PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Badiss Kassib (ranked 3996 p4p, 4609 weight class) and Joe Hooks (ranked 366 p4p, 404 weight class). Badiss Kassib has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kassib
vs
Hooks

172 cm
23
154
4 - 6 - 0

165 cm
22
145
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Threads of HARDCORE

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Badiss Kassib!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Hooks!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kassib but Kassib pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hooks thuds a left hand into Kassib's body.
Kassib throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hooks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kassib waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hooks.
Hooks scores with a nice strike.

Hooks instigates a clinch.
Hooks avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.
A head punch on the inside from Kassib fails to land.
Kassib pushes off an throws an elbow but Hooks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hooks managing to block the knees to the body from Kassib.
Kassib misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooks drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kassib pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hooks takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sloppy strikes from Kassib. Those never looked like landing.
Kassib fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hooks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kassib throws a right and a left that Hooks avoids nicely.
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!
Hooks avoids the head kick by Kassib.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooks connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kassib's hands.
Hooks has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Kassib tries a low kick but Hooks avoids it.
Kassib fails to land with a series of punches.
Hooks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kassib enables Hooks to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kassib manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hooks advances to half guard.
Hooks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kassib trying to control from the bottom.
Hooks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Hooks is working for a submission of some sort.

Hooks decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kassib misses with a series of wild punches.
Hooks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kassib tries a head kick but it misses.
Hooks slips under a jab.

Hooks gets the takedown into side control.
Hooks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hooks tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hooks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hooks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hooks misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hooks tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kassib trying to remain calm as Hooks controls from the top position.

Hooks thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
An elbow from Hooks crashes against the mat.
Hooks throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hooks trying to control the action but Kassib is working from the bottom.
Kassib tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hooks stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kassib moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kassib tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hooks counters with a straight right hand.
Kassib throws a head kick but Hooks moves out of range.

Hooks darts in and clinches Kassib up against the cage.
Hooks avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.
Hooks pushes Kassib back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hooks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kassib misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hooks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Hooks rushes Kassib and presses him up against the cage.

Hooks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kassib moves in looking to clinch but Hooks pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hooks dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kassib swinging wildly here.
Hooks throws out a counter right but Kassib avoids it with no problem.
Joe Hooks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hooks lands with a shot to the body.

Kassib tries to keep at a distance but Hooks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hooks throws an elbow but it misses.
Hooks lands with a light punch inside.

Hooks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hooks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kassib.
Hooks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kassib stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kassib.
Hooks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Hooks instigates a clinch.
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!
Hooks lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hooks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hooks lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kassib misses with an elbow over the top.
Hooks manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooks dodges an elbow strike from Kassib.
Still in the clinch, Hooks scores with a nice short uppercut.

Hooks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hooks moves into the clinch.
Kassib throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kassib with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hooks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kassib prevents it.
Hooks tries to score a body lock takedown but Kassib shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kassib misses with a knee strike.
Hooks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short left from Hooks.
Kassib pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Hooks pulls guard successfully.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kassib sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hooks somewhat.
Badiss Kassib has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Hooks.
Hooks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kassib defends it nicely.
Kassib went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kassib throws a right hand that Hooks ducks under and follows up with a left that Hooks also avoids with ease.
Kassib takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hooks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hooks throws a sloppy head kick and Kassib moves out of range easily.
Hooks lands a jab-cross combination.
Hooks connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hooks lands a lovely overhand right.

Hooks clinches with his opponent.
Hooks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kassib fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hooks throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Kassib is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kassib throws a right hand that Hooks ducks under and follows up with a left that Hooks also avoids with ease.
Oh Kassib is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Hooks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kassib seems to have got his legs back now.
Kassib tries to land knees in the clinch but Hooks avoids the damage to the body.
Hooks drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hooks pulls guard successfully.
Kassib is looking to stand up but Hooks won't let him.
Kassib trying to control but Hooks is working from the bottom.

Hooks pushes Kassib off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Joe Hooks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hooks dives in for a single leg takedown but Kassib sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Kassib wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hooks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kassib looks to score with a jab to the body but Hooks is just out of range.

Hooks clinches up with Kassib and pushes him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hooks.
Kassib with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Hooks manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hooks fakes the leg kick and cracks Kassib in the body.

Hooks has managed to clinch.
Hooks tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hooks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hooks avoiding damage as Kassib throws knees to the body.
Joe Hooks seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kassib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hooks is defending well for now.

Hooks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Badiss Kassib is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kassib misses with a combination
and Hooks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kassib lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hooks circles away quickly and effectively.
Kassib looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hooks lands a nice shot to the body.
Hooks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kassib.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kassib takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kassib stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hooks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Kassib changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hooks lands a jab to the head.
Hooks punishes Kassib's body with a nice straight punch.
Kassib swinging wildly here.
Hooks tries to counter by closing the distance.

Hooks gets the takedown into side control.

Hooks has hold of Kassib's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Kassib tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Hooks cranks the arm and Kassib screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Kassib, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Joe Hooks!
Joe Hooks bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.