PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James McGuiness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawk has chosen FreeBird as his entrance music. The key to victory for James McGuiness has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

McGuiness
vs
Hawk

177 cm
26
181 lbs
11 - 10 - 1

167 cm
24
179 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, James McGuiness!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomas Hawk!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuiness throws a hook but Hawk avoids it easily.
We've been told by McGuiness's head coaches at Gorilla Warfare MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
McGuiness swings for the body but Hawk moves out of range.
McGuiness throws a hook to the side of Hawk's head but Hawk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from McGuiness misses.
McGuiness misses with a hook.
McGuiness throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hawk throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice cross by Hawk.
Hawk walks into a jab.
Hawk takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hawk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little feinted left hand from McGuiness on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hawk uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McGuiness.
McGuiness takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hawk moves in looking to clinch but McGuiness pushes him off.
McGuiness swinging wildly here.
Hawk has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
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!
Hawk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hawk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McGuiness swings for the body but Hawk moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by McGuiness there.
Hawk throws a sloppy head kick and McGuiness moves out of range easily.
James McGuiness is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hawk thuds his shin into the meat of McGuiness's side.
Hawk lands a nice shot that snaps McGuiness's head back.
McGuiness throws a hook but Hawk blocks it.
McGuiness is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawk.
Hawk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McGuiness sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hawk lands the left hand.
McGuiness looks to throw the jab but Hawk is out of range.
Hawk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McGuiness throws a big counter combination but Hawk scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hawk throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McGuiness stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McGuiness cracks Hawk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
McGuiness will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And Hawk tries to counter it with a takedown but McGuiness pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGuiness takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
McGuiness displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hawk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawk darts in and clinches McGuiness up against the cage.

McGuiness breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawk throws a head kick that misses
enabling McGuiness to counter with a crisp jab.
McGuiness swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hawk counters with a low kick, right behind McGuiness 's knee.
Hawk throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McGuiness avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slow jab from McGuiness misses its intended target.
McGuiness throws a hook but Hawk blocks it.
Hawk misses with a body kick.
McGuiness is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
McGuiness takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McGuiness is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hawk slips a straight right by McGuiness.
McGuiness works the jab nicely.
Hawk delivers a nice body kick.
Hawk scores with a leg kick.
McGuiness avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hawk throws a sloppy head kick and McGuiness moves out of range easily.
Hawk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGuiness.

McGuiness gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but McGuiness is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawk content to stall in guard here.
Hawk trying to control but McGuiness is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McGuiness is on top in guard.

McGuiness knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hawk on the ground.
McGuiness preventing the sweep.
Hawk keeping moving, preventing McGuiness from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hawk is on top in guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hawk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hawk passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hawk dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hawk slips under a jab.
Hawk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from McGuiness misses the target.

Hawk darts in and clinches McGuiness up against the cage.
Hawk has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McGuiness avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hawk struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuiness controls his hands.
Hawk misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hawk has a couple of punches blocked by McGuiness.
McGuiness lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hawk goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hawk as McGuiness tries to tie him up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McGuiness's elbow.
McGuiness stops a takedown attempt from Hawk.
Hawk is leaning against McGuiness and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGuiness blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Hawk fails to land.
McGuiness is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hawk misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hawk goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hawk pushes McGuiness back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McGuiness looking to stall.
Nice body punch from Hawk.
Hawk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McGuiness smiles and moves away.
James McGuiness has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Hawk.
McGuiness cracks Hawk with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hawk lands a jab to McGuiness's midsection.
McGuiness throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McGuiness misses with a looping right.
A slow jab from Hawk misses its intended target.
Hawk misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hawk drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hawk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James McGuiness seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from McGuiness lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawk misses with a kick to the body
and McGuiness cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hawk lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hawk misses with a body kick.
Hawk lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A jab from McGuiness finds it's way through Hawk's defenses.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown but McGuiness shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk delivers a nice body kick.
Hawk connects with a single shot there.
McGuiness slips under a jab from Hawk.
It looked like McGuiness wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hawk darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hawk.
Hawk closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
McGuiness is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawk.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawk. McGuiness does a little dance to reset his feet.
McGuiness throws an off balance right hand
enabling Hawk to counter with a crisp jab.
McGuiness misses with a hook.
Hawk swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McGuiness.
Thomas Hawk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawk misses with an uppercut. McGuiness saw that one coming.
Jab by McGuiness.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGuiness's corner calls for a 1-2. McGuiness obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hawk cracks McGuiness with an open hand slap.
Hawk moves out of range of the strikes.
Hawk stuns McGuiness with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McGuiness pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hawk.

Hawk clinches with his opponent.
Hawk lands a left hand.
A right hand to the body from Hawk.
McGuiness lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hawk backwards.
Hawk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hawk lands a hook that snaps the head of McGuiness backwards.
McGuiness is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McGuiness trying to stall but Hawk improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hawk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! McGuiness's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hawk thuds his shin into the meat of McGuiness's side.
Good standup being displayed there by McGuiness as he connects with a hook.
Hawk fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McGuiness checks it well.
A cross from McGuiness lands.
Hawk looks for the body kick but McGuiness saw that one coming.
Hawk sizes up McGuiness with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McGuiness throws a hook but Hawk blocks it.
A big right from McGuiness misses.
Hawk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McGuiness throws a shot from downtown. Hawk moves away and avoids it.
McGuiness throws an overhand right that lands on Hawk's shoulder, as Hawk tries to avoid the shot.
Hawk was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hawk ducks right into an uppercut from McGuiness.
Hawk shoots and misses
and McGuiness counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGuiness connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

McGuiness lands a left and a right that send Hawk crashing to the mat, dazed. McGuiness thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Hawk is rocked!
McGuiness moves out of range of the body kick from Hawk.
Hawk is still on wobbly legs! Can McGuiness finish him?
McGuiness throws a hook but Hawk avoids it easily.
McGuiness throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hawk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McGuiness displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hawk throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuiness throws an overhand right that drops Hawk like a sack of potatoes! McGuiness dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James McGuiness!
After the big win, James McGuiness made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors VICIOUS FIGHT GEAR and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Thomas Hawk was interviewed post fight and said 'OK, I need a beer, and I guess it is on you'.