PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edmond Booker (ranked 25156 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eamon Doherty (ranked 5278 p4p, 0 weight class). Eamon Doherty will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Booker
vs
Doherty

160 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edmond Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eamon Doherty!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booker looks for the body kick but Doherty saw that one coming.
Doherty changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Booker is looking to clinch.
Doherty closes this distance looking for a takedown but Booker circles away.
Booker tries to counter with a takedown but Doherty is quick to defend against it.

Doherty has closed the distance and engaged Booker in a clinch.
Doherty slowing the pace effectively.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Doherty obliges.
Doherty tries a body shot but Booker blocks it.
Doherty tries to pull guard but Booker holds him up against the cage and eventually Doherty drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doherty is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Booker to keep the fight standing.
Edmond Booker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eamon Doherty.
Doherty tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Booker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Booker has Doherty pressed against the cage.
Booker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker being controlled against the cage.
Doherty tries to score a body lock takedown but Booker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

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

Booker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Doherty is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Booker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Doherty is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Doherty fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Doherty tries to pull guard but Booker won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Doherty escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Doherty moves into the clinch successfully.
Doherty goes for a takedown in the clinch but Booker prevents it.
Doherty jumps guard but Booker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Booker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Booker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Doherty shoots in for a takedown but Booker shows good takedown defense.
Doherty looks winded!
Doherty misses with a combination

so Booker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Booker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Booker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Doherty, pushing him back against the cage.

Doherty breaks from the clinch.

Booker tries to keep at a distance but Doherty has taken the fight into the clinch.
Booker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Doherty has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Doherty is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Booker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Booker as Doherty tries to tie him up.
Booker throws an elbow but it misses.
Booker tries to land a knee to the head but Doherty blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doherty tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Booker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Booker gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Doherty.
Doherty has Booker pressed against the cage, preventing Booker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Booker working hard to break the clinch.
Booker struggles to land a body shot inside as Doherty controls his hands.
Booker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Doherty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Booker stuffs the takedown attempt from Doherty. Doherty gets slowly back to his feet.
Booker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Booker moves into the clinch.
Doherty lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Booker backwards.
Doherty tries to pull guard but Booker won't allow it.

Doherty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Doherty with a lazy takedown attempt

and Booker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Booker.

Doherty manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Booker has Doherty pressed against the cage, preventing Doherty from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Booker is trying to break free.
Doherty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Booker's efforts to push away.
Booker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doherty breaks the clinch.
Doherty throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Booker's waist but Booker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Doherty off to one side.
Edmond Booker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eamon Doherty.

Doherty clinches up against the cage.

Doherty breaks from the clinch.

Booker clinches up against the cage.
Doherty tries to pull guard but Booker won't allow it.
Doherty is breathing heavily.
Booker wants to break free but Doherty has control.

Doherty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Booker takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Doherty is trying hard to land a takedown here. Booker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doherty closes this distance looking for a takedown but Booker circles away.
Booker wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Booker has closed the distance and engaged Doherty in a clinch.

Booker breaks from the clinch.

Booker drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Doherty is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
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 is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Doherty looks calm but he's in trouble here. Booker gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Doherty is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Booker lets go of the hold and Doherty can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Edmond Booker!