PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rogelio Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Hooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joshua Hooper has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knight
vs
Hooper

150 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 2 - 3 - 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, Joshua Hooper!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hooper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hooper drags the fight down to the ground.
Hooper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knight won't allow Hooper to sweep him here.
Hooper is still trying to improve position.
Knight throws a big elbow that misses.
Knight might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Knight's guard.

Hooper decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Knight, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight shoots for a takedown but Hooper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hooper tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.

Hooper rushes Knight and presses him up against the cage.
Knight could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hooper misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hooper pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hooper is on top in guard.

Knight has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Knight is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hooper stopping the sweep attempt from Knight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight pulls Hooper in close to prevent any damage.
Knight tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hooper controls the pace.
Hooper wants to get up but he can't break Knight's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Knight working a defensive guard here.
Knight is really struggling to control Hooper but he's trying to hold on to the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hooper won't allow Knight to sweep him here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hooper tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knight manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hooper throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Hooper fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Knight sprawls well initially but Hooper persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hooper not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Hooper there.
Hooper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hooper with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Knight wants to get back to full guard.
Hooper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hooper wants to free his trapped foot but Knight is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Knight wants to improve his position but Hooper is controlling well.
Hooper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knight's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hooper trying to control the pace.
Hooper tries to pass to full mount but Knight defends it.
Hooper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Knight wants to improve his position but Hooper is controlling well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hooper doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Hooper doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hooper closes the distance and clinches.
Hooper lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Hooper dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hooper tries to clinch there but Knight circles away.
Hooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Knight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knight half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Knight blocks a head kick by Hooper.
Rogelio Knight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hooper shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Knight trying to control from the bottom.
Knight moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hooper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Knight working for submissions but it's allowed Hooper to get to half guard.
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Hooper sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight wants to improve his position but Hooper is controlling well.

Hooper decides to return to a standing position.
Hooper throws a one two combo.

It looks like Rogelio Knight has been cut.
Hooper throws out a leg kick but Knight moves out of range and Hooper only half commits.
Knight appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hooper tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper wants to clinch.

Hooper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Knight to the mat! Knight manages to get full guard.

Knight is working an open guard so Hooper takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Knight throws a combination that misses
and Hooper counters with a stiff right hand.

Hooper closes the distance and clinches.

Hooper drags the fight down to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knight working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to stand but Hooper is controlling from the bottom.
Hooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Knight's guard.

Knight looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hooper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Knight is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Knight is working an open guard so Hooper takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Hooper gets a clinch.
Hooper displaying some good clinch control by pressing Knight up against the cage.
Hooper lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knight jumps guard but Hooper stands there with Knight around his waist. Knight gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hooper throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Hooper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rogelio Knight's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hooper has Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
Hooper dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hooper makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Hooper on the inside.

Knight is rocked!

Hooper has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Knight regains guard immediately.
Oh Knight is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hooper slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hooper's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hooper passes Knight's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hooper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knight tries to roll over but Hooper keeps him under control.
Knight seems to have got his legs back now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshua Hooper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hooper thows a huge punch but Knight dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hooper stands up from half guard.
Hooper is looking to clinch.
Knight drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hooper sprawls and moves away.
Hooper cracks Knight with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Hooper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Knight to the mat! Knight manages to get full guard.
Knight looking to control.
Knight is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hooper kicks Knight off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper connects with a stiff jab that staggers Knight - oh and he follows up with a huge uppercut that knocks him out cold! Man, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Joshua Hooper!