PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shirley Hawkins (ranked 8240 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergio Martinez (ranked 7400 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergio Martinez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shirley Hawkins's chin.

Hawkins
vs
Martinez

161 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shirley Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergio Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martinez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hawkins did well to prevent Martinez getting side control.
Hawkins controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Martinez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hawkins keeps working.
Hawkins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hawkins is trying to control but can't.
Martinez wants to control but Hawkins is keeping him busy.
Martinez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hawkins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Martinez seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins is not content to let Martinez control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawkins is controlling Martinez's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Martinez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawkins is not content to let Martinez control the position.
Hawkins preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two 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.

Hawkins looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Martinez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martinez lands in his opponent's guard.
Martinez looking to pass the guard.
Martinez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Martinez pushing down on Hawkins's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Martinez is keen to just control but Hawkins is a slippery customer.
Hawkins is looking to improve his position.
Hawkins controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

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.
Martinez working Hawkins over with strikes.
It looks like Martinez is going to stand back up.
Hawkins is controlling Martinez's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Martinez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hawkins defending well though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Martinez is keen to just control but Hawkins is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Martinez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hawkins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Martinez as he jumps to the side.
Hawkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martinez sprawls well. Martinez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hawkins gets slowly back to his feet.

Martinez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez tries to stand but Hawkins is controlling his head.
Martinez working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins is not content to let Martinez control the position.
Martinez just content to control the position.
Martinez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hawkins down.
Martinez trying to control the action but Hawkins is working from the bottom.
Martinez wants to stand but Hawkins has his arm trapped.

That's two 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.
Martinez trying to control the position but Hawkins is working away.
Hawkins sneaks back into half guard.
Martinez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawkins tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez trying to control the action but Hawkins is working from the bottom.
Hawkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Martinez is working away from the top position though.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Martinez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Martinez lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Martinez connects with a nice short shot to Hawkins's temple.
Hawkins is in trouble now - Martinez has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins has given up his back here.
Martinez is looking to control Hawkins but Hawkins is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Hawkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hawkins is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Martinez.
Martinez lands a shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawkins is really stuck here.
Martinez tries to keep control of the position but Hawkins is staying busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Martinez misses with a low kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Martinez!

Martinez tries to keep at a distance but Hawkins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hawkins is trying to break the clinch but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.
Hawkins misses with a punch to the body.
Hawkins trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Martinez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hawkins keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Martinez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hawkins haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hawkins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Martinez has managed to get both his arms back between Hawkins's legs - danger averted.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.
Martinez controlling from the top position.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Martinez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hawkins is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hawkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Martinez swivels and escapes.

Hawkins gets tackled into the cage by Martinez. Martinez maintains the clinch.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hawkins enables Martinez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hawkins manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hawkins trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Martinez passes into half guard.
Martinez working Hawkins over with strikes.
Martinez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hawkins wants to hold on but Martinez pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins working to try and regain half guard.
Martinez is stalling here but it's allowed Hawkins to get half guard.
Martinez is controlling the pace.
Martinez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergio Martinez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Martinez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergio Martinez!