PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Justin Gaethje (ranked 6295 p4p, 2357 weight class) and Micah Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gaethje
vs
Hawk

175 cm
35
165
11 - 12 - 0

179 cm
34
166
28 - 20 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Justin Gaethje!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Micah Hawk!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawk walks into a stiff left hand from Gaethje.
Hawk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gaethje connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gaethje connects with a body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Gaethje.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gaethje darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gaethje's corner calls for a 1-2. Gaethje obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gaethje swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Hawk counters with a stiff right hand.
Hawk on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaethje lands a nice shot to the body.
Gaethje has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Master Chai's Dojo in the buildup to the fight.
Justin Gaethje seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaethje uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hawk has time to react.
Nice straight punches there by Gaethje. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gaethje.
Gaethje lands a jab to Hawk's midsection.

Hawk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hawk throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gaethje to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk throwing strikes but missing.
Gaethje pulls Hawk in close to prevent any damage.
Hawk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hawk trying to control but Gaethje is working from the bottom.
Gaethje keeping full guard, as Hawk tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gaethje is pulling down on Hawk's head to control his posture.
Hawk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaethje is keeping the position for now.
Hawk is still trying to improve position.
Gaethje has Hawk pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A left lands for Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A lazy left from Gaethje finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk with a poor takedown
and Gaethje counters with a straight right hand.
Hawk on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gaethje. Gaethje obviously looking to wear him down.
Hawk doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Hawk closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gaethje quickly recovers to half guard.
Gaethje regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gaethje has Hawk pulled in close to control his posture.
Gaethje keeping moving, preventing Hawk from controlling successfully.
Hawk passes into half guard.
Gaethje regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hawk.
Gaethje working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hawk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk wants to control from the top but Gaethje keeps moving.
Gaethje managing to control the position.

Hawk drops back looking for a leg! Gaethje is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gaethje manages to kick Hawk off! Hawk jumps back into Gaethje's guard.
Hawk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gaethje's guard.
Gaethje controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Gaethje dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Decent striking displayed by Gaethje there.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gaethje as he avoids it easily.
Gaethje looks to land a left hand but Hawk moved out of range nicely.
Hawk doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gaethje lands with a slapping head kick.
Gaethje throws a good cross that connects.
Gaethje throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Gaethje lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hawk backs up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaethje throws a right and a left that Hawk avoids nicely.
Good exchange - Gaethje coming out on top.
Gaethje looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hawk with the counter takedown but Gaethje avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaethje lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaethje throws a body punch but Hawk moves out of range.
A head kick from Gaethje lands but Hawk takes it in his stride.
Gaethje connects with a solid leg kick.
Gaethje throws a head kick that half lands.
Gaethje connects with the punch.
Nice body kick there by Gaethje.
Justin Gaethje is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaethje connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hawk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A low kick lands for Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a sloppy head kick and Hawk moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Hawk on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gaethje looks to throw the jab but Hawk is out of range.
A nice side step and Hawk releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Good shot there by Gaethje.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaethje misses with a few strikes there.
Hawk avoids the head kick by Gaethje.
A combination from Gaethje does no damage.
Hawk tries a quick counter leg kick but Gaethje is wise to it.
Gaethje scores with a jab to the head.
A shot to the body from Gaethje misses
and Hawk counters with a stiff right hand.
Hawk darts in looking for a takedown but Gaethje gets double underhooks and turns Hawk into the cage.
Gaethje goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hawk on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gaethje.
Gaethje is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hawk can do to turn this around?
Gaethje lands with an overhand left.
Nice shot lands for Gaethje.
Hawk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gaethje is fending him off so far but Hawk persists. Nope, Gaethje circles away and we're back to standing.
Justin Gaethje has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micah Hawk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gaethje counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gaethje swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hawk.
Gaethje throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gaethje looks to land a combination but Hawk avoids it well.
Gaethje connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawk's hands.
Gaethje throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab from Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a head kick but Hawk moves out of range.
Hawk takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gaethje scores with a kick to the midsection.
Gaethje lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice leg kick from Gaethje, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gaethje misses with a double jab.
Hawk takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hawk walks into a straight right hand from Gaethje.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a looping overhand right but Hawk ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Gaethje.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a series of punches but Hawk moves out of range.
A nice side step and Hawk releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Gaethje connects with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawk takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Gaethje dominated that second round.
That's time! Gaethje's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Gaethje.
Hawk darts in looking for a takedown but Gaethje gets double underhooks and turns Hawk into the cage.
Gaethje scores with a hook.
Hawk gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gaethje.
Gaethje tests Hawk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gaethje lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hawk's sensitive parts.
Gaethje lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gaethje is fending him off so far but Hawk persists. Nope, Gaethje circles away and we're back to standing.
Gaethje was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hawk crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gaethje - the referee stops the clock and Hawk gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gaethje. Hawk manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gaethje lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hawk has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hawk sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jab from Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hawk stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gaethje throws a hook but Hawk blocks it.
A left lands for Gaethje.
Hawk takes one to the chin there.
Hawk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gaethje slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gaethje lands with an overhand left.
Gaethje scores with a jab to the body.
Hawk walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hawk is defended easily by Gaethje.
Justin Gaethje has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micah Hawk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk slips a straight right by Gaethje.
Gaethje scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gaethje pushes Hawk away with a front kick.
Hawk shoots in but Gaethje avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hawk walks into a straight right hand from Gaethje.
Gaethje fakes the leg kick and cracks Hawk in the body.
Gaethje scores with the left hand. Hawk knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hawk blocks the body kick.
Gaethje defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hawk.
Gaethje paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Decent striking displayed by Gaethje there.
A slow jab from Gaethje misses its intended target.
And Hawk tries to counter it with a takedown but Gaethje pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gaethje scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hawk has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gaethje finds it's way round the side to connect with Hawk's head.
Gaethje sizes up Hawk with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A combination from Gaethje does no damage.
Hawk misses with a takedown attempt - Gaethje sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gaethje sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hawk somewhat.
Hawk takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
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!
Hawk takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hawk closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice body kick there by Gaethje.
Hawk on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Micah Hawk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawk has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Gaethje showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gaethje, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:25
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:25
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Gaethje!
A victorious Justin Gaethje thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.