PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Howard Hooper (ranked 8864 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe James (ranked 24518 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying James's choice of entrance music: Last Resort . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hooper
vs
James

163 cm
23
279 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

222 cm
24
270 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe James!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hooper looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for James!
James is trying to control Hooper's posture but Hooper avoids it.
James manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
James tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hooper knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
James is taking a breather. Hooper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hooper with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

It looks like Howard Hooper has been cut.
James working the head and body with strikes.
Hooper wants to get back to his feet.
Hooper really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with a head shot. Hooper uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hooper keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Hooper is retaining full guard.
James distracts Hooper with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hooper keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hooper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
James pushes down on Hooper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hooper is not content to let James control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James working Hooper over with strikes.
James controlling the pace.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
James is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
James landing strikes from the mount.
James scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hooper?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
James looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
James working Hooper over with strikes here.

Hooper is rocked!

Howard Hooper's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Howard Hooper's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Joe James!