercut.
fili lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
fili has Hawkins pressed against the cage.
Hawkins misses with a punch to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. fili obliges.
Hawkins can't get the takedown.
fili presses Hawkins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
fili lands with a short head shot on the inside.
fili lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hawkins backwards.
Nice body punch from fili.

fili pulls guard effortlessly.
Hawkins prevents fili from getting back to his feet.

fili pushes Hawkins off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fili is looking to clinch but Hawkins is avoiding it.

fili has closed the distance and engaged Hawkins in a clinch.
fili taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
fili lands an uppercut.
Hawkins tries to pull guard but fili won't allow it.
Hawkins is pressed up against the cage. fili has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hawkins down to the mat. Hawkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
fili lands a jab to Hawkins's midsection.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
fili listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
fili scores with a hook.
fili wants to clinch up but Hawkins keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mitsi fili dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Hawkins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

fili lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hawkins at a distance.
fili connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hawkins. Hawkins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
fili connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hawkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
fili throws a series of strikes that have Hawkins backpedaling.
The fight stays on the outside here - fili looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
fili slaps away a takedown attempt from Hawkins, before circling back to the center of the mat.
fili works the jab nicely.
fili with a body punch. A glancing blow.

fili moves into the clinch successfully.
Hawkins tries for a takedown. No joy.
A body shot lands from fili.
fili lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hawkins is breathing heavily.
Hawkins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
fili lands a body punch in the clinch.
fili pressing his opponent against the cage.
fili works on Hawkins's body with a couple of short punches.

fili manages to pull guard.
fili is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

fili kicks Hawkins off and gets to his feet.
fili ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
fili displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hawkins.
mitsi fili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Hawkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

fili gets a clinch.
fili lands an uppercut.
fili lands with a short head shot on the inside.
fili lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hawkins or not.
Hawkins is pressed up against the cage. fili has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hawkins down to the mat. Hawkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hawkins looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hawkins on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
fili takes a swing at Hawkins's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for fili, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hawkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. fili looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
fili is not content to let Hawkins control the position.

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

Hawkins stands up.
Hawkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hawkins keeps the fight on the outside.
fili tries to clinch there but Hawkins circles away.
Hawkins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
fili is looking to clinch.
fili circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fili stalks Hawkins and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hawkins's face. Hawkins staggers backwards, shaken.

That has opened up Steve Hawkins's cut even more.
fili tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hawkins decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in fili's guard.

fili pushes Hawkins off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hawkins throws a series of punches but fili moves out of range.
fili wants to clinch up but Hawkins keeps it at a distance.
Hawkins walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

fili moves into the clinch.
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!
fili lands a right hand.
Hawkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hawkins tries to stall but fili uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

fili has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hawkins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
A lull in the action here.
What can Hawkins do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mitsi fili dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Hawkins's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

fili doesn't manage to clinch there - Hawkins circles away.
fili lands a nice looking body shot.
Hawkins circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hawkins counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
fili scores with a shot to the side of Hawkins's head.
Hawkins has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
fili working some nice short punches in the clinch.
fili throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hawkins can't get the takedown.
fili is leaning against Hawkins and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hawkins gets underhooks to prevent fili's takedown attempt.
fili lands a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
fili throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
fili scores with a nice hook to the head.
fili lands a body shot in the clinch.
fili working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from fili.
Hawkins is looking to control fili's arms but fili gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hawkins has his back to the cage.
fili working some nice short punches in the clinch.
fili lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
fili lands a body punch.
fili's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A right handed body shot lands from fili.
fili is pushing Hawkins up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

fili drags the fight down to the ground.
Hawkins trying to control but fili is working from the bottom.

fili wriggles free and stands up.

fili closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins being controlled against the cage.
fili lands a right hand.
fili lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hawkins backwards.

fili has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hawkins regains guard immediately.
fili wanted to stand there but Hawkins had control of the position.

fili gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hawkins blocks a jab.

Hawkins gets a takedown into half guard.

fili makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from fili.
Hawkins takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
mitsi fili is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hawkins drives through and clinches with fili against the cage.
fili wants to stall.
fili lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hawkins backwards.
fili managing to block the knees to the body from Hawkins.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

fili jumps guard and drags Hawkins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hawkins prevents fili from getting back to his feet.
fili trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hawkins is working fili over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
fili preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hawkins trying to control but fili is working from the bottom.

fili scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hawkins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
mitsi fili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A hook to the body from fili.
fili lands a body punch in the clinch.
Come on fili - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Steve Hawkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawkins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as fili walks away with a smile on his face. Hawkins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
mitsi fili showed his dominance in that final round.
Well fili 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... mitsi fili!