PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Hepple (ranked 206 p4p, 33 weight class) and Troy Hooper (ranked 568 p4p, 86 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hepple
vs
Hooper

187 cm
29
187 lbs
22 - 7 - 0

180 cm
39
175 lbs
32 - 16 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Hot Spunk

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronnie Hepple!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Troy Hooper!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hepple throws a lazy body kick

and Hooper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hepple's guard.

Hepple pushes Hooper off and gets back to his feet.
Hepple misses with a body shot.
Hooper lands with a good body shot.
Hepple is looking to chop away at Hooper's legs.
Jab by Hooper.
We've been informed that Hooper has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hepple checks a leg kick.
Hepple misses with a looping right.
Hooper looks to land a left hand but Hepple moved out of range nicely.
Hooper jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hepple blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hooper rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hepple throws a head kick that Hooper semi-blocks.
Hooper digs a good hook to Hepple's body.
A big left from Hepple misses.
Hooper uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hooper misses with a straight left.
It looked like Hepple was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper ducks under a wild hook from Hepple.
Hooper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hepple throwing a counter right hand but Hooper manages to avoid it.
Hepple misses the shot to the body.
Hooper takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hepple looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hooper lands a body shot.
Hepple throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Hooper.
And Hooper tries to counter it with a takedown but Hepple pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hepple misses with a hook.
Hooper changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hepple scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hooper misses with a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hepple misses with an uppercut.
Hooper misses with a body shot.
Ronnie Hepple is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hooper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Hepple has Hooper up against the cage in a clinch.
Hepple swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooper is looking to take this one to the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hepple presses Hooper against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hepple misses with some punches.
Hepple lands with a short shot to the head.
Hepple tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hepple tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hepple lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hooper backwards.
Hooper struggles to land a body shot inside as Hepple controls his hands.
Hepple lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hooper or not.
Hooper drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hepple gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hooper.
Hepple fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hooper drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hepple pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ronnie Hepple has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Hooper.
Hooper looks to throw the jab but Hepple is out of range.
Hepple throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hooper's head.
Hepple defending well as Hooper loads up on a big left hand.
Hepple is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hooper swats away the attempt to clinch by Hepple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hepple throws a leg kick but Hooper sees it coming and moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hooper, as that shot connected.

Hooper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hepple to the mat! Hepple manages to get full guard.
Hepple utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hooper is looking to work some ground and pound but Hepple has wrist control.
Hooper throws a big elbow that misses.
Hepple is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Total Impact MMA/KT that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Hepple preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hooper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hepple works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hooper loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hooper is in close to Hepple's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Hepple manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hepple misses with a straight left.
Hooper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hepple but Hepple pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hepple throws a hook but Hooper blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hepple, right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hooper misses with a body shot.
Hooper avoids the body shot from Hepple.
Hooper throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hepple on the side of the head.
Hooper misses with a hook. Hepple ducked under it nicely.
Hepple throws a front kick aimed at Hooper's knee but Hooper avoids it well.
Hooper tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hooper defending well as Hepple loads up on a big left hand.
Hooper swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hepple scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hepple with a hook.
Hepple displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hooper throws out the jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hooper connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hepple misses with a low kick.
Hooper misses with an uppercut. Hepple saw that one coming.
Hooper checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hooper lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hepple at a distance.
Hooper throws a jab when Hepple was well out of range.
Hepple on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hepple wants to clinch.
Hepple throws a nice looking combination but Hooper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hepple moves out of range of the strikes.
Hepple swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hepple slips under a jab.
Hepple lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hooper throws a looping overhand right but Hepple ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooper throws out a loose jab but Hepple uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hooper ducks under a wild hook from Hepple.
Hooper misses the body punch
and Hepple counters with a low kick, right behind Hooper 's knee.
Hepple uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hooper.
Hepple misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hooper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hepple chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hooper can pounce on him.
Hooper tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hepple is able to avoid easily.
Hepple swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hepple blocks a head kick by Hooper.
Ronnie Hepple is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Hooper, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Hepple on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hepple walks into a jab.
Hooper throws a looping overhand right but Hepple ducks down to avoid it.

Hepple gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hepple prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hepple misses with some punches.
Hepple swings wildly with an uppercut but Hooper uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hooper misses with a punch to the body.
Hepple scores with a shot to the side of Hooper's head.
Hepple gets underhooks to prevent Hooper's takedown attempt.
Hooper blocking some punches.
Hepple tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hooper's elbow.
Hepple misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hooper misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hooper tightens his grip and picks Hepple up, before dumping him to the ground. Hepple manages to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hooper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hepple's head.
Hepple wants to stand and escape but Hooper is having none of it.
Hooper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hepple preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hooper throws a big right hand that misses.
Troy Hooper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hooper prevents Hepple from getting back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hooper is working Hepple over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hepple wants to stand and escape but Hooper is having none of it.
Hooper with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hooper trying to control the position from guard on top but Hepple is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hepple wants to stand and escape but Hooper is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hooper.

Hooper is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hepple can't fight it off and eventually Hooper manages to take the fight to the floor. Hepple looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hepple manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hepple stops a takedown attempt from Hooper.
Ronnie Hepple has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Hooper.
Hepple scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hepple throws a head punch that misses.
Hepple lands a body punch.
Hepple struggles to land a body shot inside as Hooper controls his hands.
Hooper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hepple blocks a body shot from Hooper.
Hepple lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hooper lands a takedown into guard.

Hepple scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hooper throws a wild body kick that Hepple sees coming a mile off.
A jab from Hooper misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hepple staying out of range there.
Hepple bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hooper throws out a powerful jab.
Hooper takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hooper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hooper dodges the punch combination from Hepple.
Hepple bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hepple gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hooper uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hepple.
A punch combination from Hepple misses.
Hepple slips under a jab from Hooper.
Hooper gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hepple counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hooper connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hepple. Hepple circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hooper throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ronnie Hepple will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A big right from Hooper misses.
That kick from Hooper tenderised Hepple's leg. Hepple is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice takedown defense from Hepple. No joy for Hooper on that attempt.
Hooper misses with a right hand
and Hepple counters with a low kick, right behind Hooper 's knee.
Hooper throws the left hand but Hepple avoids the punch easily.
Hepple throws the left hand but Hooper avoids the punch easily.
Hooper feints the counter takedown.
Hepple misses with a body shot.
Hepple connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hooper. Hooper circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hooper connects with the punch.
Hooper slips a jab from Hepple.
Hooper throws the left hand but Hepple avoids the punch easily.
Hepple throws a big counter combination but Hooper scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooper bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hooper throws out a loose jab but Hepple uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hepple throws a jab but it's blocked by Hooper.
Hooper throws an off balance right hand
and Hepple counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hepple takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hepple fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hooper manages to avoid it.
Hepple scores with a decent looking hook.
Hepple steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hooper.
Hepple wants to clinch up but Hooper keeps it at a distance.
Hepple misses with a hook
and Hooper counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hepple tried to score with a low kick but Hooper checks it.
Hooper throws a jab but it's blocked by Hepple.
Hepple slips a straight right by Hooper.
Hepple lands with an uppercut that bounces Hooper off the cage and back into range.
Hooper listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hooper's corner calls for a 1-2. Hooper obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hooper works Hepple's body with a nice hook.
Hooper throws a good cross that connects.
Hepple misses with a head kick.
And Hooper tries to counter it with a takedown but Hepple pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Troy Hooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hooper looks to throw the jab but Hepple is out of range.
Hepple throws a right and a left that Hooper avoids nicely.
Hooper with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hepple stuffs the takedown attempt from Hooper. Hooper gets slowly back to his feet.
Hepple scores with the left hand. Hooper knows he should have avoided that one.
Hooper uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hepple.
Hepple misses with a few strikes there.
Hooper lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Troy Hooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hepple scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hepple lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hooper slips under a jab.
Hooper takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hepple's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hooper connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hepple scrambles back to his feet.
Hepple scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Nice shot lands for Hepple.
Hooper feints and then cracks Hepple's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hepple down.
Hepple misses with a double jab.
Hepple misses with a two punch combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hepple.
Hepple uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hooper.
Hooper scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hepple in his tracks.
Hepple ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hooper tries to land a leg kick but Hepple saw it coming and moves away.
Hooper misses with a hook
and Hepple counters with a head kick. That will keep Hooper thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hooper missing with a left hand there. Hepple was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hepple with a jab.
Hepple takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ronnie Hepple is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hepple looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hepple pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jab by Hooper.
Hepple lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hooper's sensitive parts.
Hepple moves out of range as Hooper strikes.
Hepple tries a head kick but it misses.
Hooper throws a jab but it's blocked by Hepple.
Hooper throws a poor cross that misses
and Hepple makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hooper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hepple is looking to counter punch.

Hepple gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hooper scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hooper goes for a takedown attempt but Hepple pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ronnie Hepple has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Hooper.
Hooper misses with a wild body shot.
Hepple avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ronnie Hepple.
Well Hepple has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie Hepple!
Ronnie Hepple bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.