PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thufir Hawat (ranked 2697 p4p, 2424 weight class) and Tom Eli (ranked 354 p4p, 322 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hawat
vs
Eli

185 cm
27
178
14 - 17 - 0

176 cm
28
178
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Leiko Leaf Clothing

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 14 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thufir Hawat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Eli!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Eli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawat.
Hawat was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Eli misses with a straight right.
Eli connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawat's hands.

It looks like Thufir Hawat has been cut.
Eli misses with a hook
and Hawat counters with a nice uppercut.
Eli throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Eli throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hawat counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Eli misses with a straight right.
A quick step to the side and Hawat tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hawat has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Animal Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
A cross from Hawat lands.
Hawat displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Eli throws out the jab.
Hawat misses with a body kick.
Hawat walks into a jab.
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!
Eli missing with a left hand there. Hawat was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A counter left hand to the body from Hawat misses its target.
Eli lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli checks a low kick from Hawat.
Good work by Hawat as he checks the leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Hawat on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Eli throws a leg kick
letting Hawat counter with a right hand.
Eli scores with a punch to the head.
Eli tries to work over Hawat's front leg with a kick but Hawat checks it.
Eli scores with a push kick.
Eli misses with an uppercut. Hawat saw that one coming.
A good leg kick by Eli.
Eli looks to land a body kick but Hawat moved away.
Eli 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.
Eli misses with a hook
enabling Hawat to counter with a crisp jab.
Eli doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Eli tries to bum rush Hawat with a series of wild strikes but Hawat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawat takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawat slips under a jab.
As Eli backs away, Hawat returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A slow jab from Eli misses its intended target.
Eli digs a good hook to Hawat's body.
Hawat checks a low kick from Eli.
Eli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hawat tried to counter with a leg kick but Eli avoided it.
Eli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawat was well out of range. Poor timing from Eli.
Hawat is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hawat throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Eli sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A shot to the body from Eli misses
and Hawat counters with an inside leg kick.
Eli throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hawat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hawat throws a nice inside leg kick.
Eli misses with a body shot.
Hawat throws a quick counter kick to the body but Eli avoids it.
Tom Eli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eli takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Eli just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eli throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Hawat wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Eli lands with a straight right. Hawat didn't see that one coming.
Nice body kick from Eli.
Eli misses with a double jab
and Hawat counters with a right hand to the body.
Hawat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawat looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Eli throws a body punch but Hawat moves out of range.
Hawat lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hawat is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hawat swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Hawat moves into the clinch successfully.
A right hook to the body lands for Eli.
Hawat softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Eli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Eli jabs Hawat to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawat.
Eli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A little feinted left hand from Hawat on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Eli misses with a hook. Hawat ducked under it nicely.
Eli just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawat moves out of range as Eli strikes.
Hawat was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Eli throws an off balance right hand
and Hawat counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Hawat fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Eli, pushing him back against the cage.

Eli breaks the clinch.
Eli cracks Hawat with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Eli scores with a jab to the body.
Eli looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eli misses with a right hand
and Hawat counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Eli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thufir Hawat's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Eli gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hawat cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hawat throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A swing and a miss from Hawat.
Eli scores with the left hand. Hawat knows he should have avoided that one.
Eli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawat lands with a nice body punch.
Eli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slow jab from Hawat misses its intended target.
Eli rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hawat counters with a nice body kick.
Eli swings widly with a right hand
and Eli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawat misses with a straight left.
Hawat connects with a nice looking jab.
Eli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Eli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat connects with a single shot there.
Eli throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hawat counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Eli lands with an uppercut that bounces Hawat off the cage and back into range.
Hawat ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Eli. Hawat shrugs it off though.
A jab from Hawat misses.
Eli with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hawat to score with a decent uppercut.
Hawat lands a jab to the head.
Hawat moves into range and connects with a jab.
Eli lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawat missing with a left hand there. Eli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Eli throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hawat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hawat throws the kick towards the body but Eli avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eli lands with a cross.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hawat crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Eli - the referee stops the clock and Hawat gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Eli. Hawat manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Eli misses with an uppercut.
A left lands for Eli.
Eli throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hawat counters with a slapping leg kick.
Eli misses with the combination.
Eli jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hawat swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Eli takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hawat throws a big shot that misses.
Hawat is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Eli keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawat misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eli throws a looping overhand right but Hawat ducks down to avoid it.
A low kick from Eli is predictable there
letting Hawat counter with a right hand.
Eli jabs Hawat right on the nose. Hawat blinks but takes it well.

Thufir Hawat's cut is getting worse.
Eli moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hawat moves out of range of the strikes.
Hawat takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Eli throws a jab when Hawat was well out of range.
Eli throws a leg kick
and Hawat counters with a body kick that stops Eli in his tracks momentarily.
Eli lands a front kick.
Eli throws the kick towards the body but Hawat avoids it.
Hawat throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hawat takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Eli lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Eli.
Tom Eli seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawat throws a solid leg kick but Eli takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hawat.
Hawat uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Eli.
Eli connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawat's hands.
Eli lands with a nice body punch.
Hawat takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A quick step to the side and Hawat tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eli misses with a body kick.
Eli throws a solid leg kick but Hawat takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Eli.
Hawat is looking to counter punch.
Hawat misses with a straight left.
Eli throws a right hand that misses
letting Hawat counter with a right hand.
Eli misses with a shot to the body
and Hawat counters with a head kick.
Eli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tom Eli will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Thufir Hawat's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Hawat. Eli does a little dance to reset his feet.
Eli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hawat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hawat throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Both fighters circling a little - Eli finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Eli with a nice cross.
Eli scores with a jab. Hawat acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hawat on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Hawat will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hawat takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Eli thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hawat if he has to take too many more of those.
Hawat takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eli looks for the body kick but Hawat saw that one coming.
Hawat was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hawat on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Eli is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli moves out of range of the body kick from Hawat.
Eli throws a poor cross that misses
and Hawat connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Eli just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawat slips under a jab.
Hawat moves out of range of the body kick.
Eli throws a poor cross that misses
and Hawat counters with a leg kick.
Hawat sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Eli avoids the body shot from Hawat.
Hawat takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Eli walks into a straight right hand from Hawat.
Hawat misses with a looping right.
Tom Eli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eli throws a hook to the side of Hawat's head but Hawat sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hawat uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Eli.
Nice straight punches there by Eli. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Eli.
A big left from Eli misses.
Hawat half committed to a counter leg kick.
Hawat looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eli misses with a body kick.
Eli throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hawat stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hawat misses with a wild body shot.
Eli avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hawat pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Eli has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Eli connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Eli lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hawat will feel that in the morning.
Thufir Hawat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawat takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Eli avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hawat displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Eli throws out the jab.
Hawat takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Eli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hawat misses with a leg kick.
Hawat scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Eli doesn't seem bothered though.
Eli lands a front kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Eli. Hawat does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawat fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Eli manages to avoid it.
Hawat throws a combination that misses
and Eli counters with a nice body shot.
Eli misses with a hook. Hawat ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawat moves out of range of the body kick from Eli.
Eli scores with a nice body kick.
Hawat slips under a jab from Eli.
Hawat throws the left hand but Eli avoids the punch easily.
Eli lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hawat scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eli takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Eli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Eli scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Eli's corner calls for a 1-2. Eli obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Some wild striking there from Eli.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Eli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Eli 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Eli!