PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benito Hooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Sugden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sugden has chosen I'm shipping up to Boston as his entrance music. Chad Sugden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hooper
vs
Sugden

164 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benito Hooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chad Sugden!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sugden wants to clinch

and Hooper holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sugden is stalling here.
Sugden working aggressively here.
Hooper can't get the takedown.
Sugden misses with a punch on the inside.
Sugden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sugden tries a knee to the head but Hooper blocks it.
Sugden tries to circle away but Hooper has him pinned against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sugden.
Sugden wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sugden prevents the takedown attempt.
Sugden throws a knee to the head but misses.

Hooper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sugden closes the distance but Hooper moves to the side

and Hooper counters by moving into the clinch.

Hooper manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper has a closed guard, preventing Sugden from standing up.
Hooper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sugden on the ground.
Sugden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hooper is pulling down on Sugden's head. It's preventing any offense from Sugden, at least for the moment.
Hooper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hooper is looking to stand up but Sugden isn't so interested in that idea.
Sugden postures up in Hooper's guard and throws a big left but Hooper blocks it.
Sugden is in close to Hooper's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Sugden stands up and waves to Hooper to follow him.
Sugden tries to clinch but Hooper moves away
and Hooper counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sugden closes the distance but Hooper moves to the side

and Hooper holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sugden with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hooper really is a fat lump.
Sugden throws an elbow but it misses.
Sugden lands an elbow inside that Hooper shrugs off.

It looks like Benito Hooper has been cut.
Hooper trying to land knees to the body.
Hooper tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benito Hooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sugden tries to work over Hooper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hooper gets through Sugden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sugden misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hooper jumps guard but Sugden stands there with Hooper around his waist. Hooper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hooper manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sugden wants to stand but Hooper is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sugden looking to sit in guard and control but Hooper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sugden swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hooper stands up and waves to Sugden to follow him.
Hooper will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sugden wants to clinch

and Hooper counters by clinching up.
Hooper is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper jumps guard but Sugden stands there with Hooper around his waist. Hooper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hooper is breathing heavily.
Sugden is trying to break free.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sugden.
Sugden gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hooper.
Sugden can't find room to land a body shot as Hooper controls the action.

Hooper pulls guard.
Hooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hooper keeping full guard, as Sugden tries to pass.
Sugden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sugden throws a big elbow that misses.
Sugden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sugden wants to stand but Hooper has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chad Sugden will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Benito Hooper's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hooper tries to land a front kick but Sugden steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sugden darts in trying to clinch

and Hooper holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hooper.
Sugden misses with a body punch.
Sugden misses with a punch to the body.

Sugden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sugden tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hooper counters by clinching up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hooper is looking to break free of the clinch but Sugden has double underhooks.
Hooper is struggling to control the position.
Sugden tries to throw a body punch but Hooper avoids it by throwing Sugden back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sugden tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sugden misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Sugden.
Hooper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sugden pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sugden lands an elbow inside.
Hooper jumps guard but Sugden turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Sugden breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hooper has closed the distance and engaged Sugden in a clinch.
Sugden swings wildly with an uppercut but Hooper uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hooper jumps guard but Sugden stands there with Hooper around his waist. Hooper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benito Hooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sugden throws an elbow that misses.
Sugden tries to pull guard but Hooper forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hooper has Sugden pressed against the cage.
Sugden tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hooper just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sugden lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hooper backwards.

Hooper gets control of Sugden's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hooper will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sugden has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hooper is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooper looking for a sweep. Not yet Hooper, not yet.
Sugden wants to control from the top but Hooper keeps moving.

Hooper is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sugden presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sugden creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hooper's defenses.
Sugden tries a knee to the head but Hooper blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sugden misses with the head strike.

Hooper pulls guard.
Hooper keeping moving, preventing Sugden from controlling successfully.
Hooper is controlling Sugden's posture.
Sugden distracts Hooper with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sugden wants to get up but he can't break Hooper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sugden with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hooper managing to control the position.
Hooper keeping moving, preventing Sugden from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sugden wants to get up but he can't break Hooper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hooper keeping moving, preventing Sugden from controlling successfully.
Sugden wants to pass the guard but Hooper is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hooper shoots in but no luck this time.
Sugden tries to clinch but Hooper moves away

and Hooper counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hooper.
Sugden pushes off an throws an elbow but Hooper leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A body shot lands from Hooper.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sugden.
Sugden trying to land knees to the body.
Sugden tries to throw a body punch but Hooper avoids it by throwing Sugden back against the cage.
Sugden throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Sugden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Benito Hooper's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hooper moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sugden tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hooper counters by clinching up.
Hooper blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sugden throws an elbow but misses.

Sugden gets control of Hooper's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sugden will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sugden is trying to control the position but Hooper postures up.
Hooper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sugden is keeping the position for now.

Hooper stands up and waves to Sugden to follow him.
Sugden tries to clinch but Hooper moves away
and Hooper counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sugden thinking.
Sugden closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hooper counters by moving into the clinch.
Hooper drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chad Sugden seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sugden is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hooper tries to break free but Sugden pushes him back against the cage.
Hooper keeps control of Sugden as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hooper tries to circle away but Sugden has him pinned against the cage.
Sugden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hooper lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hooper stalls.
Sugden working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sugden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hooper has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hooper.
Hooper tries to pull guard but Sugden forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sugden tries to pull guard but Hooper holds him up against the cage and eventually Sugden drops back down to his feet.
Sugden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hooper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sugden 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 Benito Hooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sugden jumps guard but Hooper turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sugden is trying to pull guard but Hooper turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sugden is trying to pull guard but Hooper turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sugden pushes off an throws an elbow but Hooper leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sugden working aggressively here.
Sugden tries to land knees in the clinch but Hooper avoids the damage to the body.
Sugden tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Sugden's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hooper manages to pull guard.
Hooper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hooper is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Sugden drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hooper dives on top into guard.

Hooper decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hooper shoots in but no luck this time.
Chad Sugden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hooper closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hooper slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sugden is trying to stand up here but Hooper is controlling him well.
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!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Benito Hooper has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sugden tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Hooper counter with a right hand.
Sugden displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hooper.
Sugden tries to clinch

and Hooper counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Benito Hooper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sugden gets back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sugden trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benito Hooper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sugden 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Sugden!
Chad Sugden decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.