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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Damien Hawthorne (ranked 4355 p4p, 17839 weight class) and Brian Baker (ranked 533 p4p, 675 weight class). Hawthorne comes into the arena with Schism by Tool blaring out of the sound system. Brian Baker told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 190 cm
32
218
20 - 12 - 0 |
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190 cm
40
220
25 - 22 - 2 |
World class boxer
Granite chin
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World class boxer
Good gas tank
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damien Hawthorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 22 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brian Baker!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Joseph Jones.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Baker looking to stall.
I was talking to Hawthorne's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Baker prevents a body shot from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne is trying to break the clinch but Baker is controlling him.
Baker stalling the fight.
Hawthorne working aggressively here.
Hawthorne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hawthorne tries to circle away but Baker has him pinned against the ropes.
Hawthorne lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne misses with a punch on the inside.
Hawthorne scores with a nice hook to the head.
Baker blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baker.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baker.
Hawthorne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hawthorne connects with a looping right hand.
Hawthorne lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice uppercut lands for Baker. That snapped Hawthorne's head back.
Hawthorne takes one to the chin there.
Hawthorne looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker misses with a body shot.
Hawthorne misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne misses with a straight right.
Baker is looking to clinch.
Baker cracks Hawthorne with a left hand that drops him to the canvas, up against the ropes! Can Hawthorne get back up in time? 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... he's on one knee... 8, 9... he's up! 'Walk towards me' says the referee. Hawthorne looks steady enough to continue so we're going to continue!
It looks like Damien Hawthorne has been cut.
A lazy left from Hawthorne finds it's target.
Hawthorne avoids the head kick by Baker.
Hawthorne getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Baker slips under a jab from Hawthorne.
Baker throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hawthorne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A shot to the liver by Baker. Beautiful body shot.
Baker walks into a left hand.
Baker misses with a left hand
and Hawthorne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawthorne lands a jab to the head.
Hawthorne clobbers Baker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Baker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hawthorne throws the left hand but Baker avoids the punch easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Damien Hawthorne dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damien Hawthorne's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Baker stalks Hawthorne and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hawthorne's face. Hawthorne staggers backwards, shaken.
Baker looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawthorne is just out of range.
Baker tests Hawthorne's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hawthorne scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Baker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hawthorne can pounce on him.
Hawthorne takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hawthorne jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hawthorne misses with a hook.
Hawthorne throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Hawthorne throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hawthorne checks the leg kick.
Hawthorne slips under a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawthorne takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawthorne fails to land with a series of punches.
Hawthorne dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baker. That did some damage!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Hawthorne.
Brian Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawthorne missing with a left hand there. Baker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hawthorne scores with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawthorne. Baker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Baker shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hawthorne misses with a straight left.
Baker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Baker takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Baker connects with a body shot that sends Hawthorne's belly button to the back.
Hawthorne throws the left hand but Baker avoids the punch easily.
Hawthorne takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Baker fails to land with a series of punches.
Baker catches Hawthorne with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hawthorne misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hawthorne is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baker.
Baker misses with a hook
and Hawthorne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawthorne manages to avoid it.
Hawthorne appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Baker throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hawthorne makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hawthorne tests Baker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Baker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawthorne manages to avoid it.
Hawthorne connects with a looping right hand.
Hawthorne lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hawthorne cracks Baker with an open hand slap.
Hawthorne throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Baker is looking for the big counter here.
Baker throws a shot to the body.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawthorne moves away.
Hawthorne was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hawthorne misses with a straight right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baker throws a lazy uppercut
and Hawthorne counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hawthorne.
Hawthorne misses with a straight right.
Hawthorne loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Damien Hawthorne will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damien Hawthorne's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!
Baker misses with a looping right.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Hawthorne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Baker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Baker's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Baker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Baker smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Brian Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawthorne throws a lazy right hand but Baker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Baker! But no joy.
Baker misses with a wild body shot.
Hawthorne appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hawthorne. That's going to slow Baker down.
Hawthorne throws a lazy right hand but Baker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Baker! But no joy.
Baker moves out of range as Hawthorne strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Hawthorne misses.
Baker throws a nice looking combination but Hawthorne bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A big right from Baker misses.
Baker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hawthorne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hawthorne misses with a looping right.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Baker.
Baker has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Baker there as he acknowledges the shot.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Baker appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Baker throws a body punch but Hawthorne moves out of range.
Hawthorne throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hawthorne throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.
Baker throws a shot from downtown. Hawthorne moves away and avoids it.
Hawthorne lands a jab.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A countering left hand to the body from Baker misses.
Baker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hawthorne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hawthorne scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Baker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
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!
Baker throws the left hand but Hawthorne avoids the punch easily.
Baker has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Baker misses with a straight right.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker lands with a hook. Hawthorne tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Baker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hawthorne throws a hook but Baker blocks it.
Hawthorne moves out of range as Baker throws a body kick.
Hawthorne was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hawthorne connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hawthorne.
Jab from Baker.
Baker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hawthorne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hawthorne lands a nice looking body shot.
Baker dodges the punch combination from Hawthorne.
Baker avoids the body shot from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne connects with a leg kick.
A big right from Hawthorne misses.
Baker misses with an uppercut
enabling Hawthorne to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawthorne lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Baker at a distance.
And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Hawthorne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hawthorne has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight for Damien Hawthorne!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Damien Hawthorne!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Damien Hawthorne!
Damien Hawthorne wins by unanimous decision!
After the fight, Damien Hawthorne was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
87% |
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