PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Tkacz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Hawthorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Tkacz
vs
Hawthorn

182 cm
18
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robert Tkacz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jackson Hawthorn!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hawthorn lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tkacz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tkacz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nice sprawl there from Tkacz as Hawthorn shoots in.
Tkacz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Robert Tkacz has been cut.
Tkacz tries to clinch there but Hawthorn circles away.

Tkacz instigates a clinch.
Tkacz gets underhooks to prevent Hawthorn's takedown attempt.
Tkacz crunches a lovely knee into Hawthorn's ribcage.
Tkacz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Robert Tkacz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Hawthorn.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tkacz misses with a knee strike.
Hawthorn tries to score a body lock takedown but Tkacz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hawthorn has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tkacz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tkacz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Tkacz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hawthorn.
Tkacz is looking to improve his position.
Tkacz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tkacz tries to get out of the position.
Tkacz trying to control from the bottom.
Tkacz is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorn is trying to control the action in half guard but Tkacz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tkacz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hawthorn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hawthorn keeps the fight on the outside.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hawthorn misses with a wild combination.
Hawthorn swinging wilding here.
Hawthorn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jackson Hawthorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tkacz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hawthorn tries to keep at a distance but Tkacz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tkacz connects with a knee to the head.
Tkacz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tkacz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hawthorn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hawthorn looks gassed!
Tkacz gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hawthorn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Tkacz.
Tkacz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hawthorn blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawthorn fails to pull guard.
Tkacz gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tkacz landing knees to the body.
Tkacz lands an elbow that stopped Hawthorn in his tracks for a moment.
Tkacz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tkacz lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tkacz landing knees to the head.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
Tkacz tries to land a knee to the head but Hawthorn blocks with his arms.
Tkacz stalling.
Tkacz lands a nice elbow.
Hawthorn jumps guard but Tkacz stands there with Hawthorn around his waist. Hawthorn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tkacz connects with a knee to the head.
Tkacz landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz crunches a lovely knee into Hawthorn's ribcage.
Tkacz landing knees to the head.

Hawthorn turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hawthorn manages to end up in side control.
Tkacz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hawthorn on the ground.
Tkacz struggling a bit here.
Hawthorn tries to score with some ground and pound. Tkacz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Tkacz tries to buck Hawthorn off but Hawthorn is having none of it.
Hawthorn tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ground and pound from Hawthorn seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tkacz is trying to buck Hawthorn off.
Tkacz tries to improve position but can't.
Tkacz can't do much from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tkacz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz slips a jab and a cross from Hawthorn.

Tkacz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tkacz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hawthorn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tkacz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hawthorn is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Tkacz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tkacz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tkacz landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tkacz looking to throw knees to the head but Hawthorn is blocking nicely.
Tkacz connects with a knee to the head.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Tkacz.
Tkacz connects with a knee to the head.
Hawthorn is trying to drag Tkacz to the mat but Tkacz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tkacz unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hawthorn lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tkacz gets underhooks to prevent Hawthorn's takedown attempt.
Tkacz misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Tkacz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Tkacz's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tkacz has Hawthorn up against the ropes in a clinch.
Hawthorn tries for a takedown but Tkacz manages to get underhooks.
Tkacz lands a knee to the body.
Hawthorn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tkacz prevents it.
Tkacz misses with a knee strike.
Tkacz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Tkacz.
Tkacz misses with a knee to the head.
Tkacz gets underhooks to prevent Hawthorn's takedown attempt.
Robert Tkacz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Hawthorn.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tkacz lands a knee to the body.
Tkacz connects with a knee to the head.
Tkacz creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hawthorn's defenses.
Hawthorn tries to pull guard but Tkacz holds him up against the ropes and eventually Hawthorn drops back down to his feet.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knees to the body from Tkacz.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tkacz misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorn goes for a takedown attempt but Tkacz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A left and a right from Hawthorn both land. Nice combination.

Tkacz clinches up against the ropes.
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tkacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hawthorn's face.
Tkacz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hawthorn.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head.
Hawthorn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tkacz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tkacz tries to land a knee to the head but Hawthorn blocks with his arms.
Tkacz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hawthorn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hawthorn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tkacz just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tkacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hawthorn's face.
Tkacz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hawthorn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hawthorn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tkacz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tkacz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hawthorn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tkacz tries a knee to the head but Hawthorn blocks it.

Hawthorn turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz can't do much from the bottom here.

Hawthorn is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tkacz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hawthorn misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Tkacz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hawthorn wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hawthorn tries to advance to mount but can't.
Tkacz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tkacz holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tkacz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Robert Tkacz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hawthorn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hawthorn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tkacz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tkacz plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Tkacz forces Hawthorn back against the ropes and clinches.
Hawthorn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tkacz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tkacz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tkacz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hawthorn.

Tkacz darts in and clinches Hawthorn up against the ropes.
Tkacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hawthorn's face.
Tkacz lands an elbow just above Hawthorn 's eye.
Tkacz tries a knee to the head but Hawthorn blocks it.
Tkacz lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tkacz obliges.
Tkacz lands an elbow that stopped Hawthorn in his tracks for a moment.
Robert Tkacz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tkacz tries to land a knee to the head but Hawthorn blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz crunches a lovely knee into Hawthorn's ribcage.
Hawthorn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tkacz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tkacz lands a nice elbow.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!

Hawthorn decides to pull guard.
Tkacz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hawthorn looking to control.
Tkacz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hawthorn trying to strike off his back.
Hawthorn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hawthorn looking for a sweep. Not yet Hawthorn, not yet.
Tkacz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hawthorn throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Hawthorn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tkacz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tkacz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Tkacz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Robert Tkacz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tkacz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tkacz wants to clinch up but Hawthorn keeps it at a distance.
Hawthorn looks to clinch

and Tkacz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tkacz.
Tkacz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hawthorn.
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hawthorn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tkacz with a knee to the head.
Tkacz landing knees to the head.
Tkacz landing knees to the head.
Hawthorn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Robert Tkacz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Hawthorn.
Tkacz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tkacz misses with a knee strike.
Tkacz lands a damaging elbow.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tkacz lands an elbow just above Hawthorn 's eye.
Tkacz lands a knee to the body.
Tkacz landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorn has Tkacz pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Tkacz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tkacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hawthorn's face.
Hawthorn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tkacz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tkacz.
Tkacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hawthorn's face.
Tkacz stalls.
Hawthorn can't get the takedown.
Hawthorn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tkacz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hawthorn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hawthorn looks to land a right hand but Tkacz moved out of range.
Tkacz doesn't manage to clinch there - Hawthorn circles away.
Tkacz lands a head kick!
Hawthorn attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Tkacz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tkacz lands a nice elbow.
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz looking to throw knees to the head but Hawthorn is blocking nicely.
Tkacz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tkacz misses with a knee to the head.
Hawthorn has Tkacz pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Tkacz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hawthorn takes an elbow to the temple.
A knee to the head by Tkacz.
Hawthorn tries to score a body lock takedown but Tkacz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hawthorn tries to score a body lock takedown but Tkacz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tkacz gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tkacz stops a takedown attempt from Hawthorn.
Hawthorn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tkacz with a knee to the head.
Tkacz with a knee to the head.
Hawthorn wants a takedown.
Tkacz lands an elbow that stopped Hawthorn in his tracks for a moment.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hawthorn can't get the takedown.
Hawthorn is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hawthorn has Tkacz pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Tkacz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hawthorn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tkacz prevents it.
Jackson Hawthorn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hawthorn's face.
Hawthorn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tkacz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tkacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hawthorn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tkacz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tkacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tkacz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hawthorn can't get the takedown.
Tkacz lands a damaging elbow.
Hawthorn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tkacz misses with a knee strike.
Tkacz looking to throw knees to the head but Hawthorn is blocking nicely.
Tkacz scores with a knee to the head.
Tkacz lands a damaging elbow.
Tkacz is pressed up against the ropes. Hawthorn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tkacz down to the mat. Tkacz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Tkacz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hawthorn wants a takedown.
Tkacz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tkacz misses with a knee strike.
Hawthorn tries to pull guard but Tkacz won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tkacz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Hawthorn pulls Tkacz into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hawthorn throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hawthorn striking off his back but it's not causing Tkacz any problems.
Hawthorn wants to sweep but no luck.

Hawthorn has an active guard here but Tkacz has managed to pass into half guard.
Hawthorn tries to roll over but Tkacz keeps him under control.
Tkacz trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Tkacz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tkacz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Tkacz!