PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Howard Hooper (ranked 9195 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Steel (ranked 9441 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Steel will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hooper
vs
Steel

163 cm
23
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
250 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Howard Hooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Steel!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steel clinches with his opponent.
Steel leaning his opponent against the cage.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hooper.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hooper as Steel tries to tie him up.
Hooper stalling in the clinch.
Hooper jumps guard but Steel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hooper really is a fat lump.
Steel fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hooper jumps guard and drags Steel to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hooper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steel is one step ahead there.
Steel content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Steel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hooper swivels and escapes.
Hooper was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hooper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It looked like Hooper was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Steel.
Howard Hooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Steel.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Hooper circles away.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hooper circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel fails in his attempt to clinch.

Steel moves into the clinch.
Hooper lands an elbow that stopped Steel in his tracks for a moment.

Hooper pulls guard effortlessly.
Hooper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hooper wants to sweep but no luck.
Hooper wants to stand up but Steel is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steel throwing strikes but missing.
Steel is looking to stand up but Hooper won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hooper working some strikes from top position.
Steel controls Hooper momentarily but Hooper frees himself.
Hooper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steel wants to stand and escape but Hooper is having none of it.
Steel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hooper is in close to Steel's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel is adopting a defensive guard.
Hooper with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Steel controls Hooper momentarily but Hooper frees himself.
Steel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hooper is one step ahead there.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steel wants to control but Hooper passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Hooper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Howard Hooper's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hooper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hooper wants it to stay on the feet.

Steel rushes Hooper and presses him up against the cage.
Hooper tries to pull guard but Steel holds him up against the cage and eventually Hooper drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hooper with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Steel pulls guard successfully.
Steel wants to sweep but no luck.
Hooper distracts Steel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steel is looking for a triangle but Hooper pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel looking to control but Hooper passes into half guard.
Hooper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hooper 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.
Nice strikes from Hooper there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hooper lands a nice short elbow.
Hooper scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Steel is looking for a sweep. Hooper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steel keeps trying to improve his position.
Steel is breathing heavily.
Hooper lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper drops an elbow to the side of Steel's head.
Steel taking some punishment here, with Hooper in his half guard.
Steel is controlling Hooper's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Steel wants to control but Hooper is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hooper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hooper working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Steel is trying to control but can't.
Hooper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Hooper there.
Steel trying to control but Hooper postures up.
Hooper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Hooper there.
Steel wants to stand back up but Hooper manages to pass into side control.
Hooper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steel can do to turn this around?
Steel is trying to buck Hooper off.
Steel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hooper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Steel is trying to work for a sweep but Hooper has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel tries to lock up and control but Hooper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steel really wants to buck Hooper off and get back to his feet.
Hooper lands a big elbow.
Steel is in a horrible position here. Hooper smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hooper dominating with strikes here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steel wants to hold on but Hooper pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Hooper dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Howard Hooper's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Steel slips a jab and a cross from Hooper.

Hooper gets the takedown into side control.
Steel tries to buck Hooper off but Hooper is having none of it.
Steel tries to control but Hooper manages to take his back.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
Hooper is working the ground and pound. Can Steel escape?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel just trying to survive but Hooper is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hooper lands a shot to the body.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hooper lands shots from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is trying to get back to his feet but Hooper has full control of the position and if anything, Steel has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Hooper is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steel has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Steel rolls, trying to escape but Hooper keeps control of the position.
Hooper is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Hooper keeps control of the position as Steel tries to break free.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper scores with punches and elbows.
Steel is trying to get back to his feet but Hooper has full control of the position and if anything, Steel has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Hooper not allowing Steel to control his hands.
Hooper keeps control of the position as Steel tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper doesn't have the hooks in and Steel manages to turn into his guard.
Hooper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Steel manages to get himself to full guard.

Steel working a defensive guard but Hooper passes into half guard.
Hooper working the head and body with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hooper connects with a nice short shot to Steel's temple.
Steel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hooper landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hooper connects with a nice short shot to Steel's temple.
Steel wants to stand back up but Hooper manages to pass into side control.
A control attempt from Steel but he's now mounted!
Steel taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hooper scoring with strikes but Steel is staying in there.
Chris Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard Hooper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hooper punishing his opponent with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Howard Hooper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hooper, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Howard Hooper!