PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Hook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariano Barbossa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hook comes to the cage accompanied by Teenage Wasteland/ Baba O Reily. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hook
vs
Barbossa

170 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Hook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mariano Barbossa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbossa tries for a takedown but Hook sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hook stuffs the takedown.
Barbossa misses with a takedown attempt - Hook sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thomas Hook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mariano Barbossa.

Hook scores with a takedown into Barbossa's guard.
Barbossa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hook would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Barbossa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Barbossa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hook would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Hook gets to his feet. Barbossa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Barbossa misses with a takedown attempt

and Hook counters by clinching up.
Hook managing to block the knees to the body from Barbossa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbossa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hook gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Barbossa looks gassed!

Hook has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Barbossa clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hook is hanging on to Barbossa's back as he tries to escape.
Hook is trying to stick to Barbossa's back but Barbossa is turning into Hook. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hook's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barbossa.
Barbossa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barbossa prevents Hook from getting back to his feet.
Barbossa thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barbossa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barbossa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hook closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hook tries to stand but can't do so whilst Barbossa controls his leg.
Barbossa wants to improve his position but Hook is controlling well.
Hook wants to stand up but Barbossa has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Barbossa is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hook is thwarting Barbossa's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hook's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hook duly obliges.

Hook drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barbossa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hook wants to stand but Barbossa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hook knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barbossa on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barbossa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barbossa wants to sweep here but Hook controlling him for the moment.
Hook has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barbossa is proving hard to escape from.
Barbossa wants to sweep but no luck.

Barbossa is working an open guard so Hook takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Barbossa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hook counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hook dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hook fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barbossa, pushing him back against the cage.
Barbossa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hook avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Hook escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbossa has his takedown stuffed

and Hook counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barbossa won't be happy with that.
Barbossa tries to bench press Hook off him but Hook keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hook decides to stand back up.

Hook clinches up against the cage.

Hook manages to break the clinch.
Barbossa shoots and misses

and Hook counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hook.
Thomas Hook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mariano Barbossa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hook's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hook thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Barbossa if he has to take too many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hook throws a head kick but Barbossa moves out of range.
Hook moves out of range of the body kick.
Barbossa clinches but Hook breaks the clinch

and Hook decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barbossa's guard.
Hook is looking to stand up but Barbossa won't let him.
Barbossa wants to sweep but no luck.

Barbossa has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hook is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Barbossa.

Hook stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Barbossa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hook counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barbossa wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hook wants to get back to his feet.
Barbossa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Barbossa actively working from the bottom here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hook wants to stand up but Barbossa is controlling the position.

Barbossa is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hook pulls his head out easily.
Hook wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barbossa has his takedown stuffed

and Hook decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barbossa's guard.
Hook might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hook wants to stand but Barbossa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hook trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Barbossa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hook gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barbossa has a closed guard, preventing Hook from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hook gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Barbossa shoots and misses

and Hook counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hook tries to stand but Barbossa is controlling his head.
Barbossa is looking for a sweep.
Barbossa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbossa missing with punches from the bottom.
Hook tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Barbossa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hook dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hook throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barbossa with a poor takedown
and Hook counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas Hook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hook throws a low kick, looking for Barbossa's leg but Barbossa calmly moves out of range.

Hook rushes Barbossa and presses him up against the cage.
Hook is trying to drag Barbossa to the mat but Barbossa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Hook breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hook throws a head kick but Barbossa moves out of range.
Mariano Barbossa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hook swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Hook changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barbossa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hook wants to stand but Barbossa has his arm trapped.
Thomas Hook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barbossa gets back to half guard.
Barbossa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hook's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hook's back!
Barbossa softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Hook is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Hook throws the kick towards the body but Barbossa avoids it.

Hook shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hook showed some decent athleticism there.
Barbossa wants to get back to full guard but Hook has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa is trying desperately to improve position.
Hook avoids the attempt from Barbossa to control.

Hook stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Barbossa has his takedown stuffed

and Hook counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hook is looking to stand up but Barbossa won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Hook avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thomas Hook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hook wants to stand and escape but instead Barbossa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Barbossa won't allow Hook to get back to his feet.
Barbossa wants to control from the top but Hook keeps moving.

Hook kicks Barbossa off and gets to his feet.

Hook pushes Barbossa up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hook is looking to break free of the clinch but Barbossa has double underhooks.
Barbossa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hook avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thomas Hook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mariano Barbossa.
Hook wants to get back to striking at distance but Barbossa won't allow it.
Hook prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hook stops a takedown attempt from Barbossa.

Hook breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barbossa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hook counters with a straight right hand.
Mariano Barbossa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hook dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barbossa. That did some damage!

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Hook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hook has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Hook!