PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Hawk (ranked 52 p4p, 10 weight class) and Matt Kroblur (ranked 382 p4p, 56 weight class). Hawk comes to the cage accompanied by Deadwood. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hawk
vs
Kroblur

167 cm
35
192 lbs
31 - 15 - 1

186 cm
34
196 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Hawk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Kroblur!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Hawk.
Hawk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawk throws a low kick, looking for Kroblur's leg but Kroblur calmly moves out of range.
Kroblur feints the counter takedown.
A slow jab from Hawk misses its intended target.
Both fighters circling a little - Kroblur finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Thomas Hawk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A good leg kick by Hawk.
Hawk feints and then cracks Kroblur's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kroblur down.
Kroblur throws a head kick that misses.
Hawk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kroblur.
Kroblur lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk throws a nice outside leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawk misses the target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kroblur! But no joy.
Kroblur slips a jab from Hawk.
Hawk throws a low kick but Kroblur avoids it.
Kroblur is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Hawk drives through and clinches with Kroblur against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk digs a right hand underneath Kroblur's ribcage. Kroblur let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kroblur wants to take the fight to the mat but Hawk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hawk lands a shot to the body.

Hawk gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hawk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hawk scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hawk thows a huge punch but Kroblur dodges it nicely.
Kroblur keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kroblur is trying to get back to full guard.
Hawk throwing shots but Kroblur is blocking nicely.
Kroblur blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hawk.
Hawk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kroblur looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hawk is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hawk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kroblur defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kroblur is trying to maintain the position but Hawk is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kroblur blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hawk.
Hawk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kroblur has hold of Hawk's hands but Hawk slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kroblur avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hawk.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawk takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kroblur is looking to improve his position.
Hawk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kroblur blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hawk.
Hawk lands strikes from half guard.
Kroblur is concentrating on defense, preventing Hawk from advancing position.
Kroblur is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hawk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hawk's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kroblur's guard. Nice work there by Hawk.
Kroblur wants to sweep but no luck.
Hawk tries to free his leg and advance position but Kroblur is retaining full guard.
Hawk scoring with some ground and pound.
Hawk wants to pass the guard but Kroblur is keeping the position.
Kroblur working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hawk with a flurry of punches that miss.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kroblur holds on and takes a little breather.
Hawk looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Hawk is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kroblur avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hawk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawk scoring with some ground and pound.
Kroblur keeping full guard, as Hawk tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk throws a strike but Kroblur rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kroblur with a nice head shot there.
Hawk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kroblur's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kroblur won't allow Hawk to sweep him here.

Hawk is looking for a triangle but Kroblur pushes his legs off easily.
Hawk looking for a sweep. Not yet Hawk, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kroblur's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hawk looking for a sweep. Not yet Hawk, not yet.
Hawk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kroblur is working Hawk over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Hawk looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kroblur passes into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Check out the look on Kroblur's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hawk dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kroblur misses with a wild body shot.
Hawk was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hawk moves out of range of the leg kick from Kroblur.
Some wild striking there from Kroblur.
Kroblur circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hawk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hawk throws the kick towards the body but Kroblur avoids it.
Hawk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kroblur moves away.
Kroblur drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hawk defends it well.
Hawk throws a body shot but no joy.
Matt Kroblur is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kroblur.
Kroblur blocks a low kick nicely.
Kroblur drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kroblur slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroblur uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawk.
Hawk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kroblur swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kroblur displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hawk throws out the jab.
Kroblur has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hawk.
Kroblur scores with a nice head shot.
Hawk fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kroblur.
Hawk looks to land a left hand but Kroblur moved out of range nicely.
Hawk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kroblur moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kroblur changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kroblur uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hawk.
Hawk throws the left hand but Kroblur avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Hawk.
Kroblur fails to land with a series of punches.
Kroblur keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hawk closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
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!
Kroblur throws a body punch but Hawk moves out of range.
Hawk lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kroblur lands with a nice combination. Hawk backs away looking to recover.
Kroblur tries to bum rush Hawk with a series of wild strikes but Hawk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hawk moves away from the strike by Kroblur.
Kroblur misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawk.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawk misses the target.
Sloppy strikes from Kroblur. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kroblur checks a low kick from Hawk.
Hawk is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kroblur's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hawk misses the shot to the body.

Hawk moves into range and clinches up with Kroblur.
Hawk lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hawk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kroblur can do to turn this around?
Hawk misses with a body punch.
Hawk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kroblur's elbow.
A short body shot lands from Hawk as the two fighters clinch.
Hawk is pressed up against the cage. Kroblur has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hawk down to the mat. Hawk avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kroblur is breathing heavily.
Hawk lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kroblur ducks under a wild hook from Hawk.
A cross from Hawk lands.
A big right from Hawk misses.
Kroblur closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk misses with a straight right.
Hawk walks into a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawk closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kroblur is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kroblur lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kroblur.
Hawk connects with a solid leg kick.
Kroblur moves away from the strike by Hawk.
Kroblur scores with a shot to the body.
Hawk wants to slow Kroblur down by chopping away at his legs.
Kroblur scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kroblur works the jab nicely.
Kroblur misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Kroblur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Hawk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hawk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hawk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kroblur's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kroblur misses with a head kick.
Hawk tried to counter with a leg kick but Kroblur avoided it.
Kroblur lands a nice shot to the body.
Hawk looks to land a right hand but Kroblur moved out of range.
Kroblur throws the left hand but Hawk avoids the punch easily.
Hawk throws the left hand but Kroblur avoids the punch easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kroblur escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawk checks a leg kick nicely.
Hawk throws a front kick aimed at Kroblur's knee but Kroblur avoids it well.
Hawk connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kroblur sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hawk misses with a straight left.
Kroblur is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Hawk throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hawk throws a leg kick which misses Kroblur's front leg but catches the back leg as Kroblur tries to avoid it.
Hawk is looking to chop away at Kroblur's legs.
Hawk chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Kroblur gets the takedown into side control.
Kroblur looks up at the clock and then as Hawk takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kroblur smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kroblur lands a few punches from side control.

Kroblur tries for a kimura but Hawk is defending well.
Kroblur working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk sneaks back into half guard.
Kroblur seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hawk does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hawk is looking to improve his position.
Hawk slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawk keeping moving, preventing Kroblur from controlling successfully.
Hawk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kroblur is one step ahead there.

Hawk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kroblur scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kroblur with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk is looking for a triangle but Kroblur pushes his legs off easily.
Kroblur postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hawk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kroblur's guard.

Hawk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hawk won't allow Kroblur to sweep him here.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kroblur is keeping the position for now.
Hawk throwing strikes from guard but Kroblur blocks nicely.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kroblur is keeping the position for now.
Hawk trying to control but Kroblur is working from the bottom.
Kroblur lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hawk is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kroblur defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hawk is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kroblur is aware though and is defending well.
Kroblur is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kroblur scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kroblur slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thomas Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kroblur is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kroblur is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Matt Kroblur just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Hawk. Beautiful body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawk misses the target.
Hawk connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hawk avoids the head kick by Kroblur.
Hawk scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hawk blocks a head kick by Kroblur.
Hawk misses with a looping left.
Hawk dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kroblur. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut there from Hawk.
Kroblur throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hawk jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kroblur throws a series of strikes that have Hawk backpedaling.
Thomas Hawk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroblur lands a jab to the nose.
Hawk motions for Kroblur to come forward. Hawk throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hawk throws a big shot that misses.
Kroblur has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hawk uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hawk moves out of range of the strikes.

Kroblur gets tackled into the cage by Hawk. Hawk maintains the clinch.
Hawk tries to score a body lock takedown but Kroblur shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kroblur is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kroblur can't break the clinch.
Hawk misses with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hawk.
Kroblur is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Kroblur breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kroblur's head.
Thomas Hawk is winning the standup battle so far.

Hawk rushes Kroblur and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Hawk.
Hawk throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hawk.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawk misses with a punch on the inside.
Kroblur is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kroblur is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hawk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thomas Hawk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Kroblur.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kroblur.
Hawk can't get the takedown.
Hawk throws a head punch that misses.
Hawk gets through Kroblur's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thomas Hawk has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Hawk.
Kroblur goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hawk prevents it.
Hawk tries to score a body lock takedown but Kroblur shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kroblur blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Hawk as the two fighters clinch.
Hawk misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hawk wants the takedown. Kroblur is fighting it off but Hawk persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kroblur's guard against the cage.
Hawk looking to pass the guard.
Hawk works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nice strikes from Hawk there.
Hawk looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kroblur with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kroblur is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hawk scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hawk winds up and cracks Kroblur with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Kroblur is rocked!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hawk lands a nice short elbow.
Kroblur is still in real trouble! Can Hawk finish him?
Hawk is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Kroblur is hurt! He's hurt bad - Hawk fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Kroblur from any more punishment! Congratulations to Hawk! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thomas Hawk!
Thomas Hawk retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Thomas Hawk, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.