PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Tiequan (ranked 6960 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hooker (ranked 5208 p4p, 0 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.

Tiequan
vs
Hooker

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zhang Tiequan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hooker!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Ben Hemmingworth and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hooker looking to score a takedown here. Tiequan is defending well but Hooker drives through and ends up in Tiequan's guard.
Tiequan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hooker wants to pass the guard but Tiequan is keeping the position.
Hooker works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hooker wants to stand but Tiequan has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Hooker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tiequan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tiequan wants to control but Hooker passes into side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker wants to stand but Tiequan has his arm trapped.
Tiequan is not content to let Hooker control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiequan is trying to work for a sweep but Hooker has mounted him!
Hooker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Hooker there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hooker controlling the position easily from mount.

Hooker jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tiequan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tiequan and Hooker has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker scores with punches from side control.
Hooker trying to control the action but Tiequan is working from the bottom.
Tiequan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tiequan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hooker.
Hooker prevents Tiequan from improving his position.
Tiequan is trying to stand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No joy there for Hooker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hooker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hooker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tiequan fails to land the takedown.

Tiequan instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hooker jumps guard but Tiequan stands there with Hooker around his waist. Hooker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tiequan decides to pull guard.
Hooker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tiequan is proving hard to escape from.
Hooker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tiequan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hooker trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiequan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hooker wants to pass the guard but Tiequan is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tiequan just misses with a punch to the body.
Hooker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hooker wants it to stay on the feet.

Hooker rushes Tiequan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hooker has Tiequan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tiequan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Tiequan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hooker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Tiequan misses its target.

Hooker has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiequan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Hooker has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tiequan regains guard immediately.
Tiequan is pulling down on Hooker's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tiequan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Tiequan trying to control but Hooker is working from the bottom.
Mark Hooker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hooker trying to control the position.

Hooker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tiequan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiequan wants to get up but he can't break Hooker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hooker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hooker looking for a sweep. Not yet Hooker, not yet.
Hooker is trying to control the position but Tiequan postures up.
Hooker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hooker 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.
Hooker working a defensive guard but Tiequan passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker is trying to maintain the position but Tiequan is very close to passing his half guard.
Hooker is looking to improve his position.
Tiequan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hooker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zhang Tiequan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hooker.
Tiequan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hooker is looking to clinch but Tiequan is avoiding it.
Tiequan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hooker moves into the clinch.

Tiequan pulls Hooker into guard.
Hooker wanted to stand there but Tiequan had control of the position.
Hooker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tiequan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tiequan has Hooker pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hooker trying to control but Tiequan is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zhang Tiequan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hooker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tiequan swivels and escapes.
Hooker shoots in but no luck this time.
Tiequan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tiequan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Hooker feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hooker tries to free his leg and advance position but Tiequan is retaining full guard.
Hooker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hooker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiequan wants to hit a switch here but Hooker passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tiequan there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiequan is working to get back to half guard.
Hooker trying to control but Tiequan is having none of it.
Hooker thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hooker wants to control the pace but Tiequan is squirming around nicely.
Hooker landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tiequan is looking to escape.
Tiequan tries to hold on but Hooker pushes him away.

Hooker with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hooker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tiequan is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiequan is desperately trying to improve his position but Hooker has a good base and remains in mount.
Tiequan wants to hold on but Hooker pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiequan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Hooker is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tiequan is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hooker is just content to waste time from the top position. Tiequan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Hooker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hooker wants to control from the top but Tiequan keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hooker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Hooker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hooker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Hooker!