PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Amenofis Akhenaton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Akhenaton
vs
Hawk

182 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Amenofis Akhenaton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bryan Hawk!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hawk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hawk trying to control but Akhenaton is working from the bottom.
Akhenaton is looking to stand up but Hawk isn't so interested in that idea.
Hawk content to stall in guard here.
Hawk tries to free his leg and advance position but Akhenaton is retaining full guard.
Hawk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hawk cracks Akhenaton with a solid left hand.
Hawk is pushing down on Akhenaton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Akhenaton is fighting to maintain full guard but Hawk has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hawk with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akhenaton wants to get back to full guard.
Hawk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hawk throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hawk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Hawk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Akhenaton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hawk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hawk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hawk pushes down on Akhenaton's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hawk is keen to just control but Akhenaton is a slippery customer.
Akhenaton wants to control but Hawk is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akhenaton is not content to let Hawk control the position.
Akhenaton wants to control but Hawk is keeping busy.

Hawk decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Hawk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Akhenaton sprawls well initially but Hawk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hawk wants to take a breather but Akhenaton is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Akhenaton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hawk wants to pass the guard but Akhenaton is keeping the position.
Hawk looks gassed!

Hawk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Akhenaton wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Hawk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Akhenaton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hawk, into his guard.
Hawk trying to strike off his back.

Akhenaton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Akhenaton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hawk is pushing Akhenaton's head away, looking to escape. Akhenaton manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hawk is trying to get back to half guard.
Hawk throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Akhenaton tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Akhenaton has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hawk is looking for a sweep.

Akhenaton decides to stand back up. Akhenaton steps back and let's Hawk get back to his feet.

Hawk clinches with his opponent.

Hawk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akhenaton tries a head kick but it misses.
Akhenaton throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Akhenaton tries to clinch up.

Hawk has managed to clinch.
Akhenaton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Hawk dominated that round.
That's time! Akhenaton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

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

Hawk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Amenofis Akhenaton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawk shoots in but no luck this time.

Hawk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Akhenaton!
Akhenaton is squirming around, avoiding Hawk's attempts to control the action.
Akhenaton working to try and regain half guard.
Hawk trying to control but Akhenaton is having none of it.
Akhenaton taking shots to the head.
Bryan Hawk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawk is breathing heavily.
Hawk unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akhenaton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hawk.

Hawk get's back to his feet.
Akhenaton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hawk.
Hawk throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Akhenaton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hawk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akhenaton swivels and escapes.
Amenofis Akhenaton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Hawk.
Akhenaton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Akhenaton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hawk swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hawk closes the distance and clinches.
Akhenaton lands a shoulder strike.
Akhenaton trying to stall but Hawk improves his position.

Hawk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawk fails with a takedown attempt.
Akhenaton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hawk pinned against the cage. Hawk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Akhenaton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A right-left combo lands from Akhenaton.

Hawk moves into range and clinches up with Akhenaton.

Hawk manages to break the clinch.
Akhenaton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akhenaton closes the distance and clinches up with Hawk, looking for a takedown. Akhenaton pushes Hawk against the cage but Hawk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hawk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Hawk breaks from the clinch.

Hawk closes the distance and pushes Akhenaton back into the cage.
Akhenaton wants to get back to striking at distance but Hawk won't allow it.
Akhenaton throws a head punch that misses.
Hawk blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Hawk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk misses with a series of wild punches.
Hawk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akhenaton swivels and escapes.
Hawk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Akhenaton.

Hawk takes the fight into the clinch.

Hawk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akhenaton leaves Hawk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hawk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Akhenaton lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Akhenaton.
Akhenaton throws a right and a left that Hawk avoids nicely.

Hawk feints and as Akhenaton raises his hands in defense, Hawk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akhenaton is keeping the position for now.
Hawk with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk looking to pass the guard.
Hawk content to stall in guard here.
Akhenaton trying to control the position.
Hawk lands a couple of digs.
Akhenaton keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.
Hawk content to stall in guard here.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhenaton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Hawk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hawk leaves Akhenaton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Hawk gets a clinch.

Hawk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akhenaton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hawk avoids it really well and circles away.
Hawk moves away from the strike by Akhenaton.
Akhenaton tries to clinch up.
Akhenaton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hawk instigates a clinch.
Akhenaton slowing the pace effectively.

Hawk breaks from the clinch.

Hawk has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hawk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Akhenaton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amenofis Akhenaton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hawk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hawk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Akhenaton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hawk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Akhenaton keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.

Hawk stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Hawk gets a clinch.

Hawk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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.
Akhenaton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akhenaton shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawk tries to sprawl out of it but Akhenaton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hawk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hawk shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hawk was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hawk looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hawk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hawk throws some wild stikes that Akhenaton manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hawk looking to land elbow strikes but Akhenaton uses the position to regain half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hawk lands a nice short elbow.
Hawk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Akhenaton actively working from the bottom here.
Akhenaton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Hawk is trying to work for a kimura but Akhenaton is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Akhenaton wants to get back to full guard.
Hawk trying to control from half guard but Akhenaton is working away.
Hawk throws a strike but Akhenaton avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hawk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Akhenaton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hawk has Akhenaton up against the cage in a clinch.
Akhenaton fails to pull the fight into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Hawk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hawk has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Hawk!