PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Al Hoffa (ranked 4559 p4p, 4527 weight class) and Reggie Booker (ranked 544 p4p, 538 weight class). Reggie Booker will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hoffa
vs
Booker

179 cm
18
185
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
185
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Al Hoffa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reggie Booker!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, David Schapiro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booker works the jab nicely.
Hoffa moves away from the strike by Booker.
Booker misses with a left hand

and Hoffa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Booker's guard.
Hoffa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Booker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Booker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hoffa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoffa trying to control the position from guard on top but Booker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoffa preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Booker is keeping the position for now.
Booker keeping moving, preventing Hoffa from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hoffa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoffa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hoffa moves out of range as Booker strikes.
Hoffa attempts a counter takedown but Booker avoids it well and moves away.

Hoffa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Booker scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Hoffa manages to mount him!
Hoffa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Booker is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hoffa wants to control the pace but Booker is squirming around nicely.
Booker is trying desperately to improve position.
Hoffa trying to control but Booker is having none of it.
Booker tries to hold on but Hoffa postures up.

Hoffa goes for an armbar but Booker turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Booker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Booker sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Booker looking to sit in guard and control but Hoffa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hoffa advances to half guard.
Hoffa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Booker is staying active underneath Hoffa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hoffa in particular looking to stall.
Hoffa is looking to take a break and control but Booker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Al Hoffa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Booker is looking to clinch.
Booker takes a swing at Hoffa's ribcage but misses.
Hoffa keeps the fight on the outside.
Hoffa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Booker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoffa was well out of range. Poor timing from Booker.
Booker misses with a straight left.
Booker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoffa was well out of range. Poor timing from Booker.
Booker connects with a right hand. Hoffa shakes it off.

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

Hoffa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Booker has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoffa is trying to control the action in half guard but Booker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Booker is doing well to control the position and prevent Hoffa from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffa wants to pass to mount but Booker is defending the position.

Hoffa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Booker sees it coming and defends easily.
Hoffa is trying to control the action in half guard but Booker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hoffa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hoffa stalling away here and it's allowed Booker to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Hoffa won't allow Booker to sweep him here.
Hoffa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Booker is on top in guard.

Booker preventing the sweep.
Hoffa being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Booker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hoffa keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.
Al Hoffa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hoffa wants to sweep here but Booker controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Hoffa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Booker on his heels. He'll look to pass Booker's guard now, I'm sure.
Hoffa is stalling in the full guard.
Booker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hoffa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Booker keeping moving, preventing Hoffa from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Booker is keeping the position for now.
Booker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hoffa looking to sit in guard and control but Booker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Booker won't allow Hoffa to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Booker trying to control but Hoffa is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Reggie Booker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hoffa walks into a jab.
Booker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reggie Booker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hoffa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Booker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hoffa has time to react.
Hoffa slips a jab from Booker.
Booker jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Hoffa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Booker sprawls well initially but Hoffa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Booker is not content to let Hoffa control the position.
Hoffa is pressing down on Booker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Booker is holding on for now.
Hoffa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Booker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffa trying to mount his opponent but Booker defends it.
Booker is not content to let Hoffa control the position.
Hoffa moves into full mount! Booker won't be happy about that!
Booker is squirming around, avoiding Hoffa's attempts to control the action.
Hoffa wants to control but Booker has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Hoffa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Booker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa trying to pass the guard but Booker defending well.
Well, if Hoffa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hoffa is trying to control the action in half guard but Booker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Booker preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Booker misses with a wild combination.
Reggie Booker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Booker lands a jab to Hoffa's midsection.
A punch combination from Booker misses.
Hoffa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa blocks a jab.
Hoffa slips under a jab.
Hoffa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hoffa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Booker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hoffa counters with a takedown into side control.
Hoffa is looking to take a break and control but Booker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hoffa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Hoffa trying to control the action but Booker is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Booker can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reggie Booker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Booker 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reggie Booker!
After winning the bout, Reggie Booker thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.