PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leon Hooker (ranked 3303 p4p, 351 weight class) and Badiss Kassib (ranked 24901 p4p, 568 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hooker
vs
Kassib

163 cm
24
163 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
20
158 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leon Hooker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Badiss Kassib!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Hooker. Those never looked like landing.

Kassib gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hooker throws a head punch that misses.
Kassib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hooker is defending well for now.
Kassib misses with a knee strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kassib throws an elbow but misses.
Hooker managing to block the knees to the body from Kassib.
Hooker takes an elbow to the temple.
Kassib missing with knees to the body.
Hooker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hooker blocks a body shot from Kassib.
Hooker scores with a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kassib takes a shot to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kassib tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hooker avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.
Kassib lands a damaging elbow.
Kassib throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hooker is defending well for now.
Hooker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kassib is defending well.
Hooker blocks the elbow strike.
Hooker managing to block the knees to the body from Kassib.
Hooker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hooker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kassib backwards.
Hooker lands a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kassib.
Kassib tries to land knees in the clinch but Hooker avoids the damage to the body.
Kassib misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hooker.
Hooker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kassib unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hooker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hooker blocks an elbow strike.
Hooker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hooker lands an uppercut.
Kassib throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kassib scores with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hooker lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hooker avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kassib lands an elbow inside that Hooker shrugs off.
Hooker has been working on his balance at Island Sparring, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Kassib.
Hooker works on Kassib's body with a couple of short punches.
Kassib throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kassib just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hooker's brow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kassib throws an elbow but misses.
Hooker prevents a body shot from Kassib.
Kassib looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hooker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kassib connects with a knee to the head.
Kassib tries to work over Hooker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kassib pushes off an throws an elbow but Hooker leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hooker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hooker scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hooker.
Hooker blocks the elbow strike.
Kassib tries to work over Hooker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hooker wants to take the fight to the mat but Kassib manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hooker has a couple of punches blocked by Kassib.
Kassib creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hooker's defenses.
Hooker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badiss Kassib dominated that 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.

Kassib fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hooker, pushing him back against the cage.
Kassib prevents Hooker from breaking the clinch.
Kassib tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kassib pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kassib looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hooker avoiding damage as Kassib throws knees to the body.
Hooker lands a body shot.
Badiss Kassib seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hooker looking to stall.
A short right from Hooker.
Kassib lands an elbow that stopped Hooker in his tracks for a moment.
Kassib putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hooker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kassib looking to throw knees to the head but Hooker is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Kassib.
Hooker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hooker stalling in the clinch but Kassib improves position.
Kassib trying to land knees to the body.
Hooker stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassib prevents a body shot from Hooker.
Kassib pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hooker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kassibs head.
Hooker lands with a short shot to the head.
Hooker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kassib tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kassib blocks an uppercut.
Hooker digs a right hand into Kassib's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kassib's gas tank.
Hooker trying to stall but Kassib improves his position.
Kassib tries to land knees in the clinch but Hooker avoids the damage to the body.
Hooker scores with a shoulder strike.
Kassib can't find room to land a body shot as Hooker controls the action.
Hooker working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kassib obliges.
Hooker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hooker managing to block the knees to the body from Kassib.
Kassib misses with an elbow strike.
Hooker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kassibs head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kassib just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hooker's brow.
A short body shot lands from Hooker as the two fighters clinch.
Kassib tries to land knees in the clinch but Hooker avoids the damage to the body.
Kassib is breathing heavily.
Kassib with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kassib utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hooker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Hooker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leon Hooker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kassib darts in trying to clinch
enabling Hooker to counter with a crisp jab.
Kassib tries to clinch but Hooker moves out of range.

Kassib has managed to clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hooker.
Hooker lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leon Hooker will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kassib clinches up against the cage.
Hooker stalling in the clinch but Kassib improves position.
Hooker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hooker struggles to land a body shot inside as Kassib controls his hands.
Kassib lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hooker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kassib lands with a light punch inside.
Kassib gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kassib with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kassib pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hooker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hooker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kassib throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kassib throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hooker blocks it with crossed arms.
Hooker lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kassib gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hooker blocks an elbow strike from Kassib.
Hooker wants to break free but Kassib has control.
Good body shot from Hooker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kassib backwards.
Hooker displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kassib up against the cage.
Kassib blocks an uppercut.
Hooker lands a nice shot to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kassib throws an elbow but misses.
Hooker is trying to stall.
Kassib throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hooker avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.
Kassib lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Leon Hooker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right hand to the body from Hooker.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kassib throws an elbow but misses.
Hooker trying to control the position but instead, Kassib has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hooker into the cage.
Hooker avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kassib backwards.
Hooker stalling in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kassib just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hooker's brow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hooker.
Hooker taking a breather.
Kassib looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hooker is looking for a takedown.
Hooker taking a breather.
Hooker lands a shoulder strike.
Kassib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hooker is defending well for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hooker stalling the fight.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kassib blocking some punches.
Hooker managing to block the knees to the body from Kassib.
Hooker lands a shoulder strike.
Kassib unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hooker avoids a wild elbow strike from Kassib.
A head punch on the inside from Hooker fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Badiss Kassib.
I think Kassib 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Badiss Kassib!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Badiss Kassib!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Leon Hooker!

Badiss Kassib wins by split decision!