PBP Commentary

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

Hertschue
vs
Hawk

178 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
265 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

[GTI] Divine Clothing

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ima Hertschue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Hawk!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hawk drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hawk scoring with punches and elbows.
Hertschue avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hawk.
Hertschue is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Hertschue looking for submissions off his back.
Hawk wants to free his trapped foot but Hertschue is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hertschue kicks off Hawk and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawk dives in and scores a takedown into Hertschue's guard.
Hertschue keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.
Hawk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hertschue will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hertschue avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hertschue looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk throws an elbow that misses. Hertschue uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hawk's guard. Nice move by Hertschue!
Hawk controls Hertschue momentarily but Hertschue frees himself.
Hertschue trying to control but Hawk is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hertschue got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hawk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hertschue has managed to get both his arms back between Hawk's legs - danger averted.
Hertschue could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hawk is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hertschue defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hawk working for a triangle but Hertschue defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk controls Hertschue momentarily but Hertschue frees himself.
Hertschue won't allow Hawk to sweep him here.
Hawk wants to stand but Hertschue is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hawk working for a triangle but Hertschue defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Hawk throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hawk controls Hertschue momentarily but Hertschue frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawk is pulling down on Hertschue's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Hawk dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hertschue shoots in and drives through. Hawk sprawls well.

Hawk throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hertschue tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hawk is in Hertschue's guard.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Hertschue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hertschue might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hawk controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hawk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hertschue is controlling Hawk's posture.
Hertschue looking for a sweep. Not yet Hertschue, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hertschue is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hawk defends well.
Hawk throws an elbow that misses. Hertschue uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hawk's guard. Nice move by Hertschue!
Hawk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawk is trying to keep Hertschue in close.
Hawk is pulling down on Hertschue's head. It's preventing any offense from Hertschue, at least for the moment.

Hawk looking for a guillotine here but Hertschue defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawk working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hertschue doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hertschue manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hawk is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hertschue in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hawk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hawk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mike Hawk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawk looking for a sweep. Not yet Hawk, not yet.
Hawk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Hawk is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hawk lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hertschue tries to score a body lock takedown but Hawk shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hertschue drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ima Hertschue. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hawk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hertschue gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hawk to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawk looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Hawk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Hawk throws a head kick that misses.

Hawk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Hawk seems to be looking for submissions.
Hertschue is refusing to be controlled, as Hawk sits in half guard.
Hawk looks to land a strike but Hertschue avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Hertschue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hertschue looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Hawk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hertschue dives on top into guard.

Hawk working for a triangle but Hertschue defends it easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk keeping moving, preventing Hertschue from controlling successfully.

Hawk is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hertschue is aware though and is defending well.
Hawk looking to control.
Hawk lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hertschue!
Hawk controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hawk cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hertschue tries to hold on but Hawk pushes him away.
Hawk pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hawk trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
BOOM! Hawk connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Hawk working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hawk lands with some strikes.
Mike Hawk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawk working the ground and pound effectively.
Hawk content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

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