PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rogelio Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Hoolahan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hoolahan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Party Up (Up In Here). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Knight
vs
Hoolahan

150 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rogelio Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Hoolahan !
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoolahan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Knight.
Hoolahan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hoolahan moves to clinch but Knight breaks away

and Knight counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hoolahan !

Knight is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hoolahan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hoolahan is trying to buck Knight off.
Hoolahan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hoolahan is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Knight decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hoolahan to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoolahan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Knight counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hoolahan won't be happy with that.

Knight stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hoolahan lands with a kick to the temple. Knight shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Joe Hoolahan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab from Hoolahan .
Hoolahan scores with a jab to the body.
Knight with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hoolahan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Knight there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hoolahan tried to score with a low kick but Knight checks it.
Hoolahan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Knight takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoolahan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hoolahan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoolahan tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Hoolahan clinches up against the cage.

Hoolahan breaks the clinch.
Knight throws a chopping leg kick but Hoolahan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Knight takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hoolahan works the jab nicely.
Knight tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hoolahan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Knight uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoolahan .
Hoolahan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoolahan rushes Knight and presses him up against the cage.
Hoolahan is trying to push Knight away but Knight has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Hoolahan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knight takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Joe Hoolahan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Knight feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Knight loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Knight stops Hoolahan from standing up.
Knight really is a fat lump.

Hoolahan is looking for a triangle here but Knight uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Hoolahan looks winded!

Knight stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hoolahan drives through and clinches with Knight against the cage.
Knight tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hoolahan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knight has him pressed against the cage.
Knight prevents Hoolahan from breaking the clinch.
Hoolahan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hoolahan is struggling to control the position.
Hoolahan wants to break free but Knight has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hoolahan 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.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hoolahan , as that shot connected.
Hoolahan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hoolahan avoids the head kick by Knight.
Hoolahan scores with a sloppy right hand. Knight should have avoided that one.
A jab lands there for Hoolahan .

Knight closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hoolahan 's guard.
Knight might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Knight is looking to work some ground and pound but Hoolahan has wrist control.

Knight gets to his feet. Hoolahan looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hoolahan wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knight fails with the takedown.
Rogelio Knight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoolahan tries to close the distance and clinch but Knight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knight walks into a left hand.
Hoolahan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hoolahan closes the distance but Knight moves to the side

and Knight counters with a shoot takedown. Hoolahan fights it but they end up in guard.
Hoolahan wants to stand up but Knight is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight throwing strikes but missing.

Knight decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hoolahan , up you get!
Knight avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knight drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hoolahan sprawls and moves away.
Joe Hoolahan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Hoolahan rushes Knight and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Knight gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knight postures up in Hoolahan 's guard and throws a big left but Hoolahan blocks it.

Knight stands up from Hoolahan 's guard - Knight perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoolahan throws a head kick that Knight semi-blocks.
Hoolahan with a hook.
Hoolahan tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight attempts a counter takedown but Hoolahan avoids it well and moves away.
Hoolahan is breathing heavily.
Hoolahan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Knight checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hoolahan is looking to clinch but Knight is avoiding it.
Knight feinted with a counter takedown.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hoolahan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knight manages to avoid it.
Knight drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hoolahan sprawls and moves away.
Hoolahan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight staying out of range there.
It looked like Knight was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hoolahan lands a two punch combo.
Hoolahan moves in looking to clinch but Knight pushes him off.
Hoolahan misses with a low kick as Knight jumps back.

Hoolahan pushes Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
Knight keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hoolahan 's efforts to push away.
Hoolahan wants to get back to striking at distance but Knight won't allow it.
Knight misses with a knee strike.
Hoolahan is trying to break free.
Knight tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hoolahan smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Hoolahan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hoolahan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hoolahan cracks Knight with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hoolahan cracks Knight with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hoolahan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hoolahan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hoolahan moves in looking to clinch but Knight pushes him off.
Knight tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hoolahan manages to circle out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab from Hoolahan .
Hoolahan has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hoolahan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knight throws a big counter combination but Hoolahan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hoolahan tries to clinch there but Knight circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoolahan throws a leg kick but Knight sees it coming and moves out of range.
As Hoolahan tries to get set, Knight tries to push him back and clinch up but Hoolahan manages to avoid the attempt.

Hoolahan has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hoolahan 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knight stalling in the clinch but Hoolahan improves position.
Hoolahan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hoolahan is trying to push Knight away but Knight has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Knight has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hoolahan uses from the top position.
Hoolahan wants to stand but Knight is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hoolahan being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hoolahan 's guard.

Knight distracts Hoolahan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Knight is looking to work some ground and pound but Hoolahan has wrist control.
Knight postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Knight throws a big elbow that misses.
Hoolahan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Knight decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hoolahan , up you get!
Sloppy strikes from Hoolahan . Those never looked like landing.
Knight swats away the attempt to clinch by Hoolahan .
Knight is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hoolahan .
Joe Hoolahan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Hoolahan .
Knight sets himself, and Hoolahan steps forward looking for the clinch! Knight avoids it this time.
Knight throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hoolahan cracks Knight with a right hand to the side of the head.

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

Knight stands up out of the half guard.
Hoolahan tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knight shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hoolahan as he avoids it easily.
Knight needs to keep his hands up - Hoolahan had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight walks into a left hand.
No joy there for Hoolahan , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hoolahan throws a series of punches but Knight moves out of range.
Knight fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hoolahan lands with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hoolahan forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.

Knight pulls Hoolahan into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Hoolahan .
I've got Hoolahan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Hoolahan !
Joe Hoolahan decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.