PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Jin Kazama (ranked 5269 p4p, 478 weight class) and Danny Hooper (ranked 6790 p4p, 529 weight class). Jin Kazama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kazama
vs
Hooper

177 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
156 lbs
1 - 17 - 0

Excellent MT
Self confident

Excellent boxer
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 Rio de Janeiro, Jin Kazama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Hooper!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooper throws a right hand that Kazama ducks under and follows up with a left that Kazama also avoids with ease.
Kazama blocks a head kick by Hooper.
Hooper throws a lazy right hand but Kazama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kazama lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hooper misses with a hook
and Kazama counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hooper is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kazama avoids the head kick by Hooper.
As Hooper backs away, Kazama returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hooper tries a head kick but it misses.
Kazama lands a head kick. Hooper smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hooper throws a sloppy head kick and Kazama moves out of range easily.

Kazama closes the distance and clinches.
Hooper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kazama lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hooper backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kazama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hoopers head.
Kazama lands a right hand.

Hooper is rocked!
Hooper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hooper tries to land a knee to the head but Kazama blocks with his arms.
Kazama avoids the elbow strike from Hooper, against the ropes.
Kazama scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kazama lands with a light punch inside.
Hooper looking to throw knees to the head but Kazama is blocking nicely.
Hooper is looking to break free of the clinch but Kazama has double underhooks.
Kazama gets through Hooper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kazama has Hooper pushed against the ropes.
Kazama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hooper's efforts to push away.
Kazama lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Kazama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kazama dodges the punch combination from Hooper.

Kazama darts in and clinches Hooper up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kazama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hoopers head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kazama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hooper swings wildly with an uppercut but Kazama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hooper working hard to break the clinch.
Kazama prevents Hooper from breaking the clinch.
Hooper misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kazama lands a hook that snaps the head of Hooper backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Hooper's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hooper has had enough of the clinch but Kazama keeps him there for the moment.
Hooper is trying to break free.
Hooper working hard to break the clinch.
Hooper is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kazama.
Hooper throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kazama keeps control of Hooper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Kazama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kazama clinches up against the ropes.
Jin Kazama has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kazama stalling.
Hooper tries a knee to the head but Kazama blocks it.
Kazama working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kazama gets through Hooper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hooper is trying to push Kazama away but Kazama has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kazama scores with a shoulder strike.
Hooper is trying to push Kazama away but Kazama has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kazama lands a hook that snaps the head of Hooper backwards.
Kazama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hooper has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hooper throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Kazama.
Hooper wants to break free but Kazama has control.
Hooper tries to circle away but Kazama has him pinned against the ropes.
Hooper throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kazama blocks it with crossed arms.
Hooper pushes off an throws an elbow but Kazama leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Hooper using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kazama has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama dodges an elbow strike from Hooper.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kazama creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kazama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kazama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kazama lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hooper is still on wobbly legs! Can Kazama finish him?
Hooper is trying to force a seperation but Kazama has the dominant position.

Kazama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hooper throws a lazy body kick
and Kazama counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hooper seems to have recovered his senses.
Kazama lands a front kick.

Kazama gets a clinch.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazama scores with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hooper throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kazama counters quickly with a head kick that drops Hooper to the mat! The referee starts the count at 3 - will Hooper be able to get back to his feet in time? 4,5,6, he's up. He looks OK so we'll continue the action!
Jin Kazama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A left lands for Hooper.
Kazama avoids the head kick by Hooper.
Hooper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kazama pushes Hooper away with a front kick.
Hooper lands a head kick. Kazama smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazama moves into the clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hooper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hooper has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hooper misses with a knee to the head.
Hooper has a couple of punches blocked by Kazama.
Hooper tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hooper misses with a punch on the inside.
Kazama lands with a left to the head.
Kazama lands with a short shot to the head.

Kazama creates a bit of space and cracks Hooper with an uppercut that drops him to the canvas! Hooper is wobbled and seems to be struggling to get back to his feet. 3,4,5. He's up! Phew, his manager will be relieved but they're no doubt wondering whether he'll be able to recover properly and get back in the fight!
Kazama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hooper can do to turn this around?
Some wild striking there from Hooper.
It looked like Kazama wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hooper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kazama closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Danny Hooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hooper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kazama.

Kazama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hooper, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kazama blocking some punches.
Kazama lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Kazama takes the second round thanks to the knockdowns.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kazama cracks Hooper with a left hand that drops him to the canvas, up against the ropes! Can Hooper get back up in time? 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... he's on one knee... 8, 9... he's up! 'Walk towards me' says the referee. Hooper looks steady enough to continue so we're going to continue!
Kazama throws a head kick that half lands.

Kazama clinches with his opponent.
Hooper working hard to break the clinch.
Kazama lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hooper backwards.
Kazama creates a bit of distance and cracks Hooper with a big uppercut! Hooper goes down! The referee pushes Kazama away into a neutral corner and starts the count. 4,5,6,7. Will Hooper make it up in time? He's still flopping around all over the place! The referee has called off the fight! Kazama takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Jin Kazama!