PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Brodas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hawkins
vs
Brodas

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brock Brodas!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brodas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawkins circles away.
Brodas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Brock Brodas has been cut.
Brodas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hawkins's waist but Hawkins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Brodas off to one side.
Hawkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Hawkins does no damage.
Hawkins moves in looking to clinch but Brodas pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Brodas.

Hawkins moves into the clinch.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawkins misses with a few strikes there.
Brodas blocks a head kick by Hawkins.

Hawkins drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hawkins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Hawkins stands up and waves to Brodas to follow him.
Brodas tries for a takedown but Hawkins circles away easily

and Hawkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnny Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brock Brodas.
Brodas looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hawkins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hawkins is controlling the pace.
Hawkins is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Hawkins decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brodas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hawkins counters with a head kick. That will keep Brodas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hawkins fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hawkins has Brodas up against the cage in a clinch.
Brodas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Brodas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hawkins.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Brodas.

Brodas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brodas is looking to take a break and control but Hawkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hawkins wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins tries to bench press Brodas off him but Brodas keeps the position.
Hawkins is trying to control Brodas's posture but Brodas avoids it.
Brodas trying to control the position but Hawkins is working away.
Hawkins trying his best to control but Brodas has mounted him.
Hawkins manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Brodas wants to take a breather but Hawkins is having none of it.

That's four 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.

Hawkins makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Some wild striking there from Hawkins.
Brodas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hawkins with a lazy takedown attempt

so Brodas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Brodas tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkins is retaining full guard.
Brodas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hawkins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hawkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Hawkins has his hands on Brodas's head, controlling the position.

Hawkins pushes Brodas off and gets back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hawkins darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hawkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brock Brodas's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brodas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brodas throws a lazy head kick
and Hawkins counters with a big head kick but Brodas shrugs it off.
Hawkins misses with a combination

and Brodas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Brodas prevents Hawkins from standing back up.
Brodas wants to pass to mount but Hawkins is defending the position.
Johnny Hawkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brodas is thwarting Hawkins's attempts to control the position.
Hawkins gets back to full guard.
Brodas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brodas throws a big right hand that misses.

Hawkins keeping busy on the bottom but Brodas has passed one foot through into half guard.

Hawkins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brodas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Brodas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hawkins wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hawkins gets back to full guard.
Hawkins keeping moving, preventing Brodas from controlling successfully.
Hawkins is trying to control the position but Brodas postures up.
Brodas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hawkins has his foot on Brodas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Brodas works his way back into a safe position though.
Brodas wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins pulls Brodas in close to his closed guard and prevents Brodas from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hawkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brodas is one step ahead there.
Brodas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hawkins trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hawkins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hawkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hawkins slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hawkins is looking to take a break and control but Brodas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hawkins advances to full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hawkins dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brock Brodas's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hawkins misses with a takedown attempt

and Brodas counters with a takedown into side control.
Hawkins is trying to buck Brodas off.
Hawkins can't do much from the bottom here.
Hawkins is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Brodas off and has taken his back!
Hawkins lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Brodas.
Hawkins has Brodas flattened out and is raining down punches.
Hawkins lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Brodas.

Hawkins is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Brodas defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brodas trying to get back to his feet but Hawkins is in full control for now.
Hawkins connects with a big shot to the side of Brodas's head.
Hawkins tries to keep control of the position but Brodas is staying busy.
Hawkins lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Hawkins lands strikes to the head.
Brodas covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Hawkins trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Brodas doesn't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brodas covering up well and avoiding damage.
Brodas has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Hawkins.
Hawkins throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Hawkins is persistently looking for the submission but Brodas is defending it well.
Brodas is in bad spot here.
Can Brodas hold on?! Hawkins is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Brodas's body.
Hawkins is punishing Brodas with strikes - can he finish him?!
Hawkins scores with punches to the body.
Brodas is keeping busy.

Hawkins looking for the choke but no joy.
Brodas staying busy and making it hard for Hawkins to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins missing with strikes from the back.

Hawkins is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Brodas has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Brodas is really stuck here.
Hawkins wants to control but Brodas manages to buck him off and is now in Hawkins's guard! Nice work there by Brodas!

Hawkins has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Brodas off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brodas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Hawkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hawkins has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

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