PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Hawking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Justice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Hawking
vs
Justice

175 cm
29
150 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

167 cm
29
152 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stephen Hawking!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Duke Justice!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Justice wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hawking shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Justice pinned against the cage. Justice gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hawking fails with the takedown.
Justice walks into a straight right hand from Hawking.
Hawking with a poor takedown
and Justice counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Hawking. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawking is trying hard to land a takedown here. Justice sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Justice displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hawking.
Hawking gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Justice makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hawking is trying hard to land a takedown here. Justice sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hawking misses with a double jab.
Justice lands a nice hook to Hawking's body. Hawking takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hawking throws a chopping leg kick but Justice manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Justice uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hawking.
Hawking lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Justice circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab by Justice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hawking at a distance.
Hawking is breathing heavily.
Justice swings for the body but Hawking moves out of range.
Justice misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from Hawking misses.
Hawking changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Justice tries to avoid it but Hawking manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Justice to the ground. Justice escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Justice is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hawking rather than just go for the knockout.
Hawking walks into a stiff left hand from Justice.
Justice misses the shot to the body.
Justice lands with a good body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Justice. Hawking does a little dance to reset his feet.
Justice tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawking sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Justice somewhat.
Hawking ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Justice moves away.
Justice waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hawking.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawking misses the target.
Hawking takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice lands with a shot to the body.
Hawking keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawking shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Justice connects with a body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Justice. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Justice.
Hawking misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hawking uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Justice.
Justice misses with the combination.
Hawking looks to land a right hand but Justice moved out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Hawking as he connects with a hook.
Hawking tries to move into range but Justice moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A combination from Justice does no damage.
Justice thows a body shot but no joy.
Hawking uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Justice.
Justice looks to throw the jab but Hawking is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hawking counters with a nice uppercut.
Hawking shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Justice as he avoids it easily.
Hawking fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Justice on the side of the head.
Justice scores with a jab.
Justice lands a nice shot to the body.
Hawking has a takedown stuffed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Justice. Hawking does a little dance to reset his feet.

Hawking shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hawking showed some decent athleticism there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Justice has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hawking is working away from the top position though.
Hawking seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Justice does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Justice wants to control but Hawking is keeping busy.
Justice is controlling Hawking's trapped leg to prevent Hawking from advancing to side control.
Hawking lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hawking misses with a head shot. Justice uses the momentum to regain guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hawking tries to free his leg and advance position but Justice is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Justice dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Justice changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Justice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawking was well out of range. Poor timing from Justice.
Justice keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good standup being displayed there by Hawking as he connects with a hook.
Duke Justice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Justice misses with a looping right.
Justice checks a leg kick.
Justice rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawking moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hawking shoots in and drives through. Justice sprawls well.
Hawking gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Justice cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Hawking. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Justice takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Justice thows a body shot but no joy.
Justice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawking was well out of range. Poor timing from Justice.
Hawking keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawking swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawking lands with an uppercut that bounces Justice off the cage and back into rage.
Justice misses with a wild body shot.
Hawking swings for the body but Justice moves out of range.
Justice jabs at Hawking's body.
Justice punishes Hawking's body with a nice straight punch.
Hawking scores with a jab. Justice acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Justice. Hawking does a little dance to reset his feet.

Hawking shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Justice has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hawking is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawking missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hawking 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Justice avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hawking.
Hawking thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Justice to regain full guard.
Justice trying to control the position.
Hawking postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hawking stopping the sweep attempt from Justice.
Hawking throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hawking accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hawking passes into half guard.
Hawking throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hawking lands strikes from half guard.
Hawking is thwarting Justice's attempts to control the position.
Justice wants to get back to full guard.
Justice is trying to maintain the position but Hawking is very close to passing his half guard.
Justice gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Justice tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawking missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawking trying to control but Justice is working from the bottom.
Hawking with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking thows a big elbow that misses.
Hawking slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Hawking dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hawking is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Hawking shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Justice blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hawking.
Justice preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hawking looks to land a strike but Justice avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawking won't allow Justice to sweep him here.
Justice is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Justice looking to control.
Stephen Hawking overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Justice avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Justice controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hawking thows a big elbow that misses.
Hawking trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hawking in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawking working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Justice controls Hawking momentarily but Hawking frees himself.
Justice controlling Hawking's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Duke Justice was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Justice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawking.
Justice swinging wildly here.
Hawking misses the shot to the body.
Hawking is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hawking lands with an uppercut that bounces Justice off the cage and back into rage.
Justice cracks Hawking with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Justice avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Justice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawking.
Justice with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hawking to score with a decent uppercut.
Hawking misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Justice.
Justice moves out of range of the strikes.
Justice keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Justice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawking.
Hawking misses with an uppercut.
Justice throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Justice ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawking moves away.
Justice swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawking throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Justice's waist but Justice gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hawking off to one side.
Hawking sizes up Justice with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Justice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justice getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Justice lands with an overhand left.
Justice stuffs the takedown attempt from Hawking. Hawking gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hawking avoids the body shot from Justice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hawking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Hawking. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawking throws a right hand that misses
and Justice counters with a nice body kick.
Justice pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hawking back to the cage. Justice follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Justice throws a right hand that Hawking ducks under and follows up with a left that Hawking also avoids with ease.
Justice throws out a loose jab but Hawking uses good head movement to avoid it.
Justice slaps away a takedown attempt from Hawking, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Justice lands a nice shot to the body.
Justice thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Duke Justice just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hawking jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Justice looks to land a right hand but Hawking moved out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Hawking as he connects with a hook.
Justice takes one to the chin there.
Hawking tries to move into range but Justice moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Justice ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawking moves away.
Hawking just misses with a punch to the body.

Hawking drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Justice manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hawking manages to get himself to full guard.
Justice must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Justice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hawking is keeping the position for now.
Justice works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hawking's head.
Justice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hawking defending well though.
Hawking won't allow Justice to pass to mount.
Hawking tries to roll over but Justice keeps him under control.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Justice not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hawking avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Justice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hawking tries to kick Justice off but Justice keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Justice tries to stand and escape but Hawking is controlling the position.
Hawking is not content to let Justice control the position.
Hawking blocking the ground and pound attempt from Justice.
Hawking regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hawking working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Justice.
Justice trying to control but Hawking is working from the bottom.
Justice looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hawking is trying to control the position but Justice postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stephen Hawking.
Justice throws a big shot that misses.
Justice swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hawking lands with a straight right. Justice didn't see that one coming.
Justice is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking misses with a looping left.

Hawking closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Justice to the mat! Justice manages to get full guard.
Hawking throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hawking lands a couple of elbows.
Justice wants to sweep but no luck.
Hawking is fighting to break Justice's control of his arms but Justice is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking looking to sit in guard and control but Justice gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Stephen Hawking will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Hawking darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Justice swinging wildly here.
Hawking throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hawking closes the distance and clinches up with Justice, looking for a takedown. Hawking pushes Justice against the cage but Justice circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Justice slips a jab and a cross from Hawking.
Justice throws a body punch but Hawking moves out of range.
Hawking throws a looping overhand right but Justice ducks down to avoid it.
Hawking works Justice's body with a nice hook.
Hawking misses with a combination
and Justice counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hawking thinking.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Justice lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jab by Hawking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Justice lands a body shot.
Justice misses with a body shot

and Hawking counters with a shoot takedown. Justice fights it but they end up in guard.
Hawking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Justice is keeping the position for now.
Hawking stands up over Justice, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Justice not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Justice looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hawking is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawking stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Justice swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Justice tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hawking advances to half guard.
Hawking throws a strike but Justice avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hawking tries to free his leg and advance position but Justice is retaining full guard.
Hawking trying to control the position from guard on top but Justice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawking throwing strikes from guard but Justice blocks nicely.
Hawking passes into half guard.
Hawking trying to control the action but Justice is working from the bottom.
Justice trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawking is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Justice has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hawking throwing shots but Justice is blocking nicely.
Hawking throwing shots but Justice is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Justice works his way to full guard. Good work.
Justice is looking to stand up but Hawking isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Hawking showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hawking 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 47:48
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 49:47
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Stephen Hawking!