PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 169 p4p, 28 weight class) and Troy Hooper (ranked 377 p4p, 54 weight class). Northrop comes to the cage accompanied by Alive And Kicking. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Northrop
vs
Hooper

180 cm
28
175 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

180 cm
31
175 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

RAGS of a RONIN
Urban Fighter

Bullet Proof System

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 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Northrop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Troy Hooper!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Northrop ducks under a wild hook from Hooper.
Northrop appears to be looking for a big counter.
Northrop digs a good hook to Hooper's body.
Hooper looks to score with a jab to the body but Northrop is just out of range.
Northrop lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Northrop uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hooper has time to react.
Hooper throws a chopping leg kick but Northrop manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hooper swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Northrop throws a jab when Hooper was well out of range.
Hooper looks to score with a jab to the body but Northrop is just out of range.
Northrop ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hooper moves away.
Hooper misses with a hook. Northrop ducked under it nicely.
We've been hearing reports that Northrop has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Northrop lands with an overhand left.
Northrop throws a jab when Hooper was well out of range.
Northrop is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hooper.
A big right from Hooper misses.
Hooper throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Northrop moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Northrop goes for a double leg but Hooper avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hooper continues to drive forward.
Northrop smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Northrop throws a leg kick
and Hooper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Northrop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hooper is fending him off so far but Northrop persists. Nope, Hooper circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop misses with the combination.
Hooper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Northrop ducks under a wild hook from Hooper.
Nice uppercut there from Hooper.

Northrop shoots in and bounces Hooper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Northrop working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hooper's head.
Hooper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Northrop drops back looking for a leg! Hooper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hooper manages to kick Northrop off! Northrop jumps back into Hooper's guard.
Northrop wants to pass the guard but Hooper is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Northrop connects with a couple of short punches.
Northrop scoring with punches to the head and body.
Northrop throwing strikes but missing.
Hooper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Northrop throws a big right hand that misses.
Hooper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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!
Hooper is trying to control the position but Northrop postures up.
Northrop throwing strikes but missing.
Hooper controls Northrop momentarily but Northrop frees himself.
Northrop controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Northrop sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hooper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hooper tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Northrop throws a hook but Hooper blocks it.
Northrop throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hooper sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Hooper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hooper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Northrop defends well.
Northrop lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Northrop is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hooper controls Northrop momentarily but Northrop frees himself.
Northrop postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Northrop trying to control the position from guard on top but Hooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Northrop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Northrop throws an elbow that misses. Hooper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Northrop's guard. Nice move by Hooper!

Northrop escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hooper gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hooper looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Northrop dominated that round.
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.

Northrop drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Northrop tries to advance to mount but can't.

Northrop tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Northrop has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hooper manages to work his way to half guard, despite Northrop's best efforts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hooper is defending against the submission attempts here by Northrop.
Hooper works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Northrop content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Northrop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hooper is keeping the position for now.
Hooper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Northrop trying to control the position from guard on top but Hooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Northrop missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Northrop 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.
Hooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Northrop's guard.

Northrop throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hooper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hooper slips nicely into half guard.
Hooper looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Northrop has a hand on Hooper's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hooper takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Northrop is looking to improve his position but Hooper isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hooper prevents Northrop from getting the reversal.
Northrop wants to hold on but Hooper pushes him away.
Russell Northrop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Northrop is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Hooper sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Northrop is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Northrop gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Northrop is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hooper pulls his head out easily.

Northrop looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hooper landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Northrop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hooper can do to turn this around?
Hooper is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Northrop trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Hooper manages to pass to mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hooper tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Northrop is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Troy Hooper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hooper ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Northrop scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Northrop slips under a jab from Hooper.
Northrop has a takedown stuffed.
A big left from Hooper misses.
Northrop throws a wild body kick that Hooper sees coming a mile off.
A little jabbing left from Hooper on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Northrop uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hooper.
Northrop tried to counter with a leg kick but Hooper avoided it.
Northrop displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hooper throws out the jab.
Northrop was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Northrop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Hooper throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Northrop moves out of range of the strikes.
Northrop changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hooper tries to avoid it but Northrop manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hooper to the ground. Hooper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooper looks to land a left hand but Northrop moved out of range nicely.
Northrop throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Northrop misses with a hook to the body
and Hooper counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Northrop.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hooper slips under a jab.
Northrop takes a swing at Hooper's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Hooper was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hooper let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Russell Northrop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hooper has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hooper walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hooper uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Northrop has time to react.
Hooper avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters circling - Hooper throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hooper's jab looks to have found its range, popping Northrop under the eye.
Hooper is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Hooper gets caught napping as Northrop dives in and scores a takedown. Hooper manages to retain guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hooper keeping moving, preventing Northrop from controlling successfully.
Hooper trying to control the position.
Hooper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Northrop wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hooper is now in half guard.
Northrop is looking for a sweep. Hooper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Northrop wants to control but Hooper is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Northrop trying to get back to full guard but Hooper takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Northrop sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Northrop actively working from the bottom here.
Northrop pushes Hooper off looking to stand but Hooper dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northrop wants to get back to full guard but Hooper has mounted him!
Northrop tries to hold on but Hooper postures up.
Northrop is looking to improve his position but Hooper isn't that keen on the idea.
Northrop sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Northrop is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hooper pulls his head out easily.
Northrop misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Northrop wants to get back to full guard but Hooper has passed into side control.
A lull in the action here as Hooper stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is trying to get back to half guard.
Hooper gets to mount! Northrop was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Northrop working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Troy Hooper.
I think Hooper 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Troy Hooper!
During a confident post fight interview, Troy Hooper thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.