PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hook (ranked 5472 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Oliver (ranked 5277 p4p, 0 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.

Hook
vs
Oliver

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Hook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Christopher Oliver!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hook is looking to chop away at Oliver's legs.
Oliver appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Oliver is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hook fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oliver looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Hook fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Oliver manages to avoid it.
Hook fails with an attempt to clinch.

Oliver closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Oliver lands in his opponent's guard.
Oliver is stalling in the full 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 looking for a sweep. Not yet Hook, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliver wants to get up but he can't break Hook's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Oliver content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hook throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hook can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Oliver controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hook throws a body punch but Oliver moves out of range.
Hook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oliver throws out a counter right but Hook avoids it with no problem.
Hook fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Oliver manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hook on his heels. He'll look to pass Hook's guard now, I'm sure.

Hook pushes Oliver off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hook tries to clinch up but Oliver circles away and keeps his distance.
Oliver tries a head kick but it misses.

Oliver throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hook tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oliver is in Hook's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hook is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Oliver dives into side control.

Oliver tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Oliver thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver takes a little break here. Hook wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hook defending against the ground and pound.
Hook is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Oliver has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Oliver happy to just control the position for now.
Hook is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hook tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Oliver easily slips into full mount!

Oliver looking to secure an arm triangle but Hook defends it well.
Oliver controlling the pace for now.
Hook tries to hold on but Oliver postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hook is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Oliver dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hook has a takedown stuffed.
Hook misses with a takedown

and Oliver counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Oliver.
Oliver tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Oliver has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hook uses from the top position.

Oliver looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Oliver utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Oliver is pulling down on Hook's head. It's preventing any offense from Hook, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hook wants to control from the top but Oliver keeps moving.
Hook looking to sit in guard and control but Oliver gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hook has a closed guard, preventing Oliver from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Oliver's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hook is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Oliver stays in close to Hook's body and controls the position.

Oliver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Oliver drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Oliver jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hook seems keen to control Oliver's posture.
Oliver sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Oliver scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Mike Hook has been cut.
Hook tries to clinch but Oliver moves out of range.

Oliver fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hook sprawls well initially but Oliver persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Hook kicks Oliver off and gets back to his feet.
Hook shoots for a double leg takedown but Oliver sprawls well. He's pushed Hook's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hook fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hook tries to score a power double leg takedown but Oliver sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hook somewhat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hook looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Oliver closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hook to the mat! Hook manages to get full guard.
Oliver trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hook's guard.
Hook can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Oliver controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Oliver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Hook's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hook has closed the distance and engaged Oliver in a clinch.

Oliver lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hook is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Christopher Oliver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Oliver perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Oliver has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hook is trying to escape back to his feet but Oliver uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Hook wants to get back to his feet.
Hook is trying to escape the position but Oliver is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliver wants to control but Hook is keeping him busy.
Oliver prevents Hook from escaping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliver controls the position.
Hook gets back to half guard.
Oliver prevents Hook from improving his position.
Oliver content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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

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.
Oliver throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hook stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Oliver rushes Hook and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hook trying to stall but Oliver improves his position.

Oliver manages to break the clinch.
Oliver misses with a low kick.
Hook wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Oliver feints and as Hook raises his hands in defense, Oliver changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hook keeping moving, preventing Oliver from controlling successfully.
Hook wants to stand up but Oliver is controlling him.
Oliver showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver looking to pass the guard.
Oliver lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Oliver stands and throws Hook's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Oliver tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four 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.
Hook tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Oliver presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Oliver takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Oliver working for a submission but Hook is keeping him at bay.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Oliver cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oliver content just to control the position here.
Mike Hook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Christopher Oliver is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oliver wants to get back to his feet but Hook is holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christopher Oliver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Oliver has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Christopher Oliver!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Christopher Oliver!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Christopher Oliver!

Christopher Oliver wins by unanimous decision!
Christopher Oliver spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.