PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tim Elric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carmine Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawkins has chosen Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Elric
vs
Hawkins

183 cm
23
177 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

182 cm
27
180 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tim Elric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carmine Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Hawkins.
Hawkins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Elric circles away quickly and effectively.
Hawkins misses the jab.
Elric dives in and grabs Hawkins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hawkins pushes down on Elric's head and hops out.

Hawkins clinches with his opponent.
Hawkins is pushing Elric up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hawkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Elric.
Hawkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Elric has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Elric is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hawkins gets underhooks to prevent Elric's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Elric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elric wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins prevents Elric from breaking the clinch.

Hawkins breaks from the clinch.
Elric fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hawkins connects with a jab.
Elric slips a jab from Hawkins.
Hawkins keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Elric shoots in for a takedown but Hawkins shows good takedown defense.
Elric avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hawkins scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Hawkins moves into range and clinches up with Elric.
Elric managing to block the knees to the body from Hawkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins taking a breather.
Hawkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hawkins is struggling to control the position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hawkins.
A knee to the head by Hawkins.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawkins stalls.
Hawkins looking to throw knees to the head but Elric is blocking nicely.
Hawkins scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Elric is defending well for now.

Elric's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hawkins throws a series of punches but Elric moves out of range.
Hawkins avoids a punch combination nicely.
Elric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hawkins throws out the jab.
Hawkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hawkins throws the left hand but Elric avoids the punch easily.
Carmine Hawkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Elric gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hawkins counters with a three punch combo that has Elric backing up. Elric nods at Hawkins to acknowledge the strikes.
Hawkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Elric darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Elric shoots in but Hawkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins tries to clinch there but Elric circles away.
Elric swinging wildly here.

Elric closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Elric trying to pass the guard but Hawkins defending well.
Elric tries to stand and escape but Hawkins actually recovers to full guard.

Elric stands and steps away. Hawkins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Hawkins. Those never looked like landing.
Hawkins scores with the left hand. Elric knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hawkins attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hawkins lands with an overhand left.
Elric slips a straight right by Hawkins.
Elric looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Elric tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawkins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Elric somewhat.
Elric shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawkins tries to sprawl out of it but Elric keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hawkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Elric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elric lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hawkins circles away quickly and effectively.
Elric with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hawkins counters with a nice body shot.
Elric uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins throws a low kick but Elric avoids it.
Hawkins connects with a jab.
Hawkins throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
No luck for Elric with that takedown attempt.
Hawkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Elric moves away.

Hawkins clinches up with Elric and pushes him back against the cage.
Hawkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Elric is defending well for now.
Hawkins avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elric has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Elric pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hawkins misses with a double jab.
Elric misses with a body shot
and Hawkins counters with a stiff right hand.
Elric blocks a low kick nicely.
Elric looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawkins is just out of range.
Hawkins throws an overhand right that lands on Elric's shoulder, as Elric tries to avoid the shot.
Hawkins dodges the punch combination from Elric.
Hawkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Elric fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Elric misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elric falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hawkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Tim Elric is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawkins throws a right and a left that Elric avoids nicely.
Hawkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Elric.
Hawkins lands a jab to the nose.
Carmine Hawkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawkins shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hawkins takes a swing at Elric's ribcage but misses.
Elric shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hawkins misses with an uppercut. Elric saw that one coming.
Elric shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hawkins but Hawkins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hawkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Elric was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawkins.
Hawkins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tim Elric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Elric cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hawkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Elric is just out of range.
Elric cracks Hawkins with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Elric misses the jab.
Elric tries for a takedown but Hawkins circles away easily
and Elric takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hawkins throws a series of punches but Elric moves out of range.
Hawkins digs a good body shot into Elric's ribs.
Hawkins scores with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elric throws a jab when Hawkins was well out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hawkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Elric.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carmine Hawkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Elric fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Elric swinging wildly here.
Hawkins lands a jab to the nose.
Elric staying out of range there.
Elric doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hawkins gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Elric throws a combination that misses
enabling Hawkins to counter with a crisp jab.
Hawkins works over Elric's head and body with a nice combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hawkins, as that shot connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Elric moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hawkins's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hawkins duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Elric circles away quickly and effectively.
Hawkins looks to land a combination but Elric avoids it well.
Hawkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hawkins clinches up against the cage.
Hawkins stalling in the clinch.
Elric takes a knee right on the jaw!
Elric on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hawkins is trying to maintain a safe position but Elric gets an underhook and turns Hawkins into the cage.
Elric avoiding damage as Hawkins throws knees to the body.
Hawkins looking to slow down the pace here.
Hawkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Elric avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Elric tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hawkins tries to land a knee to the head but Elric blocks with his arms.
Hawkins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Elric.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Elric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elric managing to block the knees to the body from Hawkins.
Elric drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Elric blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elric has Hawkins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hawkins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hawkins crunches a lovely knee into Elric's ribcage.
Hawkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Elric.
Elric changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hawkins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hawkins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hawkins, as that shot connected.
Elric takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hawkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Elric is just out of range.
Hawkins misses with the combination.
Elric shoots for a double leg takedown but Hawkins sprawls well. He's pushed Elric's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Elric shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hawkins pinned against the cage. Hawkins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Elric throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hawkins's waist but Hawkins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elric off to one side.
Tim Elric has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawkins connects with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carmine Hawkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hawkins 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carmine Hawkins!