PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pebron Laquiche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Hawkins (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.

Laquiche
vs
Hawkins

190 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 London, Pebron Laquiche!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matthew Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laquiche goes for a double leg but Hawkins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hawkins continues to drive forward.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.
Hawkins throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hawkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Laquiche avoids the damage to the body.
Hawkins scores with a knee to the head.
Laquiche is trying to maintain a safe position but Hawkins gets an underhook and turns Laquiche into the cage.
Hawkins scores a nice knee to the body.
Hawkins utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hawkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hawkins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hawkins scores with a shoulder strike.
Hawkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hawkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laquiche blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laquiche blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawkins utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laquiche has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hawkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche working hard to break the clinch.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks it.
Hawkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.
Hawkins is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hawkins looks winded!
Hawkins misses with a knee strike.
Hawkins misses with a knee strike.
Laquiche managing to block the knees to the body from Hawkins.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche tries to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling the position.
Hawkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Laquiche fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pebron Laquiche. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laquiche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Laquiche tries to circle away but Hawkins has him pinned against the cage.
Hawkins misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laquiche is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hawkins to keep the fight standing.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A bit of stalling here from Laquiche.
Laquiche has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Laquiche tries to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling the position.
Laquiche wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Laquiche is looking for a takedown.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laquiche tries to pull guard but Hawkins holds him up against the cage and eventually Laquiche drops back down to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laquiche tries to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling the position.
Hawkins stops a takedown attempt from Laquiche.
Laquiche wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hawkins has him pressed against the cage.
Laquiche has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laquiche on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hawkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hawkins lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hawkins misses with a knee strike.
Laquiche tries to pull guard but Hawkins won't allow it.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.

Laquiche's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Laquiche has managed to clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Laquiche.
Hawkins misses with a knee strike.

Laquiche breaks from the clinch.
Laquiche fails with a takedown attempt.
Laquiche fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins fails with a takedown attempt.

Laquiche clinches with his opponent.
Laquiche drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hawkins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hawkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Laquiche sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hawkins somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Hawkins dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laquiche avoids it.
Hawkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hawkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche managing to block the knees to the body from Hawkins.
Matthew Hawkins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laquiche avoids it.
Laquiche tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hawkins misses with a knee strike.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks it.
Hawkins is breathing heavily.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laquiche jumps guard but Hawkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Laquiche tries to pull guard but Hawkins won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pebron Laquiche. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laquiche goes for a takedown attempt but Hawkins pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hawkins blocks a head kick by Laquiche.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Laquiche.

Laquiche rushes Hawkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laquiche has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hawkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins tries a body shot but Laquiche blocks it.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Laquiche tries to circle away but Hawkins has him pinned against the cage.
Laquiche fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laquiche tries to stall but Hawkins uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hawkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laquiche.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hawkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche is trying to stall.
Laquiche is trying to pull guard but Hawkins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Laquiche is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks with his arms.
Laquiche is trying to break the clinch but Hawkins has him pressed against the cage.
Laquiche working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laquiche throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Laquiche is trying to force a seperation but Hawkins has the dominant position.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hawkins prevents the takedown attempt.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laquiche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Laquiche working hard to break the clinch.
Laquiche on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laquiche is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hawkins is defending well for now.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laquiche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Laquiche throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hawkins connects with a nasty looking knee right to Laquiche's face.
Laquiche trying to land knees to the body.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laquiche tries to circle away but Hawkins has him pinned against the cage.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Laquiche is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hawkins pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks it.
Laquiche is trying to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling him.
Laquiche tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hawkins scores with a shot to the side of Laquiche's head.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laquiche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laquiche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Laquiche tries to break free but Hawkins pushes him back against the cage.
Laquiche working hard to break the clinch.
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 Pebron Laquiche will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hawkins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Laquiche.

Hawkins closes the distance and clinches.
Hawkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hawkins connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Pebron Laquiche has been cut.
Laquiche jumps guard but Hawkins stands there with Laquiche around his waist. Laquiche gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pebron Laquiche. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laquiche is trying to pull guard but Hawkins has him pressed against the cage.
Laquiche tries for a takedown but Hawkins manages to get underhooks.
Laquiche is trying to pull guard but Hawkins has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hawkins crunches a lovely knee into Laquiche's ribcage.
Hawkins working Laquiche over with knees to the body.
Laquiche swings wildly with an uppercut but Hawkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins landing knees to the head.
Hawkins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hawkins looking to throw knees to the head but Laquiche is blocking nicely.
Hawkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laquiche blocks it with crossed arms.
Laquiche tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hawkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hawkins missing with knees to the body.
Hawkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laquiche blocks it with crossed arms.
Laquiche looking for a takedown.
Hawkins scores with a knee to the head.
Laquiche avoiding damage as Hawkins throws knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Laquiche's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hawkins lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laquiche has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hawkins after a bit of a struggle.
Hawkins connects with a knee to the head.
Hawkins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laquiche's efforts to push away.
Hawkins lands a knee to the head.
Hawkins misses with an elbow strike.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche jumps guard but Hawkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hawkins misses with a knee to the head.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks it.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laquiche has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hawkins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks with his arms.
Hawkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawkins avoiding damage as Laquiche throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laquiche jumps guard but Hawkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laquiche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hawkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Laquiche wants a takedown but no success here.
Hawkins creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Laquiche's defenses.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks it.
Laquiche missing with knees to the body.
Hawkins looking to throw knees to the head but Laquiche is blocking nicely.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hawkins lands a damaging elbow.
Hawkins is pressed up against the cage. Laquiche has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hawkins down to the mat. Hawkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Laquiche tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hawkins swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hawkins wants it to stay on the feet.

Hawkins has closed the distance and engaged Laquiche in a clinch.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laquiche on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laquiche is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hawkins to keep the fight standing.
Hawkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hawkins prevents Laquiche from breaking the clinch.
Hawkins lands a damaging elbow.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but Laquiche blocks it.
Hawkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Laquiche uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Laquiche breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Laquiche clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:30

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