PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andy Booth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Hjalmarson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Booth comes to the cage accompanied by Face the pain. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Booth
vs
Hjalmarson

191 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andy Booth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erik Hjalmarson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booth misses with a wild combination.
Booth throws a head kick but Hjalmarson moves out of range.
Booth shoots for a takedown but Hjalmarson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Danga de danga de dang - Hjalmarson scores with a four punch combination!
Hjalmarson scores with a nice head shot.
No joy there for Hjalmarson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Booth slips a straight right by Hjalmarson.

Booth gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hjalmarson pushes Booth off and gets back to his feet.
Booth avoids the head kick by Hjalmarson.
Hjalmarson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Booth counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hjalmarson!
Booth working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Booth can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hjalmarson is looking to escape.
Hjalmarson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Booth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth tries to control but Hjalmarson wriggling away.
Booth content just to control the position here.
Booth trying to control but Hjalmarson is having none of it.
Booth is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hjalmarson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hjalmarson tries to hold on but Booth postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booth is stalling here but it's allowed Hjalmarson to get half guard.
Hjalmarson is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Booth misses the target.
Booth tries to clinch up but Hjalmarson circles away and keeps his distance.
Hjalmarson staying out of range there.
Hjalmarson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Booth tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hjalmarson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Booth shoots in for a double leg but Hjalmarson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Booth moves in looking to clinch but Hjalmarson pushes him off.
Hjalmarson just misses with a punch to the body.
Booth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Erik Hjalmarson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hjalmarson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Erik Hjalmarson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booth is breathing heavily.
Hjalmarson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hjalmarson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Booth moves away.
Hjalmarson misses with a double jab
and Booth counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A combination from Hjalmarson does no damage.
Hjalmarson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice body punch from Hjalmarson.
Hjalmarson throws a wild body kick that Booth sees coming a mile off.
Some wild striking there from Hjalmarson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hjalmarson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Booth throws a leg kick but Hjalmarson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Booth takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hjalmarson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Booth.
Booth misses with a two punch combination.
Hjalmarson tries to land a leg kick but Booth saw it coming and moves away.
A punch combination from Hjalmarson misses.
Nice sprawl there from Hjalmarson as Booth shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hjalmarson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Booth takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hjalmarson slips a jab and a cross from Booth.
Booth takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A swing and a miss from Hjalmarson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Booth jabs at Hjalmarson's body.
Booth tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hjalmarson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Booth drives through and clinches with Hjalmarson against the cage.
Hjalmarson is trying to break the clinch but Booth has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Hjalmarson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hjalmarson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Booth scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hjalmarson thuds a left hand into Booth's body.
Hjalmarson throws a head kick that misses.
Booth connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Booth tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Erik Hjalmarson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Booth avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hjalmarson takes a swing at Booth's ribcage but misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Booth bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Booth working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Booth is looking to take a break and control but Hjalmarson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Booth prevents Hjalmarson from escaping the position.
Booth wants to take a breather but Hjalmarson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Booth.
Booth wants to stand but Hjalmarson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Hjalmarson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Booth decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hjalmarson, up you get!
Booth avoids the head kick by Hjalmarson.
Hjalmarson throws a wild body kick that Booth sees coming a mile off.
Hjalmarson throws a shot from downtown. Booth moves away and avoids it.
Booth tries to clinch there but Hjalmarson circles away.
Hjalmarson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Booth counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Booth is working for a submission of some sort.

Booth is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hjalmarson is trying is best to control the position here.
Booth wants to free his trapped foot but Hjalmarson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Booth prevents Hjalmarson from standing back up.
Hjalmarson is staying active underneath Booth, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hjalmarson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Booth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hjalmarson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Booth.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Booth is looking to clinch but Hjalmarson is avoiding it.
Booth stuns Hjalmarson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Andy Booth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Booth tries to close the distance and clinch but Hjalmarson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Booth doesn't manage to clinch there - Hjalmarson circles away.
Hjalmarson works the jab nicely.
Hjalmarson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Booth. Booth obviously looking to wear him down.
Booth throws a series of punches but Hjalmarson moves out of range.

Booth shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Booth dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice body kick from Booth.
Hjalmarson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Booth closes the distance and clinches up with Hjalmarson, looking for a takedown. Booth pushes Hjalmarson against the cage but Hjalmarson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hjalmarson.
A punch combination from Hjalmarson misses.
Hjalmarson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hjalmarson!

Booth takes the fight into the clinch.
Hjalmarson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Booth.
Hjalmarson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hjalmarson has had enough of the clinch but Booth keeps him there for the moment.
Booth tries to pull guard but Hjalmarson won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Booth jumps guard but Hjalmarson stands there with Booth around his waist. Booth gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hjalmarson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Booth gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hjalmarson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hjalmarson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth doesn't manage to clinch there - Hjalmarson circles away.
Hjalmarson scores with a shot to the body.
Hjalmarson misses with a combination
and Booth counters with a one-two to the body.

Booth shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Booth pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hjalmarson is keeping the position for now.
Booth trying to control but Hjalmarson is working from the bottom.
Hjalmarson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Booth!
Booth is just holding on here. Hjalmarson manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hjalmarson controlling from the back.
Hjalmarson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Booth is really stuck here.
I would not like to be Booth right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Will Hjalmarson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Booth trying to control the position but Hjalmarson manages to sink in the hooks.
Hjalmarson trying to control.
Booth wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hjalmarson gets his hands free as Booth looks to control.
You can see the frustration on Booth's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hjalmarson biding his time, controlling Booth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Hjalmarson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hjalmarson 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Hjalmarson!