PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Hooley (ranked 4632 p4p, 3132 weight class) and Eric Lamore (ranked 0 p4p, 393 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hooley
vs
Lamore

196 cm
24
205
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Hooley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Lamore!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hooley scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lamore throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lamore misses with a shot to the body
and Lamore takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hooley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hooley works over Lamore's head and body with a nice combination.
Hooley shoots in for a takedown but Lamore shows good takedown defense.
Lamore misses the shot to the body.
Hooley tries for a takedown but Lamore sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Hooley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lamore circles away.
Lamore now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hooley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lamore.
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!
Hooley fails with a takedown attempt.
Lamore lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamore misses with a lunging right hand

and Hooley counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hooley.
Lamore is trying to break the clinch but Hooley is controlling him.
Hooley drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lamore gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hooley is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lamore working hard to break the clinch.
Hooley will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lamore up against the cage.
Hooley has Lamore pressed against the cage, preventing Lamore from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hooley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lamore misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamore throws a series of punches but Hooley avoids them all with ease.
Hooley changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lamore throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Hooley clinches with his opponent.

Hooley manages to break the clinch.
Lamore misses with a shot to the body

and Hooley moves into the clinch.
Hooley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lamore is defending well.
Lamore is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lamore wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hooley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lamore waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hooley.

Hooley moves into range and clinches up with Lamore.
Hooley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lamore after a bit of a struggle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hooley stalling in the clinch.
The referee calls for Hooley to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hooley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Eric Lamore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lamore looks to land a combination but Hooley avoids it well.
Lamore lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hooley circles away quickly and effectively.
Lamore lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Hooley moves into range and clinches up with Lamore.
Hooley is trying to drag Lamore to the mat but Lamore just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hooley is breathing heavily.
Hooley has Lamore pressed against the cage, preventing Lamore from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lamore being controlled against the cage.
Lamore wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hooley has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooley fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hooley breaks from the clinch.
Lamore thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hooley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lamore throws out the jab.

Hooley moves into range and clinches up with Lamore.
Hooley is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lamore wants to get back to striking at distance but Hooley won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Hooley.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooley is trying to pull guard but Lamore turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hooley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hooley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hooley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lamore.

Hooley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lamore doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lamore manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
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 Tom Hooley will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lamore misses with a two punch combination.
Nice sprawl there from Lamore as Hooley shoots in.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hooley.
Hooley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lamore.
Eric Lamore seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hooley shoots in for a takedown but Lamore shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Hooley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lamore looks to score with a jab to the body but Hooley is just out of range.
Hooley looks for a takedown but Lamore sprawls well.
Lamore throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamore misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hooley gets a clinch.
Lamore wants to break free but Hooley has control.

Hooley manages to pull guard.
Lamore throws a strike but Hooley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooley prevents Lamore from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hooley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lamore is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hooley wants to pass the guard but Lamore is keeping the position.
Lamore wants to stand but Hooley is controlling the position.
Hooley with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lamore wants to stand up but Hooley is controlling him.
Hooley 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Lamore is looking to stand back up but Hooley counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lamore.
Hooley perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lamore kicks off Hooley and gets to his feet.
Lamore is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hooley.
Hooley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lamore as he jumps to the side.
Lamore looks to land a left hand but Hooley moved out of range nicely.
Hooley throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lamore's head.
Lamore lands a jab.
Lamore throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hooley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lamore misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lamore swivels and escapes.
Hooley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lamore pinned against the cage. Lamore gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lamore misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lamore. Hooley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lamore throws a lazy right hand but Hooley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lamore misses with a straight right.
Lamore throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hooley stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lamore swinging wildly here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Lamore showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lamore throws a nice looking combination but Hooley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lamore fails to land with a series of punches.
Hooley lands a high kick!
Lamore looks to score with a jab to the body but Hooley is just out of range.
Hooley jabs at Lamore's body.
Hooley ducks under a wild hook from Lamore.
Lamore throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lamore swings for the body but Hooley moves out of range.

Hooley has Lamore up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hooley.

Hooley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lamore throws a sloppy body shot

and Hooley holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lamore tries to break the clinch but Hooley is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hooley decides to pull guard.
Lamore slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Hooley.
Lamore thows a huge punch but Hooley dodges it nicely.
Lamore throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hooley is doing well to control the position and prevent Lamore from advancing to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lamore thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lamore missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hooley is trying to control but can't.
Lamore has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lamore throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hooley to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lamore puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hooley tries to kick Lamore off but Lamore keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tom Hooley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hooley regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lamore.
Lamore in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hooley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lamore throwing strikes but missing.
Hooley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lamore missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lamore throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamore postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lamore missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Lamore misses with a wild combination.
Hooley is looking for a counter combo.
Lamore throws an off balance right hand
and Hooley counters with a head kick.

Hooley has Lamore up against the cage in a clinch.
Lamore gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hooley.

Hooley breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lamore changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Hooley clinches up against the cage.
Lamore is looking to break free of the clinch but Hooley has double underhooks.
Hooley is trying to pull guard but Lamore has him pressed against the cage.
Lamore tries to circle away but Hooley has him pinned against the cage.
Lamore is looking to break free of the clinch but Hooley has double underhooks.
Hooley lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lamore.
Hooley has Lamore pressed against the cage, preventing Lamore from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lamore tries to break free but Hooley pushes him back against the cage.
Hooley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lamore is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Hooley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hooley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lamore's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tom Hooley.
I think Hooley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Hooley!