PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski has chosen I'm Back - T.I as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Jonathan Hawkins has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jonathan Hawkins seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hawkins
vs
Birmiski

165 cm
31
142 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

170 cm
29
140 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jonathan Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ari Birmiski!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmiski scores with a sloppy right hand. Hawkins should have avoided that one.
Hawkins misses with a looping left.
Hawkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Birmiski tries to sprawl out of it but Hawkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Birmiski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hawkins shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hawkins showed some decent athleticism there.
Hawkins working over Birmiski with some ground and pound. Birmiski looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hawkins prevents Birmiski from improving his position.
Hawkins throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Birmiski to regain full guard.

Birmiski has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hawkins is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Birmiski.
Birmiski is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski is trying to control Hawkins's posture but Hawkins avoids it.
Hawkins throws an elbow but Birmiski slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hawkins looks up at the clock and then as Birmiski takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hawkins smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hawkins lands an elbow.
Birmiski is looking to reverse the position.
Hawkins wants to control but Birmiski is keeping him busy.
Hawkins taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins throws an elbow but Birmiski slips to the side and avoids it well.
Birmiski is looking for a sweep.
Hawkins lands a few punches from side control.
Hawkins tries to move to mount but Birmiski blocks the move with his legs.
Hawkins throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Birmiski works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Birmiski is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hawkins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hawkins's back!
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!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
You can see the frustration on Hawkins's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hawkins tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Birmiski scoring with strikes but Hawkins is staying in there.
Hawkins is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins is working hard here to advance position.
Birmiski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hawkins regains half guard.
Birmiski working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hawkins is refusing to be controlled, as Birmiski sits in half guard.
Hawkins is looking to improve his position.

Birmiski is trying to work for a kimura but Hawkins is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Birmiski seems to be looking for submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawkins gets full guard.
Birmiski trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Birmiski wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hawkins looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Birmiski puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Hawkins 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.

Birmiski cracks the inside of Hawkins's front leg.
Hawkins changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawkins throws a sloppy body shot
letting Birmiski counter with a right hand.
Hawkins stuffs the takedown attempt from Birmiski. Birmiski gets slowly back to his feet.
Birmiski throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Birmiski looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawkins is just out of range.
Birmiski throws a head kick but Hawkins moves out of range.
Hawkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hawkins scores with a body shot.
Hawkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Birmiski was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Hawkins or perhaps it was just good defense by Birmiski which made him look bad.
Hawkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Birmiski moves away.
Hawkins tries for a takedown but Birmiski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hawkins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Birmiski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Birmiski lands with a good body shot.
Birmiski lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hawkins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hawkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins thuds a left hand into Birmiski's body.
Birmiski throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Birmiski avoids the body shot from Hawkins.
Birmiski takes one on the button.
Hawkins is looking to wear down Birmiski with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hawkins connects with a body shot.
Jonathan Hawkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawkins misses with a hook
and Birmiski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawkins misses with a wild body shot.
Birmiski throws a lazy right hand but Hawkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hawkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Birmiski manages to avoid it.
Birmiski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - Birmiski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Birmiski manages to avoid it.
Hawkins lands a right hook to the body.
Hawkins throws a hook but Birmiski avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Birmiski as Hawkins shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Hawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawkins connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Birmiski lands a leg kick that knocks Hawkins off balance momentarily.
Hawkins scores with a hook to the body. Birmiski takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hawkins misses with a shot to the body
and Birmiski counters with a right hand to the body.
Birmiski looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawkins is just out of range.
Hawkins changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski staying out of range there.
Birmiski misses the jab.
Hawkins misses with a body shot.
Hawkins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Birmiskis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Hawkins shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Birmiski manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Birmiski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Birmiski is trying to control. Hawkins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Birmiski working over Hawkins with some ground and pound. Hawkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Birmiski wants to take a breather but Hawkins is having none of it.
Hawkins moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonathan Hawkins will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hawkins throws a shot from downtown. Birmiski moves away and avoids it.
Hawkins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Birmiski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Birmiski avoids the body shot from Hawkins.
Birmiski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawkins.
Hawkins lands with a right hand.
Birmiski throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hawkins makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hawkins misses with a right hand

and Birmiski counters with a single leg into guard. Hawkins didn't expect that.
Birmiski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins wants to sweep here but Birmiski controlling him for the moment.
Hawkins wants to improve his position but instead Birmiski has moved into half guard.
Hawkins is looking for a sweep. Birmiski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Birmiski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hawkins!
Hawkins is bucking up trying to escape but Birmiski cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hawkins is working to get back to half guard.
Birmiski working the ground and pound effectively.
Birmiski looking to control but Hawkins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins is trying to escape the mount.
Birmiski is landing with some decent strikes but Hawkins is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Birmiski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Birmiski breaks from Hawkins's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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!
Birmiski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawkins is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birmiski throws a strike there. Hawkins manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Birmiski landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Birmiski is trying to control the action in half guard but Hawkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ari Birmiski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Birmiski is looking to stall here but Hawkins recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hawkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hawkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkins is retaining full guard.
Hawkins is trying to keep Birmiski in close.
Hawkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Birmiski bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hawkins is trying to keep Birmiski in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins keeping full guard, as Birmiski tries to pass.
Hawkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Birmiski trying to control but Hawkins is working from the bottom.
Birmiski postures up and lands a big shot to Hawkins's brow.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkins is retaining full guard.
Hawkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Birmiski's guard.
Hawkins won't allow Birmiski to sweep him here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hawkins passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Birmiski is looking to regain half guard here but Hawkins keeps moving and retains side control.
Ari Birmiski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jonathan Hawkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hawkins trying to control the action but Birmiski is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Birmiski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hawkins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Hawkins!
Jonathan Hawkins seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.