PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Charles Hawtry (ranked 1056 p4p, 152 weight class) and Troy Hooper (ranked 771 p4p, 112 weight class). Hawtry's entrance music is The Rain. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hawtry
vs
Hooper

182 cm
29
173 lbs
14 - 11 - 1

180 cm
39
175 lbs
31 - 16 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Pit Bull Development
Conviction

Groove Gear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 14 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Hawtry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Troy Hooper!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooper takes a swing at Hawtry's ribcage but misses.
Hawtry changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hawtry misses with a looping left.
Hawtry is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hooper.
Hooper misses with a right hand
and Hawtry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hawtry tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hooper was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawtry.

Hooper gets caught napping as Hawtry dives in and scores a takedown. Hooper manages to retain guard.
Hooper is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hawtry seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hooper is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawtry is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hawtry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hooper looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hawtry not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hooper wants to sweep but no luck.
Hawtry lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hawtry engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Hawtry has gone for a leg lock! Hooper slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hawtry's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hooper throws a big elbow that misses.

Hawtry is looking for a triangle but Hooper pushes his legs off easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hooper's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hawtry holds on and takes a little breather.
Hooper lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hooper throwing strikes but missing.
Hawtry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hooper.
Hawtry seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper lands a couple of digs.
Hawtry is trying to control the position but Hooper postures up.
Hooper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hooper distracts Hawtry with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hooper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hawtry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hooper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hawtry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hooper.
Hawtry lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hawtry is looking to work some ground and pound but Hooper has wrist control.
Hawtry content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hawtry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hooper looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hooper is adopting a defensive guard.
Hooper wants to sweep but no luck.
Hawtry working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hooper wants to sweep here but Hawtry controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hooper has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hawtry trying to control but Hooper is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Hawtry dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hooper throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hawtry stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hawtry tests Hooper's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hawtry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hooper lands a glancing blow to the side of Hawtry's head.
Hooper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawtry.
Hawtry misses the jab.

Hawtry has Hooper up against the cage in a clinch.
Hooper working aggressively here.
Hooper misses with a body punch.

Hooper has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hawtry clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hawtry has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawtry tries to break free.
Hawtry covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Hooper lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Hawtry just trying to survive but Hooper is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper struggling to land strikes to the head as Hawtry covers up.
Hooper missing with punches from the back.
Hooper is throwing strikes but Hawtry counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Hawtry regains half guard.
Hawtry trying to control from the bottom.
Hooper throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hooper working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hooper sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hawtry defending well though.
Hooper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hooper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hooper throwing shots but Hawtry is blocking nicely.
Hooper throwing shots but Hawtry is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawtry is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hooper's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hooper's back!
Hawtry controlling from the back.
Hooper is really stuck here.
Hawtry trying to control momentarily.
I really don't envy Hooper right now.
Hooper is covering up but some of the strikes from Hawtry are getting through and doing damage.
Hawtry lands a shot to the head.
Hawtry is punishing Hooper with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hooper manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hawtry's guard. Nice work there by Hooper.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawtry wants to sweep but no luck.
Hooper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hawtry has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hawtry continues to stall.
Hooper loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hooper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hawtry looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish 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.
Hawtry wants to sweep here but Hooper controlling him for the moment.
Hawtry pulls Hooper in close to prevent any damage.
Hooper is looking to work some ground and pound but Hawtry has wrist control.
Hooper is in close to Hawtry's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hooper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hawtry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hooper postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hooper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hooper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hooper throws an elbow that misses. Hawtry uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hooper's guard. Nice move by Hawtry!

Hawtry is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Troy Hooper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hooper works Hawtry's body with a nice hook.
Hawtry swings for the body but Hooper moves out of range.
Hawtry looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hooper throws an overhand right that lands on Hawtry's shoulder, as Hawtry tries to avoid the shot.
Hooper's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hooper duly obliges.
Hooper throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Hawtry takes the fight into the clinch.
Hooper looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Hooper gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hawtry controlling the position for now.
Hawtry gets back to full guard.
Hooper is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hooper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Troy Hooper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hooper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper trying to control but Hawtry is working from the bottom.
Hooper scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hooper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hooper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hooper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hooper stopping the sweep attempt from Hawtry.
Hawtry controls Hooper momentarily but Hooper frees himself.
Hooper trying to control but Hawtry is working from the bottom.
Hooper is in close to Hawtry's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hooper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hooper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hawtry keeping moving, preventing Hooper from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hooper throws a big elbow that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hawtry slips under a jab from Hooper.
Hawtry thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hawtry lands a head shot.
Hawtry thuds a left hand into Hooper's body.
Hawtry takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hawtry walks into a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawtry misses the target.
Hooper gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hawtry.
A swing and a miss from Hooper.
Hooper looks to throw the jab but Hawtry is out of range.
Hooper takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hawtry is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hooper.
Hawtry bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawtry moves out of range of the strikes.
Hawtry misses the shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hooper, right into the meat.
Hawtry uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hooper.
Hooper misses with a straight left.
A telegraphed right hand from Hooper misses the target.
Hooper throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hawtry misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hooper.
Hooper misses the jab.
Hawtry misses with a wild body shot.
Hooper changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hooper has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hawtry finds it's way round the side to connect with Hooper's head.
Hooper swings for the body but Hawtry moves out of range.
Hawtry ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hooper misses with a hook. Hawtry ducked under it nicely.
Hawtry appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hooper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hooper wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper throws out a loose jab but Hawtry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hooper throws a good cross that connects.
Hooper's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hooper duly obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Hooper misses.
Hawtry keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawtry tries to counter with a takedown but Hooper is quick to defend against it.
Hawtry fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hooper avoids it really well and circles away.
Troy Hooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawtry dives in for a single leg takedown but Hooper sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Hawtry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooper takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hawtry throws a body shot but no joy.
Hooper connects with a solid leg kick.
Hooper throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hawtry appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hawtry slips under a jab.
Hooper lands with an uppercut that bounces Hawtry off the cage and back into range.
Hawtry takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Troy Hooper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hooper 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Troy Hooper!
After the fight, Troy Hooper was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Charles Hawtry was interviewed post fight and said 'Fuck you all, ya pricks!!'.