PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Hawking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Nevin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawking comes to the cage accompanied by One Winged Angel by The Black Mages. Nevin has chosen Twin Atlantic - Free as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Bill Nevin enters the cage!

Hawking
vs
Nevin

175 cm
33
150 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

169 cm
22
142 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brute
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Hawking!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bill Nevin!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nevin tried to score with a low kick but Hawking checks it.
Nevin swings widly with a right hand

and Hawking counters with a shoot takedown. Nevin fights it but they end up in guard.
Hawking slips nicely into half guard.
Hawking trying to pass the guard but Nevin defending well.
Hawking throwing shots but Nevin is blocking nicely.
Hawking not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nevin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nevin.
Hawking stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nevin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawking is working hard here to advance position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nevin holds on and takes a little breather.
Hawking stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nevin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nevin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawking looking to pass the guard.
Hawking is looking to work some ground and pound but Nevin has wrist control.
Hawking tries to free his leg and advance position but Nevin is retaining full guard.
Nevin controls Hawking momentarily but Hawking frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bill Nevin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nevin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawking moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nevin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hawking counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hawking passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nevin!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Hawking there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hawking lands with some strikes.
Hawking thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hawking lands a big shot there that rocks Nevin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nevin wants to hold on but Hawking pushes him away.
Hawking landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hawking with good strikes from the mount here!

Nevin is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawking in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nevin is still in real trouble! Can Hawking finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking throws some wild stikes that Nevin manages to avoid easily.
Nevin seems to have recovered his senses.
Hawking misses with a head shot.
Hawking prevents Nevin from getting the reversal.
Hawking throwing strikes but Nevin bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Hawking wants to improve his position but instead Nevin has moved into half guard.
Nevin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hawking controls his leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hawking is looking for a sweep. Nevin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking wants to control but Nevin is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Hawking dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nevin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hawking is defended easily by Nevin.
Nevin connects with an inside leg kick.
Hawking throws a low kick but Nevin avoids it.
Nevin throws a body punch but Hawking moves out of range.
Hawking fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nevin thumps Hawking with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nevin scores with a head kick. Hawking tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nevin throws a sloppy body shot

and Hawking counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hawking in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nevin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hawking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nevin is keeping the position for now.
Hawking advances to half guard.
Nevin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hawking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawking looks to land a strike but Nevin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hawking trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nevin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hawking slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nevin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hawking throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Nevin wants to control but Hawking postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking throws a strike aimed at the side of Nevin's head but Nevin avoids it well.
Hawking is trying to ground and pound but Nevin uses the momentary lack of control by Hawking to regain half guard.
Hawking missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hawking not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stephen Hawking overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawking tries to pass to full mount but Nevin defends it.
Hawking is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nevin!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hawking breaks from Nevin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hawking throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nevin is looking to get to half guard.
Hawking looking to ground and pound but Nevin is blocking nicely.
Hawking throwing strikes here but Nevin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawking thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hawking looking to ground and pound but Nevin is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Hawking dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A leg kick checked by Hawking.
Hawking with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nevin to score with a decent uppercut.
Nevin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nevin throws a chopping leg kick but Hawking manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hawking is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nevin can do to turn this around?
Nevin misses with a jab, cross combination.
No luck for Hawking with that takedown attempt.
Hawking keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nevin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nevin throws a body punch but Hawking moves out of range.
Hawking avoids the body shot from Nevin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nevin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hawking with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nevin to score with a decent uppercut.
Nevin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick there by Nevin.
Nevin throws a hook but Hawking avoids it easily.
The crowd cheers as Nevin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hawking doesn't seem phased though.
Bill Nevin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nevin throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hawking.
Nevin throws a sloppy head kick and Hawking moves out of range easily.
Nevin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nevin thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nevin misses with a lunging right hand

and Hawking counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nevin won't be happy with that.
Hawking creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nevin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nevin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hawking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The ground and pound from Hawking seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hawking working the ground and pound.
Hawking connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nevin some visible discomfort.
Hawking cracks Nevin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hawking looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nevin is avoiding damage well.

Hawking looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nevin defending against the ground and pound.
Hawking working the strikes but Nevin uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hawking moves nicely into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Hawking.
Hawking throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hawking working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawking tries for a kimura but Nevin is defending well.
Hawking looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nevin is avoiding damage well.
Hawking throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Nevin regains half guard, as Hawking was trying to land strikes.
Ground and pound from Hawking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Hawking clearly takes that round.
That's time! Hawking's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hawking stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nevin.
Hawking avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nevin misses with a hook to the body

and Hawking counters with a shoot takedown. Nevin fights it but they end up in guard.
Hawking works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nevin won't allow Hawking to pass to mount.
Nevin is controlling Hawking's trapped leg to prevent Hawking from advancing to side control.
Hawking thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nevin's head.
Hawking trying to advance position but Nevin counters by regaining guard.
Hawking throws a strike but Nevin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nevin stopping the sweep attempt from Hawking.
Nevin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hawking is proving hard to escape from.
Hawking wants to sweep but no luck.

Nevin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nevin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hawking has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hawking and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nevin. Hawking does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nevin throws a leg kick which misses Hawking's front leg but catches the back leg as Hawking tries to avoid it.
Nevin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nevin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hawking.
Nevin lands with a nice body kick.
Hawking avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nevin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hawking's head.
Nevin throws a right hand that misses
enabling Hawking to counter with a crisp jab.
Nevin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nevin cracks Hawking with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hawking blocks a head kick by Nevin.
Hawking shoots in looking for a takedown but Nevin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hawking's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hawking avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nevin misses with a looping left.
Nevin misses with a body shot

and Hawking counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nevin can't find room to land a body shot as Hawking controls the action.
Hawking is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nevin is defending well.
Nevin gets double underhooks to prevent a 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.
Nice elbow from Nevin.

It looks like Stephen Hawking has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nevin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hawking is trying to trip Nevin. He has hold of a leg but Nevin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hawking persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hawking forces his way into half guard.
Hawking missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawking is pressing down on Nevin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nevin is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nevin is in trouble now - Hawking has advanced to mount!
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 cut man is working on Stephen Hawking's cut.
That's time! Hawking's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nevin throws a low kick but Hawking moves out of range easily.
Nevin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nevin throws a front kick aimed at Hawking's knee but Hawking avoids it well.

Hawking throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nevin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hawking is in Nevin's guard.
Hawking missing there with some ground and pound from the 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.
Hawking passes Nevin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hawking trying to pass the guard but Nevin defending well.
Hawking throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawking uses his free foot to push down on Nevin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nevin.
Hawking throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nevin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hawking misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hawking looking to finish Nevin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nevin!
Nevin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hawking tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hawking lands a big shot there that rocks Nevin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawking throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nevin because Hawking loaded up on that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nevin avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hawking.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hawking cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hawking throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nevin because Hawking loaded up on that one.
Hawking lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Nevin! Hawking sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Nevin and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Stephen Hawking!
Stephen Hawking is the new featherweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Stephen Hawking started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.