PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Troy Hooper (ranked 482 p4p, 76 weight class) and Piranha Chonan (ranked 600 p4p, 94 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hooper
vs
Chonan

180 cm
38
175 lbs
31 - 15 - 2

176 cm
36
180 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Groove Gear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Blue Moon

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 31 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Troy Hooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Piranha Chonan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooper throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chonan misses with a straight left.
Hooper bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chonan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hooper sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hooper definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Chonan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hooper.
Hooper uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chonan.
Hooper half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Chonan misses with a hook.
Hooper throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Chonan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Chonan throws a lazy right hand but Hooper sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hooper lands with a good body shot.
Troy Hooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from Hooper.
Good standup being displayed there by Hooper as he connects with a hook.
Chonan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chonan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chonan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hooper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chonan was well out of range. Poor timing from Hooper.
Hooper sets himself, and Chonan steps forward looking for the clinch! Hooper avoids it this time.
Hooper works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hooper misses with a looping right.
Hooper cracks Chonan with an open hand slap.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan gets underhooks to prevent Hooper's takedown attempt.
Hooper has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chonan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chonan prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Troy Hooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chonan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hooper has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Chonan after a bit of a struggle.
Hooper blocks the elbow strike.
Hooper is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chonan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hooper goes for a takedown attempt but Chonan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Chonan instigates a clinch.

Hooper turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hooper manages to end up in side control.
Chonan is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hooper connects with a decent elbow.
Chonan is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Chonan tries to bench press Hooper off him but Hooper keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper landing a few strikes.
Hooper lands a decent elbow from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chonan tries to improve position but can't.
Hooper scores with a couple of short elbows.
Chonan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hooper working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chonan is looking for a sweep.
Hooper lands an elbow.
Chonan gets back to half guard.
Hooper wants to control but Chonan is keeping him busy.
Hooper not doing much here.
Hooper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chonan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chonan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Chonan keeping moving, preventing Hooper from controlling successfully.
Hooper stopping the sweep attempt from Chonan.
Hooper is in close to Chonan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hooper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hooper loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hooper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper scoring with some ground and pound.
Hooper postures up and lands a big shot to Chonan's brow.
Hooper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chonan is on top in guard.

Chonan wants to control from the top but Hooper keeps moving.
Chonan wants to stand and escape but instead Hooper has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Chonan looking for a sweep. Not yet Chonan, not yet.
Hooper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Chonan trying to control the position.

Chonan has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hooper is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy Hooper dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hooper bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hooper misses with a wild body shot.
Hooper uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chonan.
Chonan throws a shot from downtown. Hooper moves away and avoids it.
Hooper feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Chonan's calf.
Chonan doesn't manage to clinch there - Hooper circles away.
Hooper misses with a hook.
Hooper lands a jab to Chonan's midsection.

Chonan clinches with his opponent.
Chonan lands a nice uppercut.
Chonan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Chonan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Chonan gets underhooks to prevent Hooper's takedown attempt.
Chonan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Chonan takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hooper tries for a takedown but Chonan manages to get underhooks.
Hooper is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chonan is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Troy Hooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Chonan lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Piranha Chonan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Chonan lands an elbow just above Hooper 's eye.
Hooper drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hooper is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chonan is defending well.
Chonan pushes Hooper back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Chonan.
Hooper misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hooper can't find room to land a body shot as Chonan controls the action.
Hooper avoids the elbow strike from Chonan, against the cage.
Chonan has a couple of punches blocked by Hooper.
Hooper wants a takedown but no success here.
Hooper blocks the elbow strike.
Hooper is looking to take this one to the mat.

Hooper lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hooper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chonan keeps working.
Chonan pushes Hooper off looking to stand but Hooper dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chonan pushes Hooper off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chonan swings for the body but Hooper moves out of range.
Hooper lands with a nice body punch.
Hooper slips under a jab from Chonan.
Chonan misses with a wild body shot.
Chonan throws a body punch but Hooper moves out of range.
Hooper takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Troy Hooper is winning the standup battle so far.
Chonan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hooper throws out a powerful jab.
Piranha Chonan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chonan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Danga de danga de dang - Hooper scores with a four punch combination!
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Chonan in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Chonan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hooper manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hooper throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chonan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chonan checks a low kick from Hooper.
Hooper scores with a jab. Chonan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hooper!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper misses with a hook. Chonan ducked under it nicely.
Hooper defending well as Chonan loads up on a big left hand.
Chonan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hooper waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chonan.
Chonan scores with a hook to the body. Hooper takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hooper swats away the attempt to clinch by Chonan.

Chonan has closed the distance and engaged Hooper in a clinch.
Chonan tries to land a knee to the head but Hooper blocks with his arms.
Hooper scores with a shot to the side of Chonan's head.
Chonan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Chonan gets underhooks to prevent Hooper's takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Chonan.
Hooper blocks an elbow strike from Chonan.
Hooper drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hooper wants to take the fight to the mat but Chonan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper is looking for a takedown.
Hooper changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Chonan fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Chonan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Chonan gets underhooks to prevent Hooper's takedown attempt.
Chonan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Chonan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A hook to the body from Chonan.
Chonan lands with a light punch inside.
Hooper wants a takedown.
Hooper blocks an elbow strike from Chonan.
Chonan lands an elbow that stopped Hooper in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hooper lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chonan backwards.
A short left from Chonan.
Hooper avoiding damage as Chonan throws knees to the body.
Chonan tries to work over Hooper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piranha Chonan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Chonan is looking to clinch but Hooper is avoiding it.
Chonan misses the shot to the body.
Hooper misses with a wild combination.
Chonan lands with a hook. Hooper tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Chonan slips under a jab.
Chonan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Chonan darts in and clinches Hooper up against the cage.
Chonan is pressed up against the cage. Hooper has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chonan down to the mat. Chonan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hooper tries to keep at a distance but Chonan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hooper is trying to drag Chonan to the mat but Chonan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chonan creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hooper's defenses.
Hooper blocks the elbow strike.
Chonan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Troy Hooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooper lands a hook to the side of the head.
Chonan misses with a punch to the body.
Chonan misses with a body punch.
Hooper is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hooper wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hooper goes for a takedown in the clinch but Chonan prevents it.
Chonan scores with a shoulder strike.
Chonan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hooper blocks it with crossed arms.
Chonan prevents the takedown attempt.
Chonan struggles to land a body shot inside as Hooper controls his hands.
Hooper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Chonan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Chonan tries a body shot but Hooper blocks it.
Chonan lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Chonan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hooper takes an elbow to the temple.
Hooper blocks the elbow strike.
Chonan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hoopers head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Chonan - that landed with a thud.
Hooper avoids a wild elbow strike from Chonan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chonan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hooper misses with a punch on the inside.
Chonan lands a left hand.
Hooper drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right from Chonan on the inside.
Chonan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hooper's face.
Chonan gets through Hooper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Chonan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hooper blocks the elbow strike.
Hooper changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Chonan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Chonan looks to throw the jab but Hooper is out of range.

Chonan closes the distance and pushes Hooper back into the cage.
Hooper drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Chonan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Chonan lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hooper.
Chonan blocks a body shot from Hooper.
Chonan controlling the action here for a moment.
Chonan missing with knees to the body.
Chonan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Chonan creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hooper's defenses.
A body shot lands from Chonan.
Hooper goes for a takedown in the clinch but Chonan prevents it.
Hooper has Chonan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Chonan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice body punch from Chonan.
Chonan lands a right hand.
Chonan avoiding damage.
Chonan gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chonan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hooper has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chonan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chonan lands an elbow just above Hooper 's eye.
A body shot lands from Chonan.
Chonan pushes Hooper back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Chonan - that landed with a thud.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chonan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Chonan digs a right hand into Hooper's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hooper's gas tank.
Hooper is looking for a takedown.
Chonan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Chonan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Chonan lands an elbow just above Hooper 's eye.
A short right from Chonan.
Good body shot from Chonan.
Hooper blocks the elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Chonan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Piranha Chonan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chonan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piranha Chonan!