PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Danilo Hooper (ranked 5722 p4p, 2920 weight class) and Liam Smithy (ranked 0 p4p, 368 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hooper
vs
Smithy

180 cm
18
179
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 New York, Danilo Hooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liam Smithy!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hooper forces Smithy back against the cage and clinches.
Hooper is trying to break the clinch but Smithy is controlling him.
Hooper letting Smithy take a breather here.

Smithy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hooper looks to land a combination. Smithy sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Smithy gets tackled into the cage by Hooper. Hooper maintains the clinch.
Smithy managing to block the knees to the body from Hooper.

Smithy manages to pull guard.
Smithy lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hooper throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Hooper has his foot on Smithy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smithy works his way back into a safe position though.
Hooper wants to stand up but Smithy is controlling him.
Hooper trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithy prevents Hooper from getting back to his feet.

Smithy drops back looking for a leg! Hooper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hooper manages to kick Smithy off! Smithy jumps back into Hooper's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smithy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smithy trying to control but Hooper is working from the bottom.
Smithy is looking to work some ground and pound but Hooper has wrist control.

That's two 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.
Hooper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smithy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hooper is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Smithy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hooper pinned against the cage. Hooper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smithy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A left lands for Hooper.
Hooper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hooper wants it to stay on the feet.
Danilo Hooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Smithy.
Smithy takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithy misses with the combination.
Jab from Hooper.
Hooper punishes Smithy's body with a nice straight punch.
Hooper wants to clinch up but Smithy keeps it at a distance.
Hooper wants to clinch.
Hooper looks to land a combination. Smithy sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hooper scores with a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Hooper. Those never looked like landing.

Hooper closes the distance and clinches.

Smithy breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hooper is looking to clinch but Smithy is avoiding it.
Hooper tries to clinch but Smithy is having none of it.
Smithy is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Hooper tries to clinch up but Smithy circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smithy shoots in but no luck this time.
Smithy looks winded!
Smithy avoids the head kick by Hooper.
Smithy steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hooper.
Hooper throws a head kick that misses.
Hooper lands a right hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Hooper.
Hooper is looking to clinch.
Smithy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Hooper misses the target.
Hooper clobbers Smithy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Hooper has managed to clinch.
Hooper with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danilo Hooper dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hooper moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Hooper on the inside.
Hooper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hooper lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hooper lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hooper is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Smithy pulls guard effortlessly.
Smithy keeping moving, preventing Hooper from controlling successfully.
Hooper seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hooper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smithy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hooper trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smithy's guard.
Hooper throws a strike but Smithy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooper looking to control.
Hooper keeping moving, preventing Smithy from controlling successfully.
Smithy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hooper flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hooper preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hooper is looking to escape.
Smithy is trying to control. Hooper wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Smithy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smithy is breathing heavily.
Hooper trying to control here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Danilo Hooper is winning the standup battle so far.
Smithy tries to clinch
and Hooper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Hooper has closed the distance and engaged Smithy in a clinch.
Hooper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hooper lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Hooper scores with a nice short uppercut.
Danilo Hooper has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smithy jumps guard.
Hooper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hooper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smithy on the ground.
Hooper throwing strikes but missing.
Hooper postures up in Smithy's guard and throws a big left but Smithy blocks it.
Hooper tries to free his leg and advance position but Smithy is retaining full guard.
Hooper not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hooper tries to stand but Smithy is controlling from the bottom.
Hooper trying to control the position from guard on top but Smithy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hooper sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nice cross by Hooper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Hooper rushes Smithy and presses him up against the cage.
Smithy is trying to pull guard but Hooper has him pressed against the cage.
Hooper wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hooper drags the fight down to the ground.
Hooper throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hooper working a defensive guard here.
Smithy trying to control the position from guard on top but Hooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hooper controls Smithy momentarily but Smithy frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danilo Hooper dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smithy swats away the attempt to clinch by Hooper.

Smithy has Hooper up against the cage in a clinch.
Smithy has Hooper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hooper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hooper lands with a short shot to the head.
Hooper wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smithy goes for a takedown attempt but Hooper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hooper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smithy looking to score a takedown here. Hooper is defending well but Smithy drives through and ends up in Hooper's guard.
Smithy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hooper trying to control the position.
Hooper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smithy is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smithy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hooper trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Smithy trying to control the position from guard on top but Hooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hooper isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smithy stacks Hooper on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smithy!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hooper misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Hooper is trying to buck Smithy off.
Smithy lands a few punches from side control.

Smithy decides to stand back up.
Smithy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hooper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smithy can do to turn this around?
Hooper is looking to clinch but Smithy is avoiding it.
Hooper scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Hooper clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooper is trying to break the clinch but Smithy is controlling him.

Smithy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hooper throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hooper lands a nice shot to the body.
Smithy tries to clinch but Hooper is having none of it.
Hooper swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hooper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hooper keeps the fight on the outside.
Danilo Hooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smithy is looking to clinch but Hooper is avoiding it.
Hooper lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hooper throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hooper fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hooper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smithy goes for a takedown attempt but Hooper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Danilo Hooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Smithy.
Hooper lands the left hand.
Danilo Hooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooper tries to clinch up.
Hooper shoots in but no luck this time.
Hooper connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smithy. Smithy circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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!
Hooper lands a right hook to the body.
Hooper lands a right hook to the body.
Hooper scores with a hook to the body. Smithy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A nice combination there by Hooper.
Hooper wants to clinch.
Smithy takes a swing at Hooper's ribcage but misses.
Hooper is looking to clinch but Smithy is avoiding it.
Liam Smithy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Danilo Hooper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hooper scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smithy doesn't seem bothered though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danilo Hooper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hooper, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danilo Hooper!
An out of breath Danilo Hooper thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.