PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Hansen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hawke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Aaron Hansen has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Aaron Hansen seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hansen
vs
Hawke

192 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Hansen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Hawke!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hawke drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hawke looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hansen is trying to control Hawke's posture but Hawke avoids it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hawke working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Hansen is looking to reverse the position.
Hawke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hansen keeps working.
Hansen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hansen struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hansen tries to buck Hawke off but Hawke is having none of it.
Hansen is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hansen keeps working.

Hawke stands up.

Hansen closes the distance and clinches.
Hansen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hansen as Hawke tries to tie him up.

Hawke turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hawke manages to end up in side control.
Hansen tries to improve position but can't.
Hansen wants to control but Hawke postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hansen is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Hansen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hawke on the ground.
Hansen keeps Hawke under control for a moment.
Hawke is looking to take a break and control but Hansen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hansen isn't going anywhere.
Hawke working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hansen looking for a sweep but Hawke has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Hansen tries to hold on but Hawke pushes him away.
Hawke misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hansen wants to control but Hawke is having none of it.
Hansen controls the position.
Hawke misses with a head shot.
Hansen tries to control Hawke's body but Hawke pushes him off. Hansen squirms to his side and now Hawke has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawke not allowing Hansen to control his hands.
Hansen tries to escape the position.
Hawke tries to get the hooks in deep but Hansen pushed the leg off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawke gets his hands free as Hansen looks to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hawke looking for the choke from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hawke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Hansen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hansen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hawke tries to clinch up but Hansen circles away and keeps his distance.

Hansen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hansen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawke just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hansen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hawke pulls guard effortlessly.
Hawke wants to get back to his feet but Hansen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hansen trying to control but Hawke is working from the bottom.
Hawke is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hansen is really struggling to control Hawke but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hansen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hansen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawke keeping moving, preventing Hansen from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hansen moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hansen misses with a punch on the inside.

Hansen jumps guard and drags Hawke to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hansen trying to strike off his back.
Hansen controls Hawke momentarily but Hawke frees himself.
Hansen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hawke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hansen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James Hawke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hansen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hawke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hansen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hawke's guard.

Hawke keeping moving, preventing Hansen from controlling successfully.
Hawke wants to get back to his feet but Hansen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
James Hawke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hansen dives in and grabs Hawke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hawke pushes down on Hansen's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Hansen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hansen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hansen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hansen misses with a punch on the inside.
Hawke blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hansen tries to pull guard but Hawke forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hansen is trying to pull guard but Hawke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hansen tries to pull guard but Hawke holds him up against the cage and eventually Hansen drops back down to his feet.
Hawke stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hansen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hawke smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Hansen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Hansen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hansen darts in looking for a takedown but Hawke gets double underhooks and turns Hansen into the cage.

Hawke tries to keep at a distance but Hansen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hansen is looking to control Hawke's arms but Hawke gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hansen has his back to the cage.
Hansen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hansen tries to stall but Hawke uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hawke keeps control of Hansen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hansen is trying to push Hawke away but Hawke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hansen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hawke gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hansen wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Hansen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawke is struggling to control the position.
Hansen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hansen lands a body shot in the clinch.

Hawke successfully pulls guard.
Hansen wanted to stand there but Hawke had control of the position.

Hawke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawke has a closed guard, preventing Hansen from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hansen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hansen wants to control from the top but Hawke keeps moving.

Hansen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hawke keeping moving, preventing Hansen from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hansen moves into range and clinches up with Hawke.
Hansen is trying to maintain a safe position but Hawke gets an underhook and turns Hansen into the cage.
Hawke wants to get back to striking at distance but Hansen won't allow it.
The referee calls for Hansen to work.
Hansen looking to slow down the pace here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hansen seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Hawke is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Hansen throws an elbow but it misses.

Hawke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hansen moves into the clinch successfully.
Hansen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hansen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hawke walks away with a smile on his face. Hansen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hawke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hansen.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hansen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hansen is defended easily by Hawke.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Hawke.
I think Hawke 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!