PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Hawks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Shaver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Dick Shaver was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hawks
vs
Shaver

179 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

172 cm
23
186 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Hawks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dick Shaver!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaver connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Robert Hawks has been cut.
Shaver throws a sloppy head kick and Hawks moves out of range easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hawks.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shaver is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaver regains half guard.
Shaver is controlling Hawks's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hawks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shaver defending well though.
Shaver controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dick Shaver wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shaver falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hawks counters with a three punch combo that has Shaver backing up. Shaver nods at Hawks to acknowledge the strikes.

Shaver rushes Hawks and presses him up against the cage.

Shaver has hold of one of Hawks's legs. Hawks is fighting the takedown attempt but Shaver gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Shaver wants to control from the top but Hawks keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shaver defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaver 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.
Shaver must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Dick Shaver has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A head kick misses from Shaver.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawks tries for a takedown but Shaver sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hawks is breathing heavily.

Shaver feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shaver pushes down on Hawks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Shaver tries to pass to full mount but Hawks defends it.
Hawks wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawks is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Shaver dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Hawks's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shaver throws a combination. Hawks tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hawks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shaver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shaver with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hawks shoots and misses
enabling Shaver to counter with a crisp jab.
Hawks on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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!
Shaver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hawks moves out of range as Shaver throws a body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaver throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shaver throws a nice head kick!

Shaver clinches with his opponent.
Shaver lands a body punch in the clinch.

Shaver gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Shaver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hawks is keeping the position for now.
Hawks is trying to keep Shaver in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaver forces his way into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shaver is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shaver wants to pass to mount but Hawks is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaver is trying to control the action in half guard but Hawks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Shaver wants to free his trapped foot but Hawks is holding on for dear life with his legs.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shaver connects with a body shot.
Robert Hawks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shaver throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shaver scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hawks in his tracks.
Shaver scoring well with a low kick there.
Shaver misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaver lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Shaver drops Hawks with a left right combo! Shaver follows him down to the ground into side control.
Hawks is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shaver connects with a decent elbow.

Shaver wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hawks, who protects the arm well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Shaver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Robert Hawks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shaver jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Robert Hawks's cut is getting worse.
Shaver throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Hawks stumbling backwards into the cage! Hawks bounces back off the cage towards Shaver, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Shaver lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Shaver celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Dick Shaver!
A determined Dick Shaver didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!