PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Hawke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Chen
vs
Hawke

168 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stephen Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cody Hawke!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Hawke.
Hawke displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chen.
Chen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Chen darts in looking for a takedown but Hawke gets double underhooks and turns Chen into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chen jumps guard.
Hawke slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chen is keeping the position for now.

Hawke stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hawke at a distance.
Chen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hawke pinned against the cage. Hawke gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chen throws a head kick that misses

and Hawke moves into the clinch.

Hawke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chen somewhat.
Hawke displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chen.
Chen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hawke sprawls well. Hawke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chen gets slowly back to his feet.
Hawke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Chen circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawke's jab looks to have found its range, popping Chen under the eye.
Hawke misses with a two punch combination.
Hawke keeps Chen at a distance using the push kick.
Hawke throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Hawke has managed to clinch.
Hawke is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right from Chen on the inside.
Hawke tries to break free but Chen pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Chen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hawke holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Chen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hawke is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hawke.

Chen manages to break the clinch.
Hawke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chen darts in looking for a takedown but Hawke gets double underhooks and turns Chen into the cage.
Chen is pressed up against the cage. Hawke has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chen down to the mat. Chen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hawke closes the distance and clinches up with Chen, looking for a takedown. Hawke pushes Chen against the cage but Chen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chen looks for a takedown but Hawke sprawls well.

Hawke clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Chen smiles and moves away.

Chen tries to keep at a distance but Hawke has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hawke prevents the takedown attempt.
Chen is trying to drag Hawke to the mat but Hawke just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hawke tries to pull guard but Chen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Chen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hawke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Hawke dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hawke.

Hawke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chen, pushing him back against the cage.

Chen successfully pulls guard.
Hawke throws a big right hand that misses.

Chen is working an open guard so Hawke takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Chen lands a front kick.
Hawke lands with a shot to the body.

Chen rushes Hawke and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hawke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hawke lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Chen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hawke swivels and escapes.
Hawke shoots for a takedown but Chen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hawke tries to clinch but Chen is having none of it.
Stephen Chen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawke shoots for a takedown but Chen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Chen fails with a takedown attempt.
Chen looks for the body kick but Hawke saw that one coming.
Hawke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hawke defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chen fails with a takedown attempt.

Hawke closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Hawke jumps guard.
Chen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Chen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chen being controlled here momentarily.
Hawke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chen manages to get himself to full guard.

Hawke wants to control from the top but Chen keeps moving.
Chen wants to stand but Hawke is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hawke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawke trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.
Chen is trying to control the position but Hawke postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hawke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Chen but Chen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chen looks for a takedown but Hawke sprawls well.

That's four 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.
Chen shoots in and drives through. Hawke sprawls well.
Hawke stuffs the takedown.
Hawke shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chen sprawls well. Chen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hawke gets slowly back to his feet.
Chen fails with a takedown attempt.
Chen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hawke forces Chen back against the cage and clinches.
Chen tries to circle away but Hawke has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Hawke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawke throws a combination. Chen tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Chen scores with a takedown into Hawke's guard.
Hawke wants to sweep here but Chen controlling him for the moment.
Hawke keeping moving, preventing Chen from controlling successfully.
Chen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen preventing the sweep.
Chen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hawke looks for a takedown but Chen sprawls well.
Chen dives in and grabs Hawke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hawke pushes down on Chen's head and hops out.
Hawke is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Chen rushes Hawke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Chen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawke just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawke is looking to control Chen's arms but Chen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hawke has his back to the cage.

Hawke successfully pulls guard.
Hawke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hawke is keeping the position for now.
Chen wants to stand and escape but instead Hawke has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Chen controls Hawke momentarily but Hawke frees himself.
Hawke throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawke drops back looking for a leg! Chen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Chen manages to kick Hawke off! Hawke jumps back into Chen's guard.
Hawke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Chen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hawke.
Chen 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.
Chen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hawke controls the pace.

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.
Chen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Chen drives through and clinches with Hawke against the cage.
Chen blocks an elbow strike.
Chen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hawke prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawke wants to take the fight to the mat but Chen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chen is looking for a takedown.
Hawke has had enough of the clinch but Chen keeps him there for the moment.
Stephen Chen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cody Hawke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Chen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hawke is defending well for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cody Hawke.
Well Hawke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Hawke!