PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michail Karnov (ranked 2253 p4p, 4227 weight class) and Leon Hooker (ranked 269 p4p, 447 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Karnov
vs
Hooker

180 cm
30
160
6 - 4 - 0

163 cm
28
163
8 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michail Karnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Leon Hooker!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooker falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Karnov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Karnov throws a body punch but Hooker moves out of range.
Hooker is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Karnov misses with a looping right.
And Hooker tries to counter it with a takedown but Karnov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Good standup being displayed there by Hooker as he connects with a hook.
Karnov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hooker moves away.
Hooker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karnov misses with a left hand
and Hooker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Michail Karnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karnov connects with a right hand. Hooker shakes it off.
Karnov misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Karnov both land. Nice combination.
Michail Karnov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karnov avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Hooker does no damage.
Hooker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And Hooker tries to counter it with a takedown but Karnov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hooker ducks under a wild hook from Karnov.
Hooker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hooker throws a jab when Karnov was well out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Karnov misses its target.
Karnov throws an overhand right that lands on Hooker's shoulder, as Hooker tries to avoid the shot.
Karnov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hooker is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karnov throws a body shot but no joy.
Karnov misses with a two punch combination.
Karnov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hooker manages to avoid it.
Hooker misses with a takedown attempt

and Karnov counters by clinching up.
Hooker misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hooker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Karnov darts in and clinches Hooker up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karnov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Karnov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hooker working aggressively here.
Karnov can't find room to land a body shot as Hooker controls the action.
Hooker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hooker working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karnov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hookers head.
Hooker working aggressively here.
Karnov has a couple of punches blocked by Hooker.

Hooker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karnov swings for the body but Hooker moves out of range.
Hooker with the counter takedown but Karnov avoids it easily.
Karnov thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch combination from Karnov misses.
Hooker with a poor takedown
and Karnov counters with a nice body shot.
Hooker takes one to the side of the head.
Hooker misses the jab.
Karnov defending well as Hooker loads up on a big left hand.
Karnov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hooker tries to keep at a distance but Karnov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hooker slowing the pace effectively.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Karnov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooker tries to score a body lock takedown but Karnov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Michail Karnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Hooker.
Hooker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karnov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A shot in the inside from Karnov.

Hooker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karnov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Karnov throws a lazy uppercut
and Hooker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hooker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karnov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Karnov moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michail Karnov 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.

Karnov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hooker doesn't seem bothered though.
A big right from Hooker misses.
Hooker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice defenses there by Hooker.
Hooker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Karnov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Hooker.
Hooker lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Karnov lands a two punch combo.
A jab from Karnov misses.
Hooker tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karnov misses the shot to the body.
Hooker is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Karnov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karnov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hooker.
Karnov is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karnov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Karnov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Michail Karnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hooker cracks Karnov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hooker misses with a series of wild punches.
Karnov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Karnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hooker can do to turn this around?
Karnov catches Hooker with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Some wild striking there from Hooker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karnov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hooker.
Karnov scores with a nice strike.
Hooker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Karnov as he jumps to the side.
Hooker shoots for a double leg takedown but Karnov sprawls well. He's pushed Hooker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Karnov ducks right into an uppercut from Hooker.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karnov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hooker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hooker.
Karnov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karnov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Karnov is looking to stand up but Hooker isn't so interested in that idea.
Hooker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker won't allow Karnov to sweep him here.
Karnov has his hands on Hooker's head, controlling the position.
Hooker is looking to work some ground and pound but Karnov has wrist control.
Karnov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karnov tries to get out of the position.
Hooker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Karnov keeping full guard, as Hooker tries to pass.
Hooker wants to control from the top but Karnov keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Karnov swings for the body but Hooker moves out of range.

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.
Hooker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Karnov's head backwards.
Hooker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A counter left hand to the body from Karnov misses its target.
Karnov looks to throw the jab but Hooker is out of range.
Karnov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karnov throws a jab when Hooker was well out of range.
Hooker shoots in for a double leg but Karnov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Michail Karnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Hooker.
Karnov scores with a sloppy right hand. Hooker should have avoided that one.
Karnov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hooker on the side of the head.
Hooker with a nice cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Michail Karnov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Karnov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hooker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Michail Karnov is winning the standup battle so far.
Karnov drops his hands momentarily and Hooker takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hooker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karnov.
Hooker missing with a left hand there. Karnov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hooker lands a jab to Karnov's midsection.
Hooker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Karnov's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker misses with a straight left.
Hooker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karnov.
Hooker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hooker might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker scores with a jab.
Karnov misses with a body punch
and Hooker counters with a two punch combo.

Karnov is rocked!
Karnov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Oh Karnov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters circling - Karnov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hooker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hooker drops Karnov with a straight right hand, right on the button! Hooker follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Leon Hooker!
An out of breath Leon Hooker thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.