PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Zarco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Hoover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hoover comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Godsmack - I Stand Alone kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zarco
vs
Hoover

172 cm
30
180 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

172 cm
26
170 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Antonio Zarco!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dominic Hoover!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoover takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zarco ducks under a wild hook from Hoover.
Hoover drops his hands momentarily and Zarco takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A big left from Hoover misses.
Zarco takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zarco avoids the head kick by Hoover.
Zarco throws a counter high kick but Hoover was just alert enough to avoid it.
Hoover avoids the head kick by Zarco.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hoover! But no joy.
Hoover connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hoover misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hoover digs a good body shot into Zarco's ribs.
Hoover misses with a double jab.
Zarco was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoover goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hoover takes a jab right on the kisser.
The fighters circling - Zarco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zarco misses with a few strikes there.
Zarco connects with a right hand. Hoover shakes it off.
Hoover scores with a head kick.
Hoover blocks a head kick by Zarco.
Nice jab there from Hoover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoover lands with a nice body punch.
Zarco misses with a straight right.
Zarco drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zarco takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zarco on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zarco pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hoover connects with a leg kick. Zarco looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zarco cracks the inside of Hoover's front leg.
Hoover slips under a jab.
Hoover throws a series of punches but Zarco avoids them all with ease.
A counter left hand to the body from Zarco misses its target.
Hoover throws a right hand that Zarco ducks under and follows up with a left that Zarco also avoids with ease.
Zarco is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hoover.
Zarco on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zarco connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zarco misses with a few strikes there.
Zarco throws a hook but Hoover avoids it easily.
Zarco is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A head kick misses from Hoover.
Hoover fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoover fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zarco manages to avoid it.
Hoover looks to score with a jab to the body but Zarco is just out of range.
Zarco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoover was well out of range. Poor timing from Zarco.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zarco.
Zarco tries a head kick but it misses.
Zarco pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zarco clinches up against the ropes.
Zarco scores with a knee to the head.
Zarco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zarco lands an uppercut.
Hoover looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hoover's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hoover misses with a hook to the body

and Zarco counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on Hoover's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hoover.
Zarco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hoover.
Hoover lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoover is trying to push Zarco away but Zarco has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Zarco trying to land knees to the body.
Zarco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hoover wants to get back to striking at distance but Zarco won't allow it.
Zarco tries to land a knee to the head but Hoover blocks with his arms.

Hoover pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hoover swings for the body but Zarco moves out of range.
Zarco throws a low kick but Hoover avoids it.
Hoover is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Zarco with a body shot.
Zarco staying out of range there.
A clash of legs there as Hoover blocks the low kick.
Hoover takes a swing at Zarco's ribcage but misses.
Hoover lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hoover tries to bum rush Zarco with a series of wild strikes but Zarco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zarco blocks a head kick by Hoover.
Zarco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hoover misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarco misses with a head kick.
Zarco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zarco wants to clinch up but Hoover keeps it at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zarco avoids the head kick by Hoover.
Zarco looks to land a right hand but Hoover moved out of range.
Hoover ducks under a wild hook from Zarco.
Nice shot by Hoover.
Hoover throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zarco counters with a head kick.
Hoover throws a head kick that misses.
Hoover misses with a body kick.
Hoover throws a low kick but Zarco moves out of range easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Zarco misses its target.
Hoover throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoover checks a leg kick nicely.
A shot to the liver by Hoover. Beautiful body shot.
Hoover misses with the combination.
Zarco feinted there with a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick misses from Hoover.
Zarco scores with a sloppy right hand. Hoover should have avoided that one.
Hoover throws the kick towards the body but Zarco avoids it.
Hoover throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hoover throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoover throws a sloppy body shot
and Zarco counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zarco lands a jab to the nose.
Hoover's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zarco connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hoover scrambles back to his feet.
Hoover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hoover just misses with a punch to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Zarco on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zarco lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Dominic Hoover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoover throws the kick towards the body but Zarco avoids it.
Zarco appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hoover throws a head kick but Zarco moves out of range.
Hoover throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Hoover.
Hoover takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zarco dodges the punch combination from Hoover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoover takes a swing at Zarco's ribcage but misses.
Zarco attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hoover throws a push kick but Zarco slaps the foot to one side.
Zarco swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zarco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoover.
Hoover scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zarco fakes the leg kick and cracks Hoover in the body.
Hoover is breathing heavily.
Zarco throws a sloppy head kick and Hoover moves out of range easily.
Hoover unleashes a big counter combination but Zarco bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hoover tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hoover connects with a right hand. Zarco shakes it off.
Hoover takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hoover throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zarco throws a combination. Hoover tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Zarco moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hoover presses Zarco against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zarco lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoover can't find room to land a body shot as Zarco controls the action.
Hoover blocks a body shot from Zarco.
Zarco lands a shoulder strike.
Hoover leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Hoover is trying to break free.
Hoover wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zarco has him pressed against the ropes.
Hoover has had enough of the clinch but Zarco keeps him there for the moment.
Zarco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hoover struggles to land a body shot inside as Zarco controls his hands.
Antonio Zarco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zarco prevents Hoover from breaking the clinch.
Zarco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hoover tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zarco avoids it.
Zarco lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Hoover lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hoover wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zarco has him pressed against the ropes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zarco.
Zarco lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hoover.
Zarco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Hoover's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hoover tries to break the clinch but Zarco is controlling the position.
Hoover misses with a body punch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zarco.
Zarco scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zarco.
Hoover is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zarco obliges.
Hoover is trying to force a seperation but Zarco has the dominant position.
Zarco connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Zarco.
Zarco pushes Hoover back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Zarco lands a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zarco lands a nice uppercut.
Zarco missing with knees to the body.
Zarco works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A hook to the body from Zarco.
A knee to the head by Zarco.
Hoover looking to slow down the pace here.
Zarco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hoover using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zarco has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hoover trying to land knees to the body.
Hoover is trying to break the clinch but Zarco is controlling him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zarco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Zarco dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hoover misses with a combination

and Zarco counters with a crisp right hand that drops Hoover! Zarco lets Hoover back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Hoover is rocked!
Dominic Hoover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zarco staying out of range there.
Hoover is still on wobbly legs! Can Zarco finish him?
Hoover misses with a head kick.
Zarco moves out of range of the body kick from Hoover.

Zarco cracks Hoover with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hoover looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Zarco finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarco connects with a picture perfect right hand that knocks Hoover out cold! This one is over in a flash!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Antonio Zarco!
Antonio Zarco is the new welterweight champion!
A very excited looking Antonio Zarco rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.