PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Giggle Valentine (ranked 673 p4p, 2671 weight class) and Morello Hawthorne (ranked 49 p4p, 183 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Valentine
vs
Hawthorne

167 cm
33
140
30 - 21 - 0

159 cm
26
130
8 - 10 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Brooklyn Apothecary

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giggle Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Morello Hawthorne!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Hawthorne closes the distance and pushes Valentine back into the cage.
Hawthorne lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hawthorne throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
Hawthorne tries to pull guard but Valentine forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hawthorne working aggressively here.

Valentine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Valentine misses with an uppercut. Hawthorne saw that one coming.
Hawthorne with the counter takedown but Valentine avoids it easily.
Valentine looks to land a left hand but Hawthorne moved out of range nicely.
Hawthorne wants to counter the offense by Valentine and move into the clinch position.
Valentine looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hawthorne gets the takedown into side control.
Valentine tries to buck Hawthorne off but Hawthorne is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Valentine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Valentine!
Valentine tries to lock up and control but Hawthorne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Valentine on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Valentine tries to get out of the position.

Hawthorne working for a guillotine from mount but Valentine is in no mood to give up.
Hawthorne with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Valentine really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valentine tries to lock up and control but Hawthorne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hawthorne seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Valentine is holding on tight.
Hawthorne wants to control the pace but Valentine is squirming around nicely.
Hawthorne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Valentine tries to hold on but Hawthorne postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is squirming around, avoiding Hawthorne's attempts to control the action.
Valentine knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hawthorne on the ground.

Hawthorne has control of Valentine's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Valentine regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Valentine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hawthorne wants to take his opponent's back but Valentine doesn't allow it.
Hawthorne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hawthorne wants to control the pace but Valentine is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawthorne takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries to lock up and control but Hawthorne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Valentine defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hawthorne.

Hawthorne has hold of Valentine's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Valentine manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hawthorne tries to control but Valentine wriggling away.
Valentine is desperately trying to improve his position but Hawthorne has a good base and remains in mount.
Hawthorne trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hawthorne is working for a guillotine from mount but Valentine frees his head quite easily.
Valentine is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine holds on for dear life, controlling Hawthorne's posture momentarily.
Valentine tries to lock up and control but Hawthorne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Valentine keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hawthorne controlling from mount.

Hawthorne wants to finish this one by submission but Valentine is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hawthorne.
Hawthorne tries to control but Valentine wriggling away.

Hawthorne has control of Valentine's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Valentine regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Valentine sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawthorne content to control rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Morello Hawthorne dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hawthorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Valentine circles away.
Valentine looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Valentine throws the left hand but Hawthorne avoids the punch easily.

Hawthorne rushes Valentine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valentine has had enough of the clinch but Hawthorne keeps him there for the moment.
Hawthorne misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hawthorne jumps guard but Valentine stands there with Hawthorne around his waist. Hawthorne gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Valentine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawthorne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Valentine manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne tries to close the distance and clinch but Valentine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valentine looks to land a left hand but Hawthorne moved out of range nicely.

Hawthorne closes the distance and clinches.

Valentine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hawthorne fails with the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Hawthorne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Valentine misses.

Hawthorne closes the distance and clinches.
Hawthorne has a couple of punches blocked by Valentine.
Hawthorne fails to pull guard.
Giggle Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morello Hawthorne.

Valentine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawthorne fails with the takedown.

Hawthorne scores with a takedown into Valentine's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine controls Hawthorne momentarily but Hawthorne frees himself.
Valentine seems keen to control Hawthorne's posture.
Hawthorne passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hawthorne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hawthorne is trying to get an arm triangle but Valentine is defending well.

Hawthorne tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawthorne is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Valentine is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Valentine gets back to half guard.
Morello Hawthorne has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawthorne wants to pass to mount but Valentine is defending the position.
Valentine trying to hold on to Hawthorne's head to control him but Hawthorne postures up.
Hawthorne tries to pass the half guard into mount. Valentine knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawthorne performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hawthorne trying to mount his opponent but Valentine defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Morello Hawthorne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Valentine swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawthorne.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Valentine throws a looping overhand right but Hawthorne ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Valentine misses.
Valentine throws a lazy right hand but Hawthorne sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hawthorne tries to counter with a clinch but Valentine shakes him off and moves away.
Valentine misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne tries to clinch but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine throws a lazy head kick

and Hawthorne counters with a nice double leg into side control. Valentine won't be happy with that.
Valentine keeps Hawthorne under control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawthorne tries to move to mount but Valentine blocks the move with his legs.
Valentine is not content to let Hawthorne control the position.
Hawthorne tries to move to mount but Valentine blocks the move with his legs.

Hawthorne tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hawthorne has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hawthorne trying to control the action but Valentine is working from the bottom.

Hawthorne is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Valentine has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hawthorne working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Valentine prevents Hawthorne from moving into mount.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

Hawthorne tries for a kimura but Valentine is defending well.
Valentine wants to control but Hawthorne postures up.

Hawthorne tries for a kimura but Valentine is defending well.
Hawthorne is looking to take a break and control but Valentine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne wants to control but Valentine is keeping him busy.
Hawthorne tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Valentine tries to buck Hawthorne off but Hawthorne is having none of it.
Hawthorne tries to advance to mount but can't.

Hawthorne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Valentine knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Valentine is trying to control Hawthorne's posture but Hawthorne avoids it.

Hawthorne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Valentine knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Valentine holds on to Hawthorne's head and controls the position momentarily.
Valentine is not content to let Hawthorne control the position.
Hawthorne passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Valentine!
Valentine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hawthorne prevents Valentine from getting the reversal.
Hawthorne can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valentine is looking to escape.
Hawthorne prevents Valentine from getting the reversal.
Morello Hawthorne is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valentine wants to hold on but Hawthorne pushes him away.
Hawthorne pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Giggle Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawthorne looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morello Hawthorne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hawthorne 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morello Hawthorne!