PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vernes Gall (ranked 6796 p4p, 741 weight class) and Cory Booker (ranked 7171 p4p, 755 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Cory Booker was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gall
vs
Booker

178 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
172 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vernes Gall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cory Booker!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gall takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gall throws a hook but Booker avoids it easily.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Booker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Booker sizes up Gall with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gall misses with a hook.
Booker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Booker scores with a nice strike.
Booker lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gall on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Booker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gall.
Good shot there by Booker.
Gall takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cory Booker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gall throws a body punch but Booker moves out of range.
Booker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch but Booker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Booker looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Gall moves into range and clinches up with Booker.

Booker breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker catches Gall with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice cross by Gall.
Booker throws a lazy uppercut
and Gall makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gall takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Booker lands with a nice body punch.
Nice straight punches there by Booker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Booker.
Booker misses with a body shot.
Gall walks into a stiff left hand from Booker.
Booker connects with a nice looking jab.
Gall fails with an attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Booker! But no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gall has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gall there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gall on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Gall pushes Booker up against the cage in a clinch.

Booker breaks the clinch.
Booker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker scores with a hook to the body. Gall takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Booker misses with a body punch
and Gall counters with a stiff right hand.
Gall walks into a left hand.
Booker thuds his right hand into Gall's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gall is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Booker moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Gall closes the distance but Booker moves to the side
and Booker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Booker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gall slips under a jab from Booker.
Booker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gall takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Booker lands with a good body shot.
Gall looks to throw the jab but Booker is out of range.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch but Booker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gall fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Booker swats away the attempt to clinch by Gall.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Booker! But no joy.
Gall takes one to the side of the head.
Gall tries to clinch but Booker moves out of range.
Booker cracks Gall with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Booker throws a big shot that misses.
Gall was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gall misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Booker. Beautiful body shot.
Gall is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Booker.
Booker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Booker throws a hook to the side of Gall's head but Gall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Gall on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gall has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Booker finds it's way round the side to connect with Gall's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gall moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gall ducks under a wild hook from Booker.
Gall was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Booker cracks a nice hook into Gall's ribs.
A jab from Booker does it's job there.
Gall tries to clinch but Booker moves out of range.
Booker gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gall.
Booker throws a shot from downtown. Gall moves away and avoids it.
Gall looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gall throws out a loose jab but Booker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gall thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Booker.
Booker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gall throws a lazy uppercut
and Booker counters with a straight right hand.
Booker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Booker is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Gall had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Booker moves out of range of the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Booker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gall tries to clinch up.
Gall tries to clinch but Booker is having none of it.
Booker scores with a shot to the body.
Booker connects with a nice looking jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Booker with a nice cross.
Booker throws a body punch but Gall moves out of range.
Booker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker connects with a body shot.
Booker lands with a shot to the body.
Booker lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Booker looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Booker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Booker is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gall with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Booker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Booker lands with an uppercut that bounces Gall off the cage and back into range.
Booker just misses with a punch to the body.
Gall is looking to counter punch.
Booker connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gall's hands.
Cory Booker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gall takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Booker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Booker throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gall stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Booker lunges at Gall with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gall's hand.
Gall throws the left hand but Booker avoids the punch easily.
Gall scores with the left hand. Booker knows he should have avoided that one.
Gall takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fighters circling - Gall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Booker throws the left hand but Gall avoids the punch easily.
Gall takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gall loads up on a big right hand but Booker slips the punch.
Booker misses with a looping left.
Gall doesn't manage to clinch there - Booker circles away.
Gall fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gall is looking to clinch but Booker is avoiding it.
A jab from Booker misses.
Booker thows a left - swing and a miss!
Booker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Booker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Booker lands a jab to the nose.
A big right from Gall misses.
Booker lands a nice hook to Gall's body. Gall takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Booker uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gall takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Booker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Booker throws out a counter right but Gall avoids it with no problem.
Gall tries to clinch up.
Booker looks to land a left hand but Gall moved out of range nicely.
Booker scores with a jab to the head.

Gall has Booker up against the cage in a clinch.

Booker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker dips to his left and cracks Gall with an uppercut!
Gall on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Booker connects with a body shot that sends Gall's belly button to the back.
Gall tries to clinch up but Booker circles away and keeps his distance.
Gall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Booker lands a right hook to the body.
Booker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gall looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gall takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd cheers as Booker lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gall doesn't seem phased though.
A left lands for Booker.
Booker scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Booker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Booker misses with a hook
letting Gall counter with a right hand.
Booker throws a hook but Gall blocks it.
Booker digs a good body shot into Gall's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker scores with a jab. Gall acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Booker scores with a sloppy right hand. Gall should have avoided that one.
Booker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gall is looking to clinch but Booker is avoiding it.
Gall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gall doesn't manage to clinch there - Booker circles away.
Booker throws out a counter right but Gall avoids it with no problem.
Gall takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Booker just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Booker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Booker.

Gall instigates a clinch.

Booker manages to break the clinch.
Gall takes a swing at Booker's ribcage but misses.
Gall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gall is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Booker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Booker slips under a jab.
Gall loads up on a big right hand but Booker slips the punch.
Gall is looking to clinch.
Booker appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Booker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Booker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Booker throws a jab but it's blocked by Gall.
Booker swats away the attempt to clinch by Gall.
Gall missing with a left hand there. Booker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gall takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Booker lands a head shot.
Gall uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Booker.
Jab, jab by Booker - just one landing.
Gall throws a looping overhand right but Booker ducks down to avoid it.
Booker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Booker thuds his right hand into Gall's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gall has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gall there as he acknowledges the shot.
Booker scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gall doesn't seem bothered though.
Booker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gall's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Booker throws a body punch but Gall moves out of range.
Gall tries to clinch but Booker moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gall momentarily.
Booker throws a looping overhand right but Gall ducks down to avoid it.
Gall tries to clinch up
and Booker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gall shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Booker swats away the attempt to clinch by Gall.
Gall throws a lazy right hand but Booker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Booker.
Booker throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gall stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Booker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Booker keeps the fight on the outside.
Gall tries to clinch but Booker moves out of range.
Booker is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gall with a body shot.
Booker lands a really nice looking cross but Gall seems unphased.
Booker's corner calls for a 1-2. Booker obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Booker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Booker dips to his left and cracks Gall with an uppercut!
Gall takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gall on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gall wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Gall throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Booker on the side of the head.
Booker with a jab.
Booker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Good exchange - Booker coming out on top.
A shot to the liver by Booker. Beautiful body shot.
Booker throws a body shot but no joy.
Gall looks to land a left hand but Booker moved out of range nicely.
Booker swats away the attempt to clinch by Gall.
Booker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gall.
Nice uppercut there from Booker.
Gall tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker throws a good cross that connects.
Booker scores with a punch to the head.
Booker slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Gall is rocked!
Jab by Booker.
Oh Gall is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Gall clinches.
Gall seems to have got his legs back now.
Booker can't find room to land a body shot as Gall controls the action.

Booker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vernes Gall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cory Booker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A big left from Booker misses.
Gall tries to clinch but Booker moves away
and Booker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Booker works the jab nicely.
Booker cracks Gall with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gall connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Booker momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Booker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gall throws a jab when Booker was well out of range.
Booker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gall misses with a hook. Booker ducked under it nicely.
Gall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Booker was well out of range. Poor timing from Gall.
Booker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Booker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gall throws out the jab.
Booker thuds a left hand into Gall's body.
Nice straight punches there by Booker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Booker.

Gall clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Booker fails to land.
Gall misses with a punch on the inside.

Booker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gall is looking to clinch.
Gall takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Booker.
Booker lands a jab to the nose.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cory Booker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Booker 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cory Booker!
A victorious Cory Booker thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.