PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Hawkings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Perl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hawkings
vs
Perl

184 cm
21
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shawn Hawkings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Perl!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Perl shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hawkings's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawkings working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Perl.
Hawkings looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Perl trying to control but Hawkings is working from the bottom.
Perl looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hawkings keeping moving, preventing Perl from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkings preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hawkings can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Perl controls the pace.
Perl is looking to work some ground and pound but Hawkings has wrist control.
Hawkings is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Perl dives into side control.
Perl tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Perl wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hawkings keeps working.
Perl slows the pace down.

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.
Perl trying to control the action but Hawkings is working from the bottom.
Perl throws an elbow but Hawkings slips to the side and avoids it well.
Perl trying to control the position but Hawkings is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hawkings stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Hawkings. No joy for Perl on that attempt.
Hawkings misses with a wild body shot.
Hawkings slaps away a takedown attempt from Perl, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shawn Hawkings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Perl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Perl misses its intended target.
Perl slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Perl looks to land a combination but Hawkings avoids it well.
Hawkings swings for the body but Perl moves out of range.
Hawkings throws a left and a right that both miss
and Perl cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hawkings looks to land a left hand but Perl moved out of range nicely.
Hawkings keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hawkings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Perl throws a looping overhand right but Hawkings ducks down to avoid it.
Hawkings lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hawkings tries to land a leg kick but Perl saw it coming and moves away.

Hawkings drives through with a takedown into guard.
Perl is trying to keep Hawkings in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawkings tries to stand but Perl is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perl managing to control the position.
Perl is trying to keep Hawkings in close.
Perl is controlling Hawkings's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shawn Hawkings will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hawkings connects with the punch.
Nice sprawl there from Hawkings as Perl shoots in.
Shawn Hawkings is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Perl scores with a takedown into Hawkings's guard.
Perl wants to control from the top but Hawkings keeps moving.
Perl stops Hawkings from standing up.
Perl seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Perl trying to control but Hawkings is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jon Perl just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hawkings misses the body punch

and Perl counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hawkings is looking to stand up but Perl isn't so interested in that idea.
Perl wants to control from the top but Hawkings keeps moving.
Perl seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hawkings is controlling Perl's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkings tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Perl trying to control but Hawkings is working from the bottom.
Perl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Perl trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hawkings swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Perl moves out of range as Hawkings strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkings misses with a low kick.
Hawkings misses with a double jab
and Perl counters with a stiff right hand.
Perl misses with a takedown attempt

and Hawkings counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hawkings seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Perl trying to hold on to Hawkings's head to control him but Hawkings postures up.
Perl might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hawkings kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Perl is looking for a sweep. Hawkings is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkings looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hawkings passes to side control.
Hawkings throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hawkings is looking to take a break and control but Perl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hawkings decides to stand up, so the ref orders Perl to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shawn Hawkings will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hawkings's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Perl misses with the combination.

Hawkings closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Perl's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Perl tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hawkings wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Perl prevents Hawkings from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawkings decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hawkings throws a series of punches but Perl moves out of range.
Hawkings swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hawkings throws the left hand but Perl avoids the punch easily.
Hawkings throws a series of punches but Perl moves out of range.
Perl shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hawkings as he avoids it easily.
Shawn Hawkings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawkings swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawkings blocks a jab.
Hawkings keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perl.
Perl tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hawkings swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawkings scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Perl doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hawkings counters with a good low kick that Perl was not able to check.
Hawkings throws a right and a left that Perl avoids nicely.
Hawkings tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perl was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawkings.
Perl bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hawkings throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hawkings is fending him off so far but Perl persists. Nope, Hawkings circles away and we're back to standing.
Shawn Hawkings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Perl.
Perl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hawkings as he jumps to the side.
Perl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hawkings misses with a double jab

and Perl counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hawkings won't be happy with that.
Hawkings manages to work his way to half guard, despite Perl's best efforts.
Perl trying to control from Hawkings's half guard. Hawkings has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkings is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hawkings controlling the position.
Hawkings wants to stand up but Perl is controlling him.
Perl pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hawkings is keeping the position for now.
Hawkings working a defensive guard here.
Shawn Hawkings is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Perl prevents Hawkings from getting back to his feet.
Perl trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hawkings looks to score with a jab to the body but Perl is just out of range.
Hawkings lands with an overhand left.
Perl throws a body punch but Hawkings moves out of range.
Perl misses with a takedown attempt
letting Hawkings counter with a right hand.
Jon Perl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawkings throws a combination that misses

so Perl counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Perl is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Perl in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Perl.
I think Hawkings has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!