PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lindsey Hoover (ranked 5068 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Ali (ranked 5054 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hoover
vs
Ali

171 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lindsey Hoover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ray Ali!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali scores with a takedown into Hoover's guard.
Hoover could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ali is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ali throws a big right hand that misses.
Ali is looking to advance position but Hoover has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Ali is squirming around, avoiding Hoover's attempts to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoover wants to stand but Ali is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Ali is looking to improve his position but Hoover isn't that keen on the idea.

Hoover stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Hoover tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ali counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ali controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hoover trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hoover trying to control the position here.
Ali looking to pass the guard.
Ali wants to control from the top but Hoover keeps moving.
Hoover is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ali slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoover tries to sprawl but Ali drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ali looks to land a strike but Hoover avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ali works over Hoover with some ground and pound from guard.
Hoover not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like Ali might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ali scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ali engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hoover might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ali preventing the sweep.
Ali slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ali closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Hoover sneaks out the side door and pushes Ali away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Ali will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ali shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hoover is trying to defend but Ali finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ali stops Hoover from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hoover manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ali stays in close to Hoover's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hoover's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ali throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ali looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hoover is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hoover is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Ali closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ali lands in his opponent's guard.
Ali in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ali sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hoover is trying to control the position but Ali postures up.
Ali controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ali's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali is stalling in the full guard.
More stalling from Ali.

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

Ali shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ali controlling from the top position.
Hoover controls Ali momentarily but Ali frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali stays in close to Hoover's body and controls the position.
Hoover working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ali.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ali lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ali is looking to pass into half guard but Hoover pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hoover is in guard.

Ali looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hoover is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Ali shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ali lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ali sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hoover slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ray Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hoover is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ali wants to get back to full guard.
Ali is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Hoover is stalling here. Ali is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hoover seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ali has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ali working away.
Ali throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hoover works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoover is trying to maintain the position but Ali is very close to passing his half guard.
Ali content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ali throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ali slows the pace down in half guard.
Hoover is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ali scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Hoover pushes Ali off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ali scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hoover wants to control but Ali postures up.
Ali in side control, throwing shots but Hoover defends.
Hoover prevents Ali from improving position.
Hoover is looking to regain half guard here but Ali keeps moving and retains side control.
Ali controls the position from side control.
Ali scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali happy to just control the position for now.
Hoover is looking for a sweep.
Ali is staying tight to Hoover's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hoover takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hoover is trying to work for a sweep but Ali has mounted him!
Lindsey Hoover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ali fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ali 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Ali!
Ray Ali thanked the fans post fight for their support.