PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Brooks (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.

Hawkins
vs
Brooks

176 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

170 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Raphael Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sean Brooks!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A head kick misses from Hawkins.
Brooks misses with a wild body shot.
Hawkins fails with the takedown.
Brooks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hawkins is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Brooks.

Brooks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Brooks is looking to stand back up but Hawkins counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Brooks.

Brooks should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Hawkins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Brooks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hawkins.
Brooks preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks moves into full guard.
Brooks trying to keep a closed guard but Hawkins is proving a slippery customer.
Hawkins stopping the sweep attempt from Brooks.
Brooks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Hawkins decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Brooks shoots in and gets a takedown into Hawkins's guard.
Hawkins keeping moving, preventing Brooks from controlling successfully.
Brooks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Brooks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hawkins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brooks manages to get himself to full guard.

Hawkins stopping the sweep attempt from Brooks.
Hawkins is fighting to break Brooks's control of his arms but Brooks is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hawkins chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins stands up and waves to Brooks to follow him.
Hawkins throws a head kick that Brooks semi-blocks.
Hawkins has a takedown stuffed.
Brooks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Brooks looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hawkins!
Brooks looks winded!
Brooks is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Brooks tries to get to his feet but Hawkins is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Brooks in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins controls Brooks momentarily but Brooks frees himself.
Brooks trying to control but Hawkins is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawkins pulls Brooks in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raphael Hawkins will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hawkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hawkins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Brooks avoids it really well and circles away.
Brooks throws a leg kick but Hawkins checks it.
Hawkins keeps the fight on the outside.
Brooks's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Brooks duly obliges.

It looks like Raphael Hawkins has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brooks circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Hawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Brooks shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Brooks showed some decent athleticism there.
Brooks trying to advance position but Hawkins counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins keeping full guard, as Brooks tries to pass.
Brooks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Brooks wants to control from the top but Hawkins keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hawkins holds on and takes a little breather.
Brooks is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Brooks stopping the sweep attempt from Hawkins.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Hawkins with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Brooks's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hawkins is defended easily by Brooks.
Hawkins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brooks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hawkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brooks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brooks slaps away a takedown attempt from Hawkins, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Brooks shoots in and gets a takedown into Hawkins's guard.
Sean Brooks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brooks slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hawkins's face as Brooks controls the position.
Brooks working the ground and pound.
Brooks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hawkins keeps working.
Brooks controlling the position from side mount.
Brooks blocks the strikes from Hawkins.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Brooks decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Brooks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raphael Hawkins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Brooks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hawkins did well to prevent Brooks getting side control.
Hawkins is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Brooks trying to control from Hawkins's half guard. Hawkins has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hawkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hawkins looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hawkins is keeping the position for now.
Brooks trying to control but Hawkins is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins trying to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Brooks looking to score a takedown here. Hawkins is defending well but Brooks drives through and ends up in Hawkins's guard.

Hawkins is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Brooks presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Brooks has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hawkins uses from the top position.
Brooks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Brooks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Brooks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks wants to control but Hawkins passes easily into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Brooks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hawkins working Brooks over with strikes.
Hawkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Hawkins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hawkins is looking for a kimura but Brooks is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hawkins to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hawkins is working for a kimura but Brooks is defending it quite comfortably.
Brooks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hawkins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hawkins is trying to work for a kimura but Brooks is defending well.
Hawkins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Brooks pushes Hawkins off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins gets caught napping as Brooks dives in and scores a takedown. Hawkins manages to retain guard.

Hawkins has his feet on Brooks's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Brooks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hawkins did well to prevent Brooks getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brooks is pressing down on Hawkins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hawkins is holding on for now.
Hawkins controlling the position well.
Hawkins regains full guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raphael Hawkins.
I think Hawkins 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sean Brooks!