PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rupert Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Hood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Hood has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gardner
vs
Hood

225 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

182 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rupert Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Hood!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hood shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gardner but Gardner pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Hood clinches with his opponent.
Hood lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hood is trying to push Gardner away but Gardner has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gardner avoiding damage as Hood throws knees to the body.
Gardner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hood just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gardner stops a takedown attempt from Hood.
Gardner trying to control the position but instead, Hood has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gardner into the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gardner - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hood tries to break the clinch but Gardner is controlling the position.

Gardner pulls guard.
Gardner throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gardner throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gardner throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hood controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gardner controls Hood momentarily but Hood frees himself.
Hood must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gardner seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hood looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gardner leaves Hood with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gardner seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rupert Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Hood.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gardner misses with a wild combination.
Hood dives in for a single leg takedown but Gardner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Henry Hood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gardner avoids a kick to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Gardner as Hood shoots in.
Gardner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Hood has managed to clinch.
Hood is trying to pull guard but Gardner turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gardner looking to stall.
Gardner stops a takedown attempt from Hood.
Gardner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gardner is looking to control Hood's arms but Hood gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gardner has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hood has Gardner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gardner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hood avoiding damage as Gardner throws knees to the body.
Gardner tries a body shot but Hood blocks it.
Hood wants a takedown.
Gardner stalling.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gardner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hood is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Hood manages to break the clinch.

Gardner moves into the clinch.
Hood is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gardner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gardner holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gardner trying to control the position but instead, Hood has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gardner into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hood tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gardner smiles and moves away.
Gardner tries to clinch but Hood is having none of it.

Hood clinches up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gardner stalling in the clinch but Hood improves position.
Gardner seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Hood is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rupert Gardner.
Gardner is looking to clinch.
Gardner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hood clinches up against the cage.
Gardner prevents Hood from breaking the clinch.
Gardner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hood to keep the fight standing.
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 Rupert Gardner will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gardner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hood pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gardner is looking to clinch.

Hood has closed the distance and engaged Gardner in a clinch.
Gardner holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gardner is trying to maintain a safe position but Hood gets an underhook and turns Gardner into the cage.
Hood is trying to break the clinch but Gardner is controlling him.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gardner fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hood tries to break free but Gardner pushes him back against the cage.
Gardner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hood gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gardner.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hood is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gardner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gardner tries to pull guard but Hood forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rupert Gardner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hood has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gardner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gardner looking to slow down the pace here.
Gardner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hood walks away with a smile on his face. Gardner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hood clinches up with Gardner and pushes him back against the cage.
Hood has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gardner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Hood pulls guard successfully.
Hood controlling Gardner's posture.
Gardner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hood keeping moving, preventing Gardner from controlling successfully.
Gardner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Gardner is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hood is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hood has escaped and now he's on top!

Hood engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gardner keeping moving, preventing Hood from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hood slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hood is continuing to stall.
Hood trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gardner is trying to control the position but Hood postures up.
Hood has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Hood decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rupert Gardner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hood gets a clinch.
Gardner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hood just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hood is stalling here.
Gardner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gardner is pressed up against the cage. Hood has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gardner down to the mat. Gardner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hood throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gardner's waist but Gardner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hood off to one side.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hood.
As Hood tries to get set, Gardner tries to push him back and clinch up but Hood manages to avoid the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Hood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hood closes the distance and pushes Gardner back into the cage.
Gardner is pushing Hood up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hood trying to land knees to the body.
Hood throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gardners head.
Gardner is trying to pull guard but Hood has him pressed against the cage.

Gardner successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hood is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hood stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gardner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gardner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner pulls Hood in to control the position.
Hood slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gardner is pushing Hood's head away, looking to escape. Hood manages to hold on to the position though.

Hood is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gardner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hood working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hood is looking to take a break and control but Gardner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gardner 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.
Hood working away.
Hood throws an elbow but Gardner slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hood tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gardner's legs.
Gardner struggling a bit here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hood is looking to chop away at Gardner's legs.
Hood misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hood darts in and clinches Gardner up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hood drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gardner manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rupert Gardner.

Hood closes the distance and clinches.
Gardner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gardner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hood is keeping busy.
Hood drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gardner gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hood ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hood no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gardner passes into half guard.

Gardner 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardner thows a huge punch but Hood dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Hood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Hood!