PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cory Booker (ranked 4624 p4p, 554 weight class) and Vernes Gall (ranked 8522 p4p, 775 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Booker
vs
Gall

180 cm
25
172 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cory Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vernes Gall!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gall moves away.
Booker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Booker throws out a loose jab but Gall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gall is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Booker with a body shot.
Booker lands a head shot.
Gall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Booker moves away.
A swing and a miss from Booker.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gall misses with an uppercut
and Booker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Booker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gall throws out the jab.
Booker connects with a nice looking jab.
Gall lands with a right hand.
Gall tries to clinch up.
Booker scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gall in his tracks.
Booker misses with an uppercut. Gall saw that one coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Booker misses the target.
Gall doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gall ducks under a wild hook from Booker.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker misses with a hook. Gall ducked under it nicely.
Gall throws a big shot that misses.
Gall looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Booker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gall avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Booker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Booker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gall ducks under a wild hook from Booker.
Booker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gall.
Jab from Booker.
Booker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gall let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Gall closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Booker.
Booker lands a nice uppercut.
Gall blocks a body shot from Booker.
Booker throws a head punch that misses.
Gall tries a body shot but Booker blocks it.

Gall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Booker walks into a stiff left hand from Gall.

It looks like Cory Booker has been cut.
Booker is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gall instigates a clinch.
Booker misses with a body punch.
Booker throws a punch but it's blocked by Gall.
Booker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Booker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gall looks to land a right hand but Booker moved out of range.
Gall's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Booker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gall scrambles back to his feet.
Booker ducks under a wild hook from Gall.
Gall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Booker misses with an uppercut.
Gall tries to clinch up but Booker circles away and keeps his distance.
Booker misses with a looping left.
Gall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gall avoids the body shot from Booker.
Booker lands a nice shot to the body.
Gall closes the distance looking to clinch
and Booker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A shot to the liver by Booker. Beautiful body shot.
Booker scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gall fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gall swings for the body but Booker moves out of range.
Booker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A slow jab from Booker misses its intended target.
Booker throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Gall to counter with a crisp jab.
Booker throws a good cross that connects.
Booker connects with the punch.
Booker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gall getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gall keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Booker.
Gall tries to clinch up but Booker circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gall drives through and clinches with Booker against the cage.

Booker breaks from the clinch.
Booker lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Booker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Booker misses with a right hand
and Gall counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Booker lands with a good body shot.
Booker throws a body punch but Gall moves out of range.
Gall throws a jab when Booker was well out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Booker misses the target.
Booker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gall gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gall is looking to clinch.
Cory Booker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booker with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Booker throws a jab when Gall was well out of range.
Gall fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Booker misses with an uppercut
and Gall counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Booker thinking.

Gall closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Booker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cory Booker's cut.
That's time! Booker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gall slips under a jab from Booker.
Gall cracks Booker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Gall gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gall working aggressively here.
Booker blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Gall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Booker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Booker throws a looping overhand right but Gall ducks down to avoid it.
Booker defending well as Gall loads up on a big left hand.
Booker lands a nice looking body shot.
Booker throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Booker misses with a straight right.
Gall moves out of range of the strikes.
Gall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Booker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gall misses with a hook.

Booker tries to keep at a distance but Gall has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Booker lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gall.
Booker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gall can do to turn this around?

Booker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gall is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gall takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gall is looking to clinch.
Gall takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gall throws a jab when Booker was well out of range.
Booker swings widly with a right hand
and Booker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gall slips under a jab.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Booker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cory Booker is winning the standup battle so far.
Booker scores with a hook.
The fighters circling - Gall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Booker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Booker.
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!
Gall tries to clinch up
and Booker counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker throws a jab when Gall was well out of range.
Booker stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Booker throws a hook to the side of Gall's head but Gall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Booker misses its intended target.
Gall wants to clinch but Booker slips to the side
and Booker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gall takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Booker lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Booker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gall connects with a body shot.
Booker throws a hook but Gall blocks it.

Gall has closed the distance and engaged Booker in a clinch.

Booker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A cross from Booker lands.
Gall moves in looking to clinch but Booker pushes him off.
Gall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Booker lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Gall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Booker lands with a shot to the body.
Gall tries to move into range but Booker moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gall tries to clinch up but Booker circles away and keeps his distance.
Booker is looking to counter punch.
Gall on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gall walks into a left hand.
Gall wants to clinch.
Booker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Booker lands with a right hand.
Gall gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gall bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Booker catches Gall with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gall is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Booker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gall momentarily.
Gall scores with a jab to the body.
Gall tries to clinch there but Booker circles away.
Booker misses with a body shot.
Gall ducks under a wild hook from Booker.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gall has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nice uppercut lands for Gall. That snapped Booker's head back.
Booker misses with a wild body shot.
It seemed like Gall was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice cross by Booker.
Booker cracks Gall with a good jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gall pushes Booker up against the cage in a clinch.

Gall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A jab from Booker does it's job there.
Booker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Booker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cory Booker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gall throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gall takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Booker wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gall scores with a jab to the jaw.
Booker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Gall moves into range and clinches up with Booker.

Booker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gall scores with a jab.
A slow jab from Booker misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gall jabs Booker to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Gall clinches up against the cage.
Booker blocks an uppercut.
Gall lands with a short head shot on the inside.
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!
Booker working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Booker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Booker tests Gall's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Gall is rocked!
A shot to the liver by Booker. Beautiful body shot.
Gall is still on wobbly legs! Can Booker finish him?
Nice defenses there by Gall.
Gall seems to have recovered his senses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Booker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gall.
Gall jabs at Booker's body.
Booker swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gall counters with a nice uppercut.
Gall moves away from the strike by Booker.
Booker stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Booker misses the shot to the body.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Booker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker throws a hook to the side of Gall's head but Gall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gall! But no joy.
Gall takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Booker works the jab nicely.
Booker looks to land a left hand but Gall moved out of range nicely.
Gall throws a body shot but no joy.
Gall takes a jab right on the kisser.
Booker misses the jab.
Booker throws a shot from downtown. Gall moves away and avoids it.
Gall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Booker.
Booker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Booker.
Booker takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Gall darts in and clinches Booker up against the cage.
Gall misses with some punches.
Booker is working Gall over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Booker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gall wants to clinch.
Booker throws out a loose jab but Gall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gall misses with an uppercut. Booker saw that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Booker.
Gall looks to land a right hand but Booker moved out of range.
Vernes Gall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cory Booker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Booker slips a jab from Gall.
A big right from Booker misses.
Booker lands a nice shot that snaps Gall's head back.
Gall uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Booker.
Booker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Booker scores with a nice right hand.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Booker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gall looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gall walks into a left hand.
Booker lands a right hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Booker throws a lazy right hand but Gall sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gall takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Booker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Booker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Booker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Booker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Booker misses with an uppercut. Gall saw that one coming.
Gall is looking to clinch but Booker is avoiding it.
Gall with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Booker to score with a decent uppercut.
Booker throws a looping overhand right but Gall ducks down to avoid it.
Booker slips a straight right by Gall.
Jab by Booker.
Gall loads up on a big right hand but Booker slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cory Booker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Booker, 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cory Booker!
After winning the bout, Cory Booker thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.