PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Hooker (ranked 3644 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Tiequan (ranked 9224 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhang Tiequan looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Hooker
vs
Tiequan

187 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hooker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zhang Tiequan!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hooker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hooker is pushing down on Tiequan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tiequan is fighting to maintain full guard but Hooker has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hooker is taking a breather. Tiequan 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.
Tiequan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hooker trying to control from half guard but Tiequan is working away.
Hooker works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker is looking to take a break and control but Tiequan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiequan trying his best to control but Hooker has mounted him.
Hooker throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hooker lands a big elbow.
Hooker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hooker scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tiequan?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker lands with some strikes.
Tiequan tries to lock up and control but Hooker gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hooker lands a nice shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiequan is trying to escape the mount.
Hooker unloads with some shots from mount but Tiequan bucks and avoids them well.
Hooker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hooker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hooker prevents Tiequan from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker tries to control but Tiequan wriggling away.

Hooker looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hooker thowing shots but they're missing.
Hooker controlling his opponent.
Hooker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tiequan avoids a strike by Hooker and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Hooker's guard! Fantastic escape!
Hooker has momentary wrist control but Tiequan slips an elbow through the middle.

Tiequan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hooker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tiequan has managed to get both his arms back between Hooker's legs - danger averted.

Hooker looking for subs off his back but Tiequan has passed one foot through into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiequan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hooker dominated that round.
That's time! Hooker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hooker scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hooker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hooker trying to control from half guard but Tiequan is working away.
Tiequan trying to hold on to Hooker's head to control him but Hooker postures up.
Tiequan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker is thwarting Tiequan's attempts to control the position.
Hooker not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiequan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tiequan trying to control but Hooker postures up.
Hooker thows a huge punch but Tiequan dodges it nicely.
Hooker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tiequan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hooker.
Hooker trying to control from half guard but Tiequan is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Tiequan gets caught flat footed, as Hooker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hooker wants to control from the top but Tiequan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker advances to half guard.
Tiequan wants to control but Hooker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hooker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hooker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tiequan controlling the position for now.
Hooker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tiequan defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hooker tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tiequan controls his leg.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hooker wants to take a breather but Tiequan is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hooker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tiequan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hooker misses with a low kick.

Hooker closes the distance and clinches.
Hooker is stalling here.
Tiequan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Tiequan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hooker tries to clinch there but Tiequan circles away.
Tiequan fails with a takedown attempt.

Hooker clinches up with Tiequan and pushes him back against the cage.
Hooker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tiequan can do to turn this around?
Hooker is trying to break the clinch but Tiequan has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tiequan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hooker stuffs the takedown attempt from Tiequan. Tiequan gets slowly back to his feet.
Hooker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hooker dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hooker clinches up against the cage.
Hooker drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tiequan pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hooker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tiequan did well to prevent Hooker getting side control.
Hooker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tiequan keeps working.
Hooker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker trying to mount his opponent but Tiequan defends it.
Hooker is stalling here. Tiequan is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hooker seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Tiequan has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker is trying to control Tiequan's posture but Tiequan avoids it.
Hooker is looking to reverse the position.
Hooker is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tiequan off and has taken his back!
Hooker is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Hooker has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Tiequan has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hooker goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Tiequan escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Hooker wants to control but Tiequan is keeping busy.
Hooker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hooker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiequan wants to pass the guard but Hooker is keeping the position.
Hooker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Tiequan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hooker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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 throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hooker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tiequan trying to control but Hooker is working from the bottom.
Mark Hooker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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.
Zhang Tiequan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Hooker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hooker managing to control the position.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Hooker.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hooker, 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28

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