PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Malfacine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Malfacine
vs
Hawkins

165 cm
20
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
24
142 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruno Malfacine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jonathan Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hawkins lands a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Malfacine misses the target.
Hawkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Malfacine.

Malfacine drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Malfacine working the ground and pound but Hawkins is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malfacine throws a strike aimed at the side of Hawkins's head but Hawkins avoids it well.
Malfacine lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malfacine throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hawkins wants to control but Malfacine postures up.
Hawkins tries to improve position but can't.
Malfacine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Malfacine wants to control but Hawkins is keeping him busy.
Sloppy strikes there by Malfacine.

Malfacine tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Malfacine has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hawkins dodges the ground and pound from Malfacine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malfacine throwing strikes but Hawkins manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Malfacine is not content to let Hawkins control the position.
Malfacine is looking to regain half guard here but Hawkins keeps moving and retains side control.
Hawkins is working Malfacine over with some ground and pound from side control.
Malfacine tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hawkins looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Malfacine trying to control here.
Hawkins is looking to advance position but Malfacine won't allow it.
Malfacine preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hawkins is trying to control. Malfacine wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Malfacine keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Malfacine is looking to control Hawkins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Malfacine avoid being mounted?
Malfacine is looking to improve his position.
Hawkins is keen to just control but Malfacine is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hawkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Malfacine dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hawkins with a lazy takedown attempt
and Malfacine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Hawkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malfacine.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawkins misses the target.
Malfacine avoids the body shot from Hawkins.
Malfacine is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkins throws a lazy right hand but Malfacine sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malfacine misses with a looping right.
Malfacine is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hawkins keeps the fight on the outside.
Malfacine shoots in for a double leg but Hawkins sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A big right from Malfacine misses.
Hawkins staying out of range there.
Hawkins keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Malfacine there.
Hawkins shoots and misses

and Malfacine counters with a single leg into guard. Hawkins didn't expect that.
Hawkins wants to stand and escape but Malfacine is having none of it.
Malfacine passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Malfacine advances to mount.

Hawkins has left one of his arms exposed and Malfacine doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Hawkins screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruno Malfacine!