PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Smith (ranked 6028 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hooker (ranked 4667 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Hooker will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Hooker

168 cm
20
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ethan Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hooker!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hooker throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hooker is in Smith's guard.

Smith pushes Hooker off and gets back to his feet.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith wants a takedown.
Hooker is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hooker down to the mat. Hooker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith goes for a double leg but Hooker avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hooker continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith blocks a head kick by Hooker.

Hooker shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hooker on the ground.
Hooker trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Hooker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hooker trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Hooker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hooker from controlling successfully.
Hooker won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hooker throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith moves out of range of the body kick from Hooker.
Smith feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith tries to pull guard but Hooker holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.

Hooker has picked Smith up - he's going for a ride! Hooker dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Smith keeping hold of Hooker's head, controlling as best he can.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Hooker has control of the leg.
Hooker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Hooker wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.
Hooker wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker blocks the strikes from Smith.
Smith is trying is best to control the position here.
Hooker is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hooker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hooker wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hooker defends well and Smith ends up having to push Hooker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Despite the aggression on Hooker's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hooker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hooker from controlling successfully.
Hooker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hooker wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Hooker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hooker 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.

Hooker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hooker wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hooker trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hooker wants to stand but Smith is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hooker wants to improve his position but instead Smith has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hooker pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

Hooker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Smith has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hooker is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Smith's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hooker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hooker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Smith is working for takedown but Hooker is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Hooker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hooker pulls his leg out and moves away.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Hooker. Hooker maintains the clinch.
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!
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith prevents Hooker from breaking the clinch.

Hooker manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith controlling from the top position.
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 not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hooker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hooker wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Hooker trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hooker is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hooker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Hooker instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooker prevents the takedown attempt.
Hooker wants to break free but Smith has control.

Smith has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hooker regains guard immediately.

Hooker is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Smith has his hands clasped together but Hooker extends and breaks Smith's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Hooker.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mark Hooker!