PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle LeBlanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hawk
vs
LeBlanc

179 cm
23
202 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

178 cm
26
192 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kyle LeBlanc!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

LeBlanc shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hawk manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

LeBlanc drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hawk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hawk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hawk!
LeBlanc is looking to reverse the position.
LeBlanc sneaks back into half guard.
Hawk is keen to just control but LeBlanc is a slippery customer.
Hawk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. LeBlanc defending well though.
LeBlanc tries to get to full guard but Hawk has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawk moves nicely into side control.

Hawk decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but LeBlanc circles away quickly and effectively.

Hawk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
LeBlanc looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
LeBlanc utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hawk wants to pass the guard but LeBlanc is keeping the position.
LeBlanc looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
LeBlanc looking to control but Hawk passes into half guard.
LeBlanc regains full guard. Nicely done.
LeBlanc looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hawk is one step ahead there.

Hawk stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

LeBlanc closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

LeBlanc seems to be working for a kimura but Hawk defends the submission attempt.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
LeBlanc is working for a submission of some sort.

LeBlanc is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hawk doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time LeBlanc.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

LeBlanc has gone for a leg lock! Hawk slips out almost immediately though and dives into LeBlanc's guard.
LeBlanc looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hawk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
LeBlanc moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
LeBlanc has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hawk has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Hawk has LeBlanc up against the cage in a clinch.

Hawk has hold of one of LeBlanc's legs. LeBlanc is fighting the takedown attempt but Hawk gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
LeBlanc tries to land a sweep but no joy.
LeBlanc can't keep his opponent in guard - Hawk advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LeBlanc is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hawk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hawk's back!

Hawk preventing the rear naked choke attempt from LeBlanc.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Hawk will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hawk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

LeBlanc bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

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

LeBlanc wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hawk, who protects the arm well.

LeBlanc goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hawk has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for LeBlanc but great work by Hawk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeBlanc tries to bench press Hawk off him but Hawk keeps the position.
LeBlanc looking for a sweep but Hawk has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Hawk is landing with some decent strikes but LeBlanc is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hawk breaks from LeBlanc's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hawk fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
LeBlanc wants to control but Hawk is having none of it.
LeBlanc is bucking up trying to escape but Hawk cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
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!

Hawk working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
LeBlanc is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeBlanc is squirming around, avoiding Hawk's attempts to control the action.
LeBlanc is looking to get to half guard.
Mike Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawk fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
LeBlanc is desperately trying to improve his position but Hawk has a good base and remains in mount.
Hawk unloading with bombs!

Hawk working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk wants to finish this one by submission but LeBlanc is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hawk.
LeBlanc gets back to half guard.
LeBlanc wants to improve his position but Hawk is controlling well.

LeBlanc is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Hawk has latched onto it... Big trouble! Hawk pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it LeBlanc is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Hawk!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Hawk!