PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Hardon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hawkins
vs
Hardon

176 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Raphael Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Hardon!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins lands a head kick. Hardon smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hardon connects with an inside leg kick.
Hawkins blocks a head kick by Hardon.
Ivan Hardon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Hardon tries to sprawl out of it but Hawkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hardon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hardon tries to clinch up but Hawkins circles away and keeps his distance.

Hardon fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hawkins to the ground. Hardon is now in Hawkins's guard.
Hawkins throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hardon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkins 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardon stands up over Hawkins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hardon is stalling in the full guard.
Hawkins wants to hit a switch here but Hardon passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hawkins there!
Hardon lands a big elbow.
Hardon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hardon wants to stand but Hawkins is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hardon is trying to control here but Hawkins has managed to regain half guard.
Hawkins tries to kick Hardon off but Hardon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hardon working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hardon throwing shots but Hawkins is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardon is thwarting Hawkins's attempts to control the position.
Hardon tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Hardon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hawkins is refusing to be controlled, as Hardon sits in half guard.

Hardon is looking for a kimura here.
Hawkins wants to control but Hardon passes into side.

That's four 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.
Hardon taking a breather here.
Hardon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hawkins gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hawkins tries to get to full guard but Hardon has control of the leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hawkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hardon shoots in and bounces Hawkins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hardon content to stall in guard here.
Hardon wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardon tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkins is retaining full guard.
Hardon postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardon gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hardon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hawkins appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hardon lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Raphael Hawkins has been cut.

Hardon moves into the clinch.
Hawkins is trying to pull guard but Hardon turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hawkins pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hawkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hawkins holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Hardon has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hawkins is trying to keep an underhook but Hardon manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hawkins is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardon works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hardon landing strikes from the mount and Hawkins is in trouble!
Hardon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawkins looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Hardon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawkins is looking to escape.
Hardon dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hardon controlling the pace for now.
Hawkins slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Hardon is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hawkins defends it well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hardon lands a nice short elbow.
Ivan Hardon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawkins is trying to control but can't.

That's four 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.
Hardon prevents Hawkins from improving his position.
Hawkins keeping hold of Hardon's head, controlling as best he can.
Hardon not doing much here.
Hawkins tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Hardon has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Hardon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raphael Hawkins's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hawkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hawkins gets caught napping as Hardon dives in and scores a takedown. Hawkins manages to retain guard.
Hardon looking to pass the guard.
Hardon landing with the ground and pound.

Hawkins is rocked!

Hardon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Oh Hawkins is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Hardon closes the distance looking for a takedown. Hawkins stuffs it but Hardon still has hold of him. Hardon picks Hawkins up in a fireman's lift! The crowd roars in approval. Hardon slams Hawkins to the floor and that's really hurt Hawkins - he doesn't know where he is! Hardon throws a couple of strikes and the referee steps in to save him! This one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Hardon!