PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Hawke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hawke
vs
Sanders

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kurtis Hawke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawke connects with a leg kick. Sanders looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hawke misses with a few strikes there.
Hawke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hawke throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sanders counters with a shoot takedown. Hawke fights it but they end up in guard.
Hawke is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders throws and elbow that misses. Hawke uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sanders's guard. Nice move by Hawke!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawke looking to sit in guard and control but Sanders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hawke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanders is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanders accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders throwing strikes from guard but Hawke blocks nicely.
Sanders is looking to work some ground and pound but Hawke has wrist control.
Sanders loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanders in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanders preventing the sweep.
Hawke is breathing heavily.
Sanders is in close to Hawke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sanders scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hawke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanders with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanders landing some decent shots from guard.
Sanders thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throws a strike but Hawke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sanders is looking for a triangle but Hawke pushes his legs off easily.
Sanders trying to control the position here.
Hawke with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sanders looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanders, not yet.
Sanders is trying to control the position but Hawke postures up.
Hawke is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanders has wrist control.
Hawke trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hawke lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hawke.
Sanders checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Sanders swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hawke is now in Sanders's guard. A big mistake from Sanders there, giving up the dominant position!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanders bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hawke's guard.
Hawke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanders in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanders chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanders with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanders with a nice head shot there.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Sanders dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hawke throws a leg kick

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hawke won't be happy with that.
Sanders throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sanders postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sanders looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hawke is avoiding damage well.
Sanders cracks Hawke with a big elbow.

Sanders tries for a kimura but Hawke is defending well.
Sanders landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanders working the head and body with strikes.
Mike Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanders is working Hawke over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sanders lands an elbow.
Hawke takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanders working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders cracks Hawke with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hawke taking punishment in the form of punches.

Sanders wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hawke, who protects the arm well.
Sanders in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sanders working the ground and pound from side control.
Sanders working the ground and pound but Hawke is defending the strikes.
Sanders creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hawke sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sanders working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sanders is trying to get an arm triangle but Hawke is defending well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders cracks Hawke with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Sanders is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Hawke is trying to escape and Sanders transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Hawke is forced to tap! Nice work there by Sanders! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Sanders!