PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly comes to the ring accompanied by DMX - Where my dogs at. Hawkins is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cockney Rejects - I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Kelly
vs
Hawkins

174 cm
22
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
23
154 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tim Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly wants to clinch up but Hawkins keeps it at a distance.
Hawkins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kelly doesn't manage to clinch there - Hawkins circles away.
Hawkins misses with a double jab.
Kelly wants to clinch.
Hawkins throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kelly moves in looking to clinch but Hawkins pushes him off.
Kelly tries to clinch up but Hawkins circles away and keeps his distance.
Kelly is looking to clinch but Hawkins is avoiding it.
Kelly tries to clinch up.
Hawkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Kelly.
Hawkins throws a head kick but Kelly moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkins throws a leg kick but Kelly checks it.
Kelly fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hawkins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hawkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kelly.
Kelly throws the left hand but Hawkins avoids the punch easily.

Hawkins clinches up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kelly just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hawkins's brow.
Kelly lands a knee to the head.

Hawkins is rocked!
Kelly lands an elbow inside.
Hawkins is still on wobbly legs! Can Kelly finish him?

Hawkins jumps into guard, dragging Kelly to the mat.
Kelly tries to stand but Hawkins is controlling from the bottom.
Hawkins is trying to control the position but Kelly postures up.

Hawkins has his foot on Kelly's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kelly works his way back into a safe position though.
Hawkins seems to have recovered his senses.
Kelly wants to get up but he can't break Hawkins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kelly avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hawkins has a closed guard, preventing Kelly from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kelly has passed into half guard!
Hawkins looks gassed!
Hawkins missing with punches from the bottom.
Hawkins is looking to improve his position.
Kelly wants to stand up but Hawkins is controlling the position.
Hawkins is looking to improve his position.
Hawkins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kelly tries to clinch up
and Hawkins counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins misses with a head kick.
Hawkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kelly closes the distance and clinches.
Hawkins stalling in the clinch but Kelly improves position.
Hawkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kelly.
Hawkins is working for takedown but Kelly is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hawkins is looking to break free of the clinch but Kelly has double underhooks.
Hawkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kelly lands a nice elbow.
Kelly with a knee to the head.
Hawkins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kelly connects with a knee to the head.
Hawkins tries to stall but Kelly uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kelly misses with a knee strike.
Kelly throws an elbow but it misses.
Hawkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hawkins managing to block the knees to the body from Kelly.
Hawkins blocks an elbow strike.
Hawkins has had enough of the clinch but Kelly keeps him there for the moment.
Hawkins is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kelly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hawkins has Kelly pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Kelly manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hawkins can't break the clinch.
Hawkins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Hawkins is trying to maintain a safe position but Kelly gets an underhook and turns Hawkins into the ropes.
Hawkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kelly has him pressed against the ropes.
Hawkins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kelly using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hawkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kelly has him pressed against the ropes.
Kelly lands an elbow inside that Hawkins shrugs off.
Hawkins misses with the head strike.
Hawkins wants to break free but Kelly has control.
Kelly pushes off an throws an elbow but Hawkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Kelly with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hawkins has had enough of the clinch but Kelly keeps him there for the moment.
Kelly misses with a knee strike.
Hawkins can't break the clinch.
Kelly lands a knee to the head.
Hawkins blocks an elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawkins is trying to break free.
Hawkins is looking to break free of the clinch but Kelly has double underhooks.
Hawkins is looking to break free of the clinch but Kelly has double underhooks.
Hawkins is trying to maintain a safe position but Kelly gets an underhook and turns Hawkins into the ropes.
Hawkins is looking to break free of the clinch but Kelly has double underhooks.
Kelly lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tim Kelly will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hawkins swinging wilding here.
Hawkins checks a leg kick.
Tim Kelly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kelly throws a combination that misses

and Hawkins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kelly pushes Hawkins off looking to stand but Hawkins dives back in and keeps control.
Hawkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hawkins trying to pass the guard but Kelly defending well.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hawkins pulls his head out easily.

Hawkins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Hawkins is working for a kimura but Kelly is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawkins is looking for a kimura here.
Kelly wants to control but Hawkins is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kelly looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hawkins is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hawkins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hawkins wants to work for an arm triangle but Kelly is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hawkins thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hawkins is trying to work for a kimura but Kelly is defending well.
Hawkins is keen to just control but Kelly is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kelly.
Hawkins advances position into side control!
Kelly is looking to reverse the position.

Hawkins stands up and beckons Kelly to his feet.
Kelly closes the distance but Hawkins moves to the side

and Hawkins counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hawkins.
Kelly controls Hawkins momentarily but Hawkins frees himself.
Hawkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing Hawkins from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Kelly is retaining full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hawkins advances position into side control!
Kelly tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hawkins wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hawkins clinches up against the ropes.
Hawkins is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hawkins takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hawkins 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 ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kelly tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hawkins counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Kelly has his foot on Hawkins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hawkins works his way back into a safe position though.
Joe Hawkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kelly is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kelly is trying to keep Hawkins in close.
Hawkins slips nicely into half guard.
Hawkins is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kelly!
Kelly keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hawkins controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hawkins looking to secure an arm triangle but Kelly defends it well.
Kelly is working to get back to half guard.

Hawkins wants to finish this one by submission but Kelly is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hawkins.

Hawkins goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kelly is on top in guard.

That's two 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 looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kelly wants to stand and escape but instead Hawkins has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hawkins passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Hawkins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kelly has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kelly wants to get back to his feet.

Hawkins working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hawkins tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kelly is trying to control Hawkins's posture but Hawkins avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kelly is trying to improve his position.
Kelly gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Hawkins landing shots from mount.
Kelly is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Hawkins has hold of Kelly's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kelly manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kelly is squirming around, avoiding Hawkins's attempts to control the action.
Hawkins moves to take his opponent's back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hawkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hawkins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

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