PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cross Lavi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Hawla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawla has chosen Ten Thousand Fists as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Lavi
vs
Hawla

180 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

182 cm
23
178 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cross Lavi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnny Hawla!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hawla closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lavi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hawla gets through Lavi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hawla gets underhooks to prevent Lavi's takedown attempt.
Hawla lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hawla pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hawla gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lavi.
Hawla lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hawla just leaning against Lavi, taking a breather.
Lavi wants to break free but Hawla has control.
Hawla scores with a shot to the side of Lavi's head.
Lavi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Still in the clinch, Hawla scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hawla using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hawla effectively controlling the action here.

Hawla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A nice combination there by Hawla.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lavi is defended easily by Hawla.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cross Lavi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavi dives in and grabs Hawla's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hawla pushes down on Lavi's head and hops out.
Lavi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hawla sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lavi fails with a takedown attempt.
Hawla tries to close the distance and clinch but Lavi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hawla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lavi, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Lavi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lavi tries to pull guard but Hawla won't allow it.
A right hook to the body lands for Hawla.
A left hand lands to the body for Hawla.
Hawla lands a nice uppercut.
Lavi has Hawla pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hawla manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hawla.
Lavi can't get the takedown.
Hawla comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hawla with a knee to the head.

Hawla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lavi keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hawla scores with a shot to the side of Lavi's head.
Hawla lands a left hand.
Hawla effectively controlling the action here.
Hawla using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Hawla - that landed with a thud.
Lavi is trying to drag Hawla to the mat but Hawla just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lavi tries a body shot but Hawla blocks it.
Lavi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hawla lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Hawla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lavi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hawla sprawls well. Hawla wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lavi gets slowly back to his feet.
Hawla wants to clinch.
Lavi closes the distance and clinches up with Hawla, looking for a takedown. Lavi pushes Hawla against the cage but Hawla circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavi fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lavi.
Lavi is breathing heavily.
Hawla throws a sloppy head kick and Lavi moves out of range easily.

Hawla takes the fight into the clinch.
Hawla stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hawla gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lavi.
Hawla misses with a knee to the head.

Hawla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawla scores with a three punch combo!
Hawla lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Hawla closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hawla lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hawla lands a good knee to the midsection. Lavi won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawla breaks from the clinch.
Lavi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck for Lavi with that takedown attempt.

Hawla clinches.
Hawla gets underhooks to prevent Lavi's takedown attempt.
Hawla working Lavi over with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Hawla pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lavi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lavi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hawla but Hawla pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Hawla rushes Lavi and presses him up against the cage.

Hawla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hawla has closed the distance and engaged Lavi in a clinch.
Hawla has Lavi pressed against the cage.
Hawla connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hawla dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lavi shoots for a takedown but Hawla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Hawla gets a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Hawla.

Hawla breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hawla tries to clinch up but Lavi circles away and keeps his distance.
Hawla moves in looking to clinch but Lavi pushes him off.
Hawla throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Hawla rushes Lavi and presses him up against the cage.
Lavi takes an elbow to the temple.
Lavi tries to break free but Hawla pushes him back against the cage.

Hawla manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Hawla as Lavi shoots in.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lavi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cross Lavi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lavi is defended easily by Hawla.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lavi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hawla clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cross Lavi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawla wants to clinch.
Lavi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lavi tries to keep at a distance but Hawla has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lavi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hawla gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lavi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawla avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hawla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lavi goes for a takedown attempt but Hawla pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Lavi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lavi tries to score with some ground and pound. Hawla controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hawla is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Lavi has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hawla wants to control but Lavi postures up.
Hawla really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lavi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawla manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lavi's best efforts.

Hawla is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lavi pulls his head out easily.
Lavi stalling.
Lavi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Hawla kicks Lavi off and gets back to his feet.
Hawla lands with a nice body punch.
Hawla tries a head kick but it misses.
Lavi shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawla tries to sprawl out of it but Lavi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hawla manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lavi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawla circles away.

Lavi scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Lavi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hawla is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lavi controlling the pace for now.
Lavi looking to finish with strikes here!
Lavi avoids the attempt from Hawla to control.

That's four 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.
Hawla tries to reverse the position but Lavi maintains control.
Lavi controlling from mount.
Hawla wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lavi.
Poor strikes thrown by Lavi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hawla keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hawla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hawla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lavi fails with a takedown attempt.
Lavi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hawla as he jumps to the side.

Lavi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hawla is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hawla is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lavi is aware though and is defending well.

Hawla throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lavi uses it to pass to side control.
Hawla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You can see the frustration on Hawla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lavi trying to control the position but Hawla is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawla tries to improve position but can't.

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

Lavi tries for a kimura but Hawla is defending well.
Lavi working away.

That's two 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.
Hawla manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lavi's best efforts.
Hawla wants to improve his position but Lavi is controlling well.
Lavi trying to control the action but Hawla is working from the bottom.
Lavi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hawla is pressing down on Lavi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lavi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hawla utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lavi scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lavi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lavi passes Hawla's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lavi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hawla keeps working.
Hawla is in trouble now - Lavi has advanced to mount!
Lavi looking to ground and pound but Hawla is blocking nicely.
Hawla tries to improve his position but instead Lavi has taken his back!
Lavi is riding his opponent, not letting Hawla buck him off.
Lavi missing with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hawla just trying to survive but Lavi is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Lavi is trying to stick to Hawla's back but Hawla is turning into Lavi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lavi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hawla.
Hawla trying to control the position from guard on top but Lavi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lavi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Lavi has his foot on Hawla's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hawla works his way back into a safe position though.
Hawla won't allow Lavi to get back to his feet.
Lavi keeping moving, preventing Hawla from controlling successfully.
Lavi trying to control the position here.

Hawla drops back looking for a leg! Lavi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lavi manages to kick Hawla off! Hawla jumps back into Lavi's guard.
Cross Lavi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Lavi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hawla defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cross Lavi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hawla 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Hawla!