PBP Commentary

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

Hope
vs
Caballero

180 cm
25
177 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Lion Fightwear

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Finlay Hope!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sonny Caballero!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caballero misses with a takedown attempt - Hope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hope scores with a crisp jab that stopped Caballero in his tracks.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hope or perhaps it was just good defense by Caballero, which made it look bad.
Hope throws a right and a left that both miss.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Caballero has eaten all the pies!
Caballero moves to clinch but Hope breaks away
and Hope makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope lands a jab-cross combination.
We've been told by Hope's head coaches at The Bear's Den that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hope is defended easily by Caballero.
Caballero feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caballero tries to clinch
and Hope counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Hope. No joy for Caballero on that attempt.
Hope seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Caballero has a takedown stuffed.
Hope changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Finlay Hope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sonny Caballero.
Hope connects with a crisp jab.
Hope fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Caballero looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
No joy there for Hope, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hope darts in looking for a takedown but Caballero gets double underhooks and turns Hope into the cage.
Hope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hope swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caballero changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hope tries to avoid it but Caballero manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hope to the ground. Hope escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Caballero manages to avoid it.
Hope shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Caballero but Caballero pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Caballero is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Caballero looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Hope manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Caballero keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hope breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Caballero is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hope.
A combination from Hope does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caballero shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hope napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Caballero trying to control the action but Hope is working from the bottom.
Hope wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Hope's face as Caballero controls the position.
Caballero throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hope tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Caballero wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Caballero wants to stand but Hope is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hope managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Caballero.
Caballero takes a little break here. Hope wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Caballero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hope can't do much from the bottom here.
Hope tries to bench press Caballero off him but Caballero keeps the position.
Caballero is looking to take a break and control but Hope is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Caballero shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hope as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Hope dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hope slaps away a takedown attempt from Caballero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hope connects with a single shot there.
Hope goes for a double leg but Caballero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Caballero continues to drive forward.
Caballero changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hope works over Caballero's head and body with a nice combination.
Hope works over Caballero's head and body with a nice combination.
Caballero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hope attempts a counter takedown but Caballero avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hope is defended easily by Caballero.
Hope gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Caballero counters with a shoot takedown. Hope fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finlay Hope. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caballero content to stall in guard here.
Sonny Caballero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hope is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Caballero is controlling him.
Hope is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Caballero can do to turn this around?
Caballero postures up in Hope's guard and throws a big left but Hope blocks it.
Caballero pushing down on Hope's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Caballero seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Caballero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Caballero sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hope wants to get back to his feet.
Caballero looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hope tries to score a power double leg takedown but Caballero sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hope somewhat.
Hope is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Caballero takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hope slaps away a takedown attempt from Caballero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Caballero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hope's waist but Hope gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Caballero off to one side.
A little feinted left hand from Hope on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sonny Caballero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hope tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Caballero swivels and escapes.
Hope lands a nice hook to Caballero's body. Caballero takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Caballero tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hope sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Caballero somewhat.
Hope feinted with a counter takedown.
Hope misses with a jab, cross combination.
Caballero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hope appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caballero shoots in looking for a takedown but Hope manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Caballero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Finlay Hope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hope, right into the meat.
Caballero shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hope but Hope pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hope throws a series of punches but Caballero moves out of range.
Hope lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hope.
Hope fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Caballero is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Caballero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hope sprawls well. Hope wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Caballero gets slowly back to his feet.
Hope tries to counter with a takedown but Caballero is quick to defend against it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Hope dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Caballero walks into a jab.

Hope moves into range and clinches up with Caballero.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hope gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Caballero misses with a short punch on the inside.

Caballero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Finlay Hope is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Hope, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hope throws a right hand that Caballero ducks under and follows up with a left that Caballero also avoids with ease.
Caballero is looking to clinch but Hope is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caballero shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hope pinned against the cage. Hope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hope tries to counter with a takedown but Caballero is quick to defend against it.
Caballero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hope lands a jab-cross combination.
Nice cross by Hope.
Hope connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hope misses with the combination.
Caballero tries to clinch up
and Hope counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Caballero changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hope looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hope explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Caballero displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hope.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Caballero throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Caballero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Caballero shoots in and drives through. Hope sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Hope. Those never looked like landing.
Caballero tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hope fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hope closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Caballero did well to prevent Hope getting side control.
Caballero preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hope is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Caballero trying to control but Hope postures up.
Caballero gets full guard.
Caballero has Hope pulled in close to control his posture.
Caballero wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hope content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Caballero has locked up a guillotine! Caballero's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Hope is holding on here and Caballero must be using up a lot of energy. Hope has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Caballero gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sonny Caballero!
Sonny Caballero is the new welterweight champion!