PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cohen Hawthorne (ranked 2445 p4p, 2231 weight class) and Bert Newton (ranked 294 p4p, 273 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Hawthorne
vs
Newton

194 cm
34
261
10 - 3 - 0

186 cm
31
263
11 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cohen Hawthorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bert Newton!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hawthorne makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Newton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hawthorne shoots in and gets a takedown into Newton's guard.
Hawthorne is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Newton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hawthorne is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton has a closed guard, preventing Hawthorne from standing up.

Newton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hawthorne passes into side control.
Hawthorne has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Newton!

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Hawthorne looking to finish with strikes here!
Newton is working to get back to half guard.
Hawthorne sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Poor strikes thrown by Hawthorne there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hawthorne.
Newton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Newton flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
We've been hearing good reports from Hawthorne's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hawthorne controlling the position easily from mount.
Newton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hawthorne. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hawthorne avoids the attempt from Newton to control.
Newton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hawthorne.
Newton tries to lock up and control but Hawthorne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Newton working to try and regain half guard.
Hawthorne content just to control the position here.
Newton is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hawthorne content just to control the position here.
Newton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hawthorne tries to stand up but Newton had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
Hawthorne moves into full guard.
Newton won't allow Hawthorne to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newton throws a big elbow that misses.

Newton has gone for a leg lock! Hawthorne slips out almost immediately though and dives into Newton's guard.

Newton is striking off his back. Hawthorne thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cohen Hawthorne dominated that round.
That's time! Hawthorne's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hawthorne closes the distance and clinches.

Hawthorne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hawthorne clinches up against the cage.

Hawthorne manages to pull guard.
Hawthorne looking to control.
Hawthorne avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawthorne seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Newton wants to control from the top but Hawthorne keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hawthorne wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Newton throws a strike but Hawthorne rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newton has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hawthorne is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Newton.
Hawthorne tries to stand but Newton is controlling his head.
Newton is looking for a sweep.
Hawthorne is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Hawthorne working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hawthorne gets to mount! Newton was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Newton tries to lock up and control but Hawthorne gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne controlling from the full mount.
Newton tries to hold on but Hawthorne postures up.
Newton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Poor strikes thrown by Hawthorne there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Newton is looking to improve his position but Hawthorne isn't that keen on the idea.
Cohen Hawthorne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawthorne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hawthorne looking to finish with strikes here!
Hawthorne looking to ground and pound but Newton is blocking nicely.
Newton is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

Hawthorne with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hawthorne prevents Newton from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne mounts Newton! Really nice guard pass there!

Hawthorne is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Newton is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cohen Hawthorne!
Cohen Hawthorne decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.