PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddy Hoop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yunus Abshir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abshir has chosen Africa by Toto as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hoop
vs
Abshir

183 cm
21
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
199 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eddy Hoop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yunus Abshir!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abshir swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abshir avoids the head kick by Hoop.
Abshir thows a body shot but no joy.
Abshir steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoop.
Hoop tries to close the distance and clinch but Abshir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hoop cracks Abshir with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hoop is looking to clinch but Abshir is avoiding it.
Hoop fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Abshir checks it well.

Hoop clinches.
Abshir blocking some punches.

Hoop breaks the clinch.
Abshir dives in and grabs Hoop's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hoop pushes down on Abshir's head and hops out.
Hoop scores with a nice right hand.
Hoop throws a sloppy head kick and Abshir moves out of range easily.
Hoop lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Yunus Abshir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoop paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Abshir scores with a decent looking hook.
Hoop ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abshir moves away.
Hoop slips a straight right by Abshir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abshir scores with a nice right hand.
Abshir throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hoop connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hoop tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Abshir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hoop throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hoop drops his hands momentarily and Abshir takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hoop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abshir throws a hook but Hoop avoids it easily.
Hoop avoids the body shot from Abshir.
A telegraphed right hand from Hoop misses the target.
Hoop tries to clinch there but Abshir circles away.
Abshir tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoop was well out of range. Poor timing from Abshir.
Hoop moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Abshir takes the fight into the clinch.
Abshir drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hoop pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoop cracks Abshir with a good jab.
Hoop with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Abshir to score with a decent uppercut.
Hoop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abshir swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hoop misses with a straight left.
A jab from Abshir does it's job there.
Hoop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoop waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abshir.
Hoop tries to clinch there but Abshir circles away.
Abshir moves out of range of the strikes.
Hoop bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hoop uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Abshir.
Hoop misses with a hook. Abshir ducked under it nicely.
Abshir blocks a head kick by Hoop.
Hoop connects with a body shot that sends Abshir's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Hoop misses its intended target.
Abshir gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hoop thows a body shot but no joy.
Hoop connects with a jab.
Hoop jabs at Abshir's body.
Hoop lands a nice hook to Abshir's body. Abshir takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hoop waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abshir.
Abshir throws a looping overhand right but Hoop ducks down to avoid it.
Hoop is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hoop scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Abshir doesn't seem bothered though.
Abshir lands with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Abshir misses.
Abshir lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Abshir.
Abshir missing with a left hand there. Hoop was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hoop lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Abshir at a distance.
Hoop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abshir swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abshir swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hoop.
Abshir moves into range and connects with a jab.
Abshir dodges the punch combination from Hoop.
Abshir misses with a wild combination.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hoop.
Hoop lands a slapping body shot.
A lazy left from Hoop finds it's target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hoop, as that shot connected.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hoop avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hoop misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Hoop. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from Hoop misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Hoop dominated that round.
That's time! Hoop's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Abshir takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Abshir fails with a takedown attempt.
Hoop lands a body shot.
Hoop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoop scores with a hook.
Abshir uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoop.
Abshir ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hoop moves away.
Abshir waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hoop.
Hoop throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Abshir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoop manages to avoid it.
Eddy Hoop is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Nice defenses there by Abshir.
Hoop tries to clinch but Abshir is having none of it.

Hoop closes the distance and clinches.

Hoop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abshir avoids the head kick by Hoop.
Abshir digs a good hook to Hoop's body.
Abshir's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hoop connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Abshir scrambles back to his feet.
Abshir ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hoop throws a series of strikes that have Abshir backpedaling.
Hoop is looking to clinch.
Abshir misses with a looping left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoop throws out a powerful jab.
Abshir misses with a hook. Hoop ducked under it nicely.

Abshir scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hoop tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hoop sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hoop manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hoop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abshir can do to turn this around?

Hoop working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Abshir doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Abshir manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abshir missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abshir slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hoop tries to buck Abshir off but Abshir is having none of it.
Abshir is chipping away with strikes.
Hoop is trying to improve his position.
Abshir remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hoop tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abshir trying to control the position but Hoop is working away.
Abshir wants to take a breather but Hoop manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Abshir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoop wants to sweep but no luck.

Hoop escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Abshir gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Abshir wants to control from the top but Hoop keeps moving.
Abshir landing with the ground and pound.
Abshir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hoop keeping moving, preventing Abshir from controlling successfully.

Hoop has his foot on Abshir's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Abshir works his way back into a safe position though.
Abshir's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abshir with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hoop manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoop throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Abshir because Hoop loaded up on that one.
Hoop tries to control but Abshir wriggling away.
Abshir holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hoop tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Abshir tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abshir is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoop sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Hoop dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Abshir misses with a hook. Hoop ducked under it nicely.
Abshir swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoop tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Abshir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hoop tries to clinch but Abshir is having none of it.
Hoop ducks under a wild hook from Abshir.
Hoop fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hoop jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hoop throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A swing and a miss from Hoop.
Abshir swats away the attempt to clinch by Hoop.
Abshir throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Abshir misses with a body shot.
Abshir looks to land a right hand but Hoop moved out of range.
Hoop ducks under a wild hook from Abshir.
Eddy Hoop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abshir moves into the clinch.
Abshir prevents Hoop from breaking the clinch.
Hoop misses with some punches.
Hoop wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abshir has him pressed against the cage.
Hoop is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hoop with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Abshir can't get the takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Abshir.
Abshir blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Abshir tries to score a body lock takedown but Hoop shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hoop misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hoop misses with a hook from the clinch.

Abshir breaks from the clinch.
Hoop throws a head kick that half lands.
Hoop lands a jab to the nose.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoop lands a jab.
Abshir throws a lazy right hand but Hoop sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoop misses with a head kick.
Hoop slips a jab from Abshir.
Abshir lands a nice shot to the body.

Abshir clinches up against the cage.
Hoop lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Abshir avoids a wild elbow strike from Hoop.
Hoop stops a takedown attempt from Abshir.
Eddy Hoop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yunus Abshir.
Abshir drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hoop pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hoop rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abshir moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abshir throws a good cross that connects.
Hoop defending well as Abshir loads up on a big left hand.
Abshir digs a good body shot into Hoop's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoop steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abshir.

Abshir gets tackled into the cage by Hoop. Hoop maintains the clinch.
Hoop tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hoop throws a punch but it's blocked by Abshir.
Hoop misses with the head strike.

Abshir turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hoop sneaks back into half guard.
Hoop is looking to improve his position.
Hoop wants to sweep but Abshir has passed to side control!
Abshir working the head and body with strikes.
Abshir tries to advance to mount but Hoop denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abshir trying to control the position but Hoop is working away.
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!
Hoop tries to improve position but can't.
Hoop throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Hoop is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hoop trying to remain calm as Abshir controls from the top position.
Eddy Hoop is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yunus Abshir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hoop wants to control but Abshir postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddy Hoop showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hoop, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddy Hoop!
Eddy Hoop seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.