PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Machio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sjaardsen Hooj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machio
vs
Hooj

190 cm
30
193 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

191 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralph Machio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sjaardsen Hooj!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooj lands the left hand.
Hooj fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hooj dips to his left and cracks Machio with an uppercut!
Machio with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hooj counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hooj lands a lovely overhand right.
Machio with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hooj to score with a decent uppercut.
Machio shoots in looking for a takedown. Hooj tries to sprawl out of it but Machio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hooj manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hooj defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Machio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Machio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machio dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Machio has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Jitsu Jim in the buildup to the fight.

Machio takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hooj scores with a shot to the side of Machio's head.
Machio working Hooj over with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hooj.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hooj breaks the clinch.
Machio takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Machio looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hooj is fending him off so far but Machio persists. Nope, Hooj circles away and we're back to standing.
Machio walks into a jab.
Hooj blocks a head kick by Machio.

Machio shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hooj is trying to defend but Machio finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hooj is trying to get back to full guard.
Machio wants to control but Hooj is keeping him busy.

Hooj is defending against the submission attempts here by Machio.
Machio missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooj has his hands clasped together around Machio's back. He's all about the action.
Machio is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Machio is looking to take a break and control but Hooj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machio prevents Hooj from standing back up.
Machio missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hooj wants to control but Machio is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machio tries to pass to full mount but Hooj defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooj is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machio scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hooj won't allow Machio to pass to mount.
Machio is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hooj is holding on to half guard well.
Hooj slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hooj is trying to control the position but Machio postures up.
Machio throwing strikes from guard but Hooj blocks nicely.

Hooj has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Machio off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machio fails with a takedown attempt.
Hooj with a hook.
Machio takes one on the button.
Hooj scores with a jab. Machio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Machio is defended easily by Hooj.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machio takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Machio fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sjaardsen Hooj dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice takedown defense from Hooj. No joy for Machio on that attempt.
Hooj is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hooj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machio misses with a lunging right hand
and Hooj counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice takedown defense from Hooj. No joy for Machio on that attempt.
Machio takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hooj cracks Machio with an open hand slap.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hooj, as that shot connected.
Machio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Machio moves in looking to clinch but Hooj pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooj lands a nice hook to Machio's body. Machio takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hooj keeps the fight on the outside.
Machio misses with a takedown
and Hooj cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Machio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Machio throws a head kick but Hooj moves out of range.
Machio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Machio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hooj connects with the punch.
Hooj thuds a left hand into Machio's body.
Machio's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hooj connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Machio scrambles back to his feet.
Machio shoots in and drives through. Hooj sprawls well.
Hooj misses with a two punch combination.
Machio throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hooj's waist but Hooj gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Machio off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Machio.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machio throws an off balance right hand
and Hooj counters with a series of strikes. Machio will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Hooj.
Hooj avoids the head kick by Machio.
Machio takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hooj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hooj punishes Machio's body with a nice straight punch.
Machio looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hooj swings for the body but Machio moves out of range.
Ralph Machio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hooj scores with a shot to the body.
Hooj throws a series of punches but Machio moves out of range.
Sjaardsen Hooj seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Machio tries to clinch but Hooj moves out of range.
Good shot there by Hooj.
Machio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hooj.
Machio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Machio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hooj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A countering left hand to the body from Hooj misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooj lands with a straight right. Machio didn't see that one coming.
Machio closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Machio shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Machio is rocked!
Machio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hooj pinned against the cage. Hooj gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Machio shoots for a double leg takedown but Hooj sprawls well. He's pushed Machio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hooj swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Machio pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Machio darts in looking for a takedown but Hooj gets double underhooks and turns Machio into the cage.
Hooj circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hooj pinned against the cage. Hooj gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machio walks into a stiff left hand from Hooj.
Machio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hooj but Hooj pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hooj moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hooj connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
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!
Machio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hooj! But no joy.
Hooj lands a jab.
Hooj tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machio was well out of range. Poor timing from Hooj.
Hooj is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Oh Machio is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Machio closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Machio lands in his opponent's guard.

Hooj manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sjaardsen Hooj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Machio seems to have got his legs back now.
Hooj works over Machio's head and body with a nice combination.
Machio tries to clinch up but Hooj circles away and keeps his distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hooj! But no joy.
Hooj scores with a jab. Machio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Machio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hooj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hooj bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Machio's head backwards.
Machio shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hooj sprawls well. Hooj wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Machio gets slowly back to his feet.
Hooj lands with an overhand left.
Machio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hooj connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hooj scores with a jab. Machio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Machio takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hooj digs a good hook to Machio's body.
Hooj connects with a right hand. Machio shakes it off.
Ralph Machio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hooj jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Machio tries to clinch but Hooj moves away
and Hooj counters with a big right hand! Oh Machio is in trouble here! Hooj follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sjaardsen Hooj!
An out of breath and clearly excited Sjaardsen Hooj thanked Sully's Bar & Grill for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, Ralph Machio stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will see you again. And next time, I won't take it easy.'.