PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Grammur Natzee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Hawking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Natzee's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Marillion - Garden Party. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Stephen Hawking was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Natzee
vs
Hawking

162 cm
26
148 lbs
14 - 6 - 2

175 cm
32
150 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Grammur Natzee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Hawking!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawking lands a jab to Natzee's midsection.
Natzee looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawking is just out of range.
Natzee wants to clinch but Hawking slips to the side

and Hawking counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Natzee wants to get back to his feet but Hawking is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Natzee wants to sweep here but Hawking controlling him for the moment.
Hawking tries to free his leg and advance position but Natzee is retaining full guard.
Natzee wants to hit a switch here but Hawking passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Natzee there!
Natzee tries to reverse the position but Hawking maintains control.
Hawking lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawking trying to control but Natzee is having none of it.
Hawking prevents Natzee from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawking is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Natzee to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Natzee shrugs it off.
Natzee might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Natzee really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Natzee is working hard here to advance position.
Hawking dominating with strikes here.
Hawking trying to control but Natzee is having none of it.
Hawking lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawking can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Natzee is looking to escape.
Natzee is working to get back to half guard.
Natzee tries to hold on but Hawking postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Natzee is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Natzee bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hawking is trying to control the position but Natzee postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Natzee has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawking throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Natzee trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawking is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawking throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Natzee not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hawking keeping moving, preventing Natzee from controlling successfully.
Natzee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hawking swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Natzee got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hawking has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Natzee has managed to get both his arms back between Hawking's legs - danger averted.
Natzee's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Hawking throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Natzee won't allow Hawking to sweep him here.
Natzee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Natzee trying to control but Hawking is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen Hawking will probably get the nod.
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 takes a swing at Natzee's ribcage but misses.

Hawking fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Natzee sprawls well initially but Hawking persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hawking with the ground and pound but Natzee uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hawking postures up.
Hawking throws an elbow that misses. Natzee uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hawking's guard. Nice move by Natzee!
Natzee wants to pass the guard but Hawking is keeping the position.
Hawking wants to sweep here but Natzee controlling him for the moment.
Natzee is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natzee trying to control but Hawking is working from the bottom.
Hawking utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hawking is on top in guard.
Natzee is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hawking working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hawking showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hawking won't allow Natzee to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Natzee is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hawking is controlling him.
Natzee tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Natzee trying to control the position.
Natzee keeping moving, preventing Hawking from controlling successfully.
Natzee is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hawking wants to get back to full guard but Natzee has passed into side control.
Natzee working away.
Hawking tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hawking wants to control but Natzee is having none of it.
Hawking is trying to escape the mount.
Natzee throwing strikes here but Hawking is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hawking gets back to half guard.
Hawking wants to control but Natzee is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Natzee throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Natzee throwing shots but Hawking is blocking nicely.
Natzee wants to take a breather but Hawking is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking is looking for a sweep. Natzee is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Natzee tries to pass to full mount but Hawking defends it.
Hawking keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Natzee is pressing down on Hawking's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hawking is holding on for now.
Natzee is just content to waste time from the top position. Hawking takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hawking wants to control the position but Natzee says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Hawking will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Natzee shoots for a double leg takedown but Hawking sprawls well. He's pushed Natzee's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Natzee lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A left and a right from Hawking both land. Nice combination.
Natzee throws a body punch but Hawking moves out of range.
Natzee tries to move into range but Hawking moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hawking takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hawking is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hawking misses with a series of wild punches.
Hawking fails with a takedown attempt.
Natzee misses the shot to the body.
Hawking shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Natzee but Natzee pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Natzee lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Stephen Hawking has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hawking.
Grammur Natzee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Hawking.
Hawking dodges the punch combination from Natzee.
Natzee ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Natzee tries to clinch but Hawking moves out of range.
Natzee shoots in looking for a takedown. Hawking tries to sprawl out of it but Natzee keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hawking manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hawking misses with a straight left.

Hawking throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Natzee was covering up waiting for the punch and Hawking finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hawking throws a big right hand that misses.
Grammur Natzee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Natzee is looking for a triangle but Hawking pushes his legs off easily.
Hawking content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hawking connects with a couple of short punches.
Hawking is stalling in the full guard.
Natzee keeping moving, preventing Hawking from controlling successfully.

Hawking is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Natzee is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hawking is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natzee is looking to take a break and control but Hawking is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Natzee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hawking is not content to let Natzee control the position.
Hawking is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Natzee's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Natzee's back!
Hawking lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Natzee hold on?!
You can see the frustration on Natzee's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hawking connects with a big shot to the side of Natzee's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
The referee is taking a good look at Natzee as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Hawking!
Hawking is trying to stick to Natzee's back but Natzee is turning into Hawking. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hawking's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Natzee.
Hawking is trying to keep Natzee in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hawking is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Natzee wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking wants to pass the guard but Natzee is keeping the position.
Natzee throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Stephen Hawking is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Natzee keeping moving, preventing Hawking from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Hawking comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hawking 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:30

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