PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Markovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alf Hooker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alf Hooker will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Markovic
vs
Hooker

178 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Markovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alf Hooker!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Markovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hooker wants to break free but Markovic has control.
Markovic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Markovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hooker fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hooker misses with a takedown attempt - Markovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Markovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Markovic wants it to stay on the feet.
Alexey Markovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hooker leaves Markovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Markovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hooker wants to hold on but Markovic pushes him away.
Markovic throwing strikes here but Hooker is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Markovic throwing strikes here but Hooker is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hooker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Markovic cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hooker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker is looking to improve his position but Markovic isn't that keen on the idea.
Markovic avoids the attempt from Hooker to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markovic putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Markovic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hooker is looking to escape.
Hooker working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hooker is trying to stand back up but Markovic is controlling him
Hooker punching from the bottom.
Markovic is breathing heavily.
Hooker tries to get to full guard but Markovic has control of the leg.
Markovic 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.
Markovic wants to control but Hooker is keeping him busy.
Markovic prevents Hooker from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Markovic is working away from the top position though.
Hooker is trying to get back to full guard.
Hooker wants to control but Markovic is keeping busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alf Hooker wasn't active enough on the ground.
Markovic on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hooker darts in trying to clinch

and Markovic counters with a takedown into side control.
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 Alexey Markovic will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hooker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Markovic, pushing him back against the cage.
Markovic fails to pull guard.

Markovic has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hooker is trying to keep an underhook but Markovic manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hooker is trying to maintain the position but Markovic is very close to passing his half guard.
Hooker is trying to stand up here but Markovic is controlling him well.
Hooker regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Markovic.
Markovic won't allow Hooker to sweep him here.
Hooker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Markovic is one step ahead there.
Markovic wants to control from the top but Hooker keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Markovic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Markovic stands up from Hooker's guard - Markovic perhaps looking for a knockout.
Markovic shoots in but Hooker avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hooker takes the fight into the clinch.

Hooker drags the fight down to the ground.

Hooker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Markovic is aware though and is defending well.
Hooker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hooker controlling from mount.
Hooker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Markovic is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker manages to capitalize on a mistake by Markovic to take his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Hooker's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Hooker looking to break Markovic's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Markovic remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hooker will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Markovic tries to escape but Hooker has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hooker wants to control but Markovic is keeping busy.
Hooker wants to control the position but Markovic frees himself and scrambles - Hooker manages to regain control in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker has control of an arm but Markovic manages to advance to Hooker's back!
Hooker turns into Markovic and is now in his guard.

Hooker stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hooker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Markovic as he avoids it easily.

Hooker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hooker lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hooker trying to control the position from guard on top but Markovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hooker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alf Hooker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Markovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hooker works the jab nicely.
Markovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hooker swivels and escapes.
Hooker doesn't manage to clinch there - Markovic circles away.
Markovic tries to clinch but Hooker moves out of range.
Markovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Markovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Markovic shoots in for a double leg but Hooker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Markovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooker closes the distance and clinches up with Markovic, looking for a takedown. Hooker pushes Markovic against the cage but Markovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hooker shoots in for a takedown but Markovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hooker closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hooker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexey Markovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hooker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Markovic momentarily.
Hooker lands a front kick.
Hooker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hooker chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Hooker drives through and clinches with Markovic against the cage.

Hooker pulls guard successfully.
Hooker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hooker keeping moving, preventing Markovic from controlling successfully.
Markovic looking to sit in guard and control but Hooker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker looking to pass the guard.

Markovic throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hooker uses it to pass to side control.
Hooker working the ground and pound from side control.
Hooker is looking to take a break and control but Markovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markovic can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker is chipping away with strikes.
Markovic is looking for a sweep.
Hooker trying to control the action but Markovic is working from the bottom.
Markovic is trying to work for a sweep but Hooker has mounted him!
Hooker working Markovic over with strikes here.
Hooker postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Markovic looks a forlorn figure.
Markovic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker is landing with some decent strikes but Markovic is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hooker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Markovic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hooker controlling his opponent.
Markovic is looking to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hooker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Markovic is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alf Hooker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hooker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alf Hooker!