PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leon Hooker (ranked 1641 p4p, 3736 weight class) and Drapton Heed (ranked 199 p4p, 402 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hooker
vs
Heed

163 cm
26
163
7 - 7 - 0

173 cm
28
157
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Threads of HARDCORE

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Leon Hooker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Drapton Heed!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Chad Campbell and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hooker, as that shot connected.
Hooker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Heed.
Hooker appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Heed darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Heed throws a shot from downtown. Hooker moves away and avoids it.
Heed misses the jab.
Hooker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A swing and a miss from Heed.
Nice takedown defense from Heed. No joy for Hooker on that attempt.
Heed throws out a counter right but Hooker avoids it with no problem.
Hooker lands a glancing blow to the side of Heed's head.
Hooker misses with a straight left.
A nice side step and Heed releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Heed throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hooker on the side of the head.
Hooker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Heed is fending him off so far but Hooker persists. Nope, Heed circles away and we're back to standing.
Heed swings for the body but Hooker moves out of range.
Drapton Heed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heed throws a lazy right hand but Hooker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heed waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hooker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooker defending well as Heed loads up on a big left hand.
Hooker ducks right into an uppercut from Heed.
Hooker lands a nice hook to Heed's body. Heed takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Heed swings for the body but Hooker moves out of range.
Hooker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Heed misses with a looping right.
Hooker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hooker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice shot by Heed.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hooker darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

It looks like Drapton Heed has been cut.
Hooker scores with a jab.
Hooker closes the distance and clinches up with Heed, looking for a takedown. Hooker pushes Heed against the cage but Heed circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Hooker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heed throws a jab when Hooker was well out of range.
Hooker tries to counter with a takedown but Heed is quick to defend against it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hooker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Heed.
Heed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hooker manages to avoid it.
Heed misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Heed misses the target.
Heed looks to land a right hand but Hooker moved out of range.
Hooker drops down looking for a counter takedown but Heed sprawls and moves away.

Hooker throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Heed was covering up waiting for the punch and Hooker finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hooker trying to control but Heed is working from the bottom.
Hooker is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Tycoon Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Heed keeping full guard, as Hooker tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hooker.
Hooker passes Heed's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hooker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hooker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Heed sees it coming and defends easily.
Heed is staying active underneath Hooker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Hooker is looking for a kimura but Heed is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hooker to get the leverage.
Hooker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Heed knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hooker is working hard here to advance position.

Hooker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Heed is just riding it out for now. Hooker eventually gives up the hold.

Hooker is working for a kimura but Heed is defending it quite comfortably.
Heed felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hooker is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hooker is working for a kimura but Heed is defending it quite comfortably.

Hooker is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hooker wants to control but Heed is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Leon Hooker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Drapton Heed's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Heed throws out a loose jab but Hooker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heed looks to land a right hand but Hooker moved out of range.
Hooker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heed.
Hooker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Heed sprawls well. Heed wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hooker gets slowly back to his feet.
A big left from Heed misses.
Hooker tries to counter with a takedown but Heed is quick to defend against it.
Hooker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Heed.
Heed just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Heed throws a big shot that misses.
Hooker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Heed.
Drapton Heed seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hooker just misses with a punch to the body.
Heed throws a body shot but no joy.
Hooker attempts a counter takedown but Heed avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heed lands with a shot to the body.
Heed has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hooker finds it's way round the side to connect with Heed's head.
Heed connects with a single shot there.
Heed throws a hook but Hooker avoids it easily.
Heed wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Heed throws a body punch but Hooker moves out of range.
Heed throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hooker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Heed takes a swing at Hooker's ribcage but misses.
Hooker attempts a counter takedown but Heed avoids it well and moves away.
Heed takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hooker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Hooker does it's job there.
Heed throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hooker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hooker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hooker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hooker slips a straight right by Heed.
A slow jab from Heed misses its intended target.
Heed throws a right hand that misses

and Hooker counters with a shoot takedown. Heed fights it but they end up in guard.

Heed is rocked!
Heed is breathing heavily.
Hooker postures up and lands a big shot to Heed's brow.

Hooker drops back looking for a leg! Heed is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Heed manages to kick Hooker off! Hooker jumps back into Heed's guard.
Hooker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hooker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hooker passes Heed's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hooker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hooker is taking a breather. Heed says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Hooker is working for a submission of some sort.
Hooker trying to control the action but Heed is working from the bottom.
Hooker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Heed is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leon Hooker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hooker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Heed's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hooker is working for a kimura but Heed is defending it quite comfortably.

Hooker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hooker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Hooker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Drapton Heed's cut.
That's time! Hooker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hooker scores with a nice right hand.

Hooker catches Heed napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Heed to the canvas!
Heed is still in real trouble! Can Hooker finish him?
Hooker passes Heed's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Hooker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Heed defends it well.
Heed seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hooker throwing shots but Heed is blocking nicely.

Hooker is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Heed won't allow Hooker to pass to mount.

Hooker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hooker is trying to control the action in half guard but Heed is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hooker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hooker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Heed defends it well.
Drapton Heed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hooker throwing shots but Heed is blocking nicely.

Hooker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Heed doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hooker.

Hooker seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Heed is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Leon Hooker!
A victorious Leon Hooker thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.