PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leon Hooker (ranked 2260 p4p, 1183 weight class) and Georges Moxley (ranked 247 p4p, 140 weight class). Moxley has chosen Andre Nickatina - Color of the Benz as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hooker
vs
Moxley

163 cm
29
163
9 - 11 - 0

189 cm
24
158
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Core Combat

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 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Leon Hooker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Georges Moxley!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooker ducks under a wild hook from Moxley.
Moxley throws a lazy right hand but Hooker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hooker feinted with a counter takedown.
No joy there for Hooker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Moxley has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A big right from Hooker misses.
Hooker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Moxley.
Hooker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Moxley.
Moxley jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Moxley just misses with a punch to the body.
A combination from Hooker does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moxley misses with a hook.
Hooker staying out of range there.
Hooker feinted with a counter takedown.

Hooker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Moxley on his heels. He'll look to pass Moxley's guard now, I'm sure.
Moxley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hooker is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moxley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hooker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Moxley on the ground.
Hooker wants to control from the top but Moxley keeps moving.
Moxley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hooker is controlling him.
Moxley has control of Hooker's left arm, preventing Hooker from doing any damage.
Moxley wants to sweep but no luck.
Hooker throws a big right hand that misses.
Hooker throws a big right hand that misses.
Hooker trying to control the position from guard on top but Moxley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Moxley wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker misses with a wild combination.
Moxley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hooker.
Nice cross by Moxley.
Hooker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Moxley.
Moxley throws a big shot that misses.
The fighters circling - Hooker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Moxley is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A swing and a miss from Moxley.
Hooker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moxley ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hooker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hooker takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Moxley bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Moxley throws a lazy uppercut
and Hooker counters with a series of strikes. Moxley will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sloppy strikes from Hooker. Those never looked like landing.
Hooker misses with a series of wild punches.
Moxley cracks Hooker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hooker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Moxley.
Moxley with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moxley wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Moxley misses the shot to the body.
Hooker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hooker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Moxley.
Moxley throws a body punch but Hooker moves out of range.
It looked like Hooker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Moxley dodges the punch combination from Hooker.
Moxley lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hooker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Moxley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Moxley stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Moxley dominated that round.
That's time! Hooker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Moxley connects with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Moxley misses the target.
Hooker needs to keep his hands up - Moxley had a free shot at his head there.
Moxley misses with an uppercut. Hooker saw that one coming.
Moxley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hooker manages to avoid it.
Hooker appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Moxley fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hooker walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hooker slips a jab and a cross from Moxley.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker ducks under a wild hook from Moxley.
Hooker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Moxley misses with a hook to the body
and Hooker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hooker misses with a straight left.
Georges Moxley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moxley listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker misses with the combination.
Hooker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moxley.
Hooker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Leon Hooker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hooker shoots in for a takedown but Moxley shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Moxley is looking for the big counter here.
Moxley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moxley lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Moxley lands with a shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Moxley. Beautiful body shot.
Moxley misses with an uppercut.
Moxley throws a good cross that connects.
Hooker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Moxley.
Moxley lands a jab to Hooker's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker throws a nice looking combination but Moxley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Moxley lands a right hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Moxley decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Moxley seems to be looking for submissions.
Hooker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hooker is working hard here to advance position.

Moxley wants to work for an arm triangle but Hooker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Moxley prevents Hooker from improving his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hooker is not content to let Moxley control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moxley works his way into side control.
Moxley passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hooker!

Moxley is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hooker can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hooker is trying desperately to improve position.

Moxley with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hooker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Georges Moxley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moxley wants to control the pace but Hooker is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moxley has control of Hooker's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hooker regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Moxley has hold of Hooker's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hooker manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Moxley looking to control but Hooker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Moxley working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hooker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hooker is trying desperately to improve position.
Moxley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Moxley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Moxley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hooker.
The fighters circling - Moxley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Moxley lands with a good body shot.
Georges Moxley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moxley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moxley throws a hook but Hooker avoids it easily.
Hooker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hooker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hooker looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hooker avoids the body shot from Moxley.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moxley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Moxley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Moxley is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Moxley jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moxley slips a straight right by Hooker.
Hooker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Moxley.
Moxley feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hookers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Hooker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Moxley on his heels. He'll look to pass Moxley's guard now, I'm sure.
Moxley pulls Hooker in close to his closed guard and prevents Hooker from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hooker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Moxley is keeping the position for now.
Hooker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Moxley looking for a sweep. Not yet Moxley, not yet.
Hooker being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker trying to control the position from guard on top but Moxley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hooker is really struggling to control Moxley but he's trying to hold on to the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Moxley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hooker manages to get himself to full guard.

Hooker looking to control.
Moxley lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Moxley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hooker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Moxley is one step ahead there.
Leon Hooker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moxley scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Moxley stays in close to Hooker's body and controls the position.

Hooker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Moxley stands and throws Hooker's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Moxley thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Moxley avoids the strikes from the bottom by Hooker.
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.
Hooker is not content to let Moxley control the position.

Moxley is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hooker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hooker can't do much from the bottom here.

Moxley is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Hooker looks calm but he's in trouble here. Moxley gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Hooker is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Moxley lets go of the hold and Hooker can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Georges Moxley!
After the fight, Georges Moxley 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.