PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rock Hoover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentine is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ice Cream Paintjob . Rock Hoover is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hoover
vs
Valentine

190 cm
23
240 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

205 cm
22
256 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rock Hoover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoover scores a takedown into full mount!

Hoover is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Valentine can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hoover wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Valentine tries to lock up and control but Hoover gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hoover scoring with strikes but Valentine is staying in there.
Valentine is desperately trying to improve his position but Hoover has a good base and remains in mount.
Valentine tries to hold on but Hoover postures up.

Hoover looking for a guillotine from mount but Valentine is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoover sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
BOOM! Hoover connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoover avoids the attempt from Valentine to control.
Valentine really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hoover. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee warns Valentine that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Valentine is desperately trying to improve his position but Hoover has a good base and remains in mount.
Hoover trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hoover looking for a guillotine from mount but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine wants to control but Hoover is having none of it.
Hoover lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hoover tries to control but Valentine wriggling away.
Valentine regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to control but Hoover is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Valentine kicks Hoover off and gets back to his feet.
Hoover shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valentine sprawls well. Valentine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hoover gets slowly back to his feet.
Hoover is breathing heavily.
Valentine scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Rock Hoover has been cut.
Hoover tries to clinch but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Valentine misses with a wild combination.
Hoover avoids a kick to the body.
Hoover shoots in for a double leg but Valentine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Valentine defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hoover.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Hoover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hoover gets caught flat footed, as Valentine shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentine thows a big elbow that misses.
Valentine distracts Hoover with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to work some ground and pound but Hoover has wrist control.

Hoover has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Valentine is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hoover.

Valentine decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hoover to his feet.

Valentine scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hoover is controlling Valentine's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Valentine wants to stand but Hoover has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Valentine stands up and beckons Hoover to join him on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hoover is defended easily by Valentine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoover moves in looking to clinch but Valentine pushes him off.
Valentine throws a series of punches but Hoover moves out of range.
Valentine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hoover misses with a takedown

and Valentine counters by moving into the clinch.
Hoover drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valentine gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Valentine is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hoover gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Valentine breaks from the clinch.

Hoover has managed to clinch.
Valentine trying to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hoover escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hoover throws a head kick that Valentine semi-blocks.
Horrible takedown by Hoover or perhaps it was just good defense by Valentine which made him look bad.

Valentine decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Valentine dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rock Hoover's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valentine shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hoover as he jumps to the side.

Hoover moves into the clinch.
Hoover is trying to drag Valentine to the mat but Valentine just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Valentine is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Valentine looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hoover is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hoover has Valentine pressed against the cage, preventing Valentine from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Valentine tries to pull guard but Hoover holds him up against the cage and eventually Valentine drops back down to his feet.

Hoover manages to break the clinch.

Hoover scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hoover trying to control the action but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Valentine wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hoover passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Hoover connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Valentine working to try and regain half guard.
Hoover won't let Valentine get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Valentine wants to control but Hoover is having none of it.
Hoover lands a heavy elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoover trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hoover is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Valentine wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Valentine wants to clinch up but Hoover keeps it at a distance.

Hoover feints and as Valentine raises his hands in defense, Hoover changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hoover trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Valentine has his feet on Hoover's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Valentine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoover shoots in looking for a takedown. Valentine tries to sprawl out of it but Hoover keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Valentine manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Valentine scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoover taking shots to the head.
Valentine tries to control but Hoover wriggling away.
Hoover is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hoover manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Hoover is trying to stand up here but Valentine is controlling him well.
Valentine thows a huge punch but Hoover dodges it nicely.
Rock Hoover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine lands strikes from half guard.
Valentine wants to stand but Hoover has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Valentine is thwarting Hoover's attempts to control the position.
It looks like Valentine is going to stand back up.

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.
Valentine trying to mount his opponent but Hoover defends it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hoover tries for a takedown but Valentine circles away easily
and Valentine counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Hoover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine tries to clinch there but Hoover circles away.

Hoover shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Valentine's guard.

Hoover stands up from Valentine's guard - Hoover perhaps looking for a knockout.

Valentine takes the fight into the clinch.

Hoover manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Hoover dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rock Hoover's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Valentine fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hoover is out of range.
Valentine tries to bum rush Hoover with a series of wild strikes but Hoover uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hoover tries for a takedown but Valentine sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hoover throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hoover shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valentine pinned against the cage. Valentine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hoover takes one on the button.
Danga de danga de dang - Valentine scores with a four punch combination!
Valentine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valentine tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hoover is able to avoid easily.
Hoover fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hoover scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hoover passes the guard and advances to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoover landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Valentine is trying desperately to improve position.
Valentine wants to control but Hoover is having none of it.
Hoover takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Valentine tries to reverse the position but Hoover maintains control.
Valentine is trying to escape the mount but Hoover keeps good control and instead manages to take Valentine's back.
Hoover lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Valentine.

Hoover has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Valentine has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Valentine is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Hoover off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Valentine avoids the strikes from Hoover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine just trying to survive but Hoover is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hoover lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Valentine has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Will Hoover go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Hoover tightening his grip on Valentine, looking for the choke.
Valentine is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valentine preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hoover.

Hoover looking to break Valentine's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Valentine remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hoover will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
I really don't envy Valentine right now.

Hoover working for a choke but Valentine is defending well.
Valentine has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
You can see the frustration on Valentine's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoover lands punches and elbows.
Valentine controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Valentine is trying to stand. He's onto all fours with Hoover on his back. Hoover looks like he's slipping off but he's actually tansitioning to a beautiful armbar! Valentine has to tap out to a very impressive submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rock Hoover!