PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Spechal (ranked 4588 p4p, 3100 weight class) and Shannon Hood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Spechal might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Plzenskej Shit. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spechal
vs
Hood

194 cm
18
203
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
20
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adam Spechal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shannon Hood!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hood keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Spechal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hood as he avoids it easily.
Hood lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Spechal backs up against the cage.

It looks like Adam Spechal has been cut.
Spechal dives in for a single leg takedown but Hood sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Spechal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Spechal jumps guard.
Hood stands up over Spechal, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hood is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spechal keeping moving, preventing Hood from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hood slips nicely into half guard.
Spechal is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hood trying to control from half guard but Spechal is working away.

Hood decides to stand up.

Hood clinches up against the cage.

Hood breaks the clinch.
Hood lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hood closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Spechal did well to prevent Hood getting side control.
Spechal desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Spechal is trying to stand up here but Hood is controlling him well.
Spechal is trying to maintain the position but Hood is very close to passing his half guard.
Hood content to control rather than advance.
Spechal has his hands clasped together around Hood's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hood missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hood wants to control but Spechal is keeping him busy.
Hood is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Hood is working for a kimura but Spechal is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Spechal tries to get to full guard but Hood has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Spechal moves into range and clinches up with Hood.

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.

Hood pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Spechal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hood looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Spechal shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Spechal showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hood manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hood is on top in guard.

Hood stands up from Spechal's guard - Hood perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hood throws a right and a left that Spechal avoids nicely.

Hood fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Spechal to the ground. Hood is now in Spechal's guard.
Hood trying to control but Spechal is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Hood dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Adam Spechal's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hood scores with a takedown into Spechal's guard.
Spechal keeping moving, preventing Hood from controlling successfully.
Spechal has control of Hood's left arm, preventing Hood from doing any damage.
Hood content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hood throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hood slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Spechal has his foot on Hood's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hood works his way back into a safe position though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hood tries to free his leg and advance position but Spechal is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Spechal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hood smiles and moves away.
Spechal tries for a takedown but Hood sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hood follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Horrible takedown attempt by Spechal or perhaps it was just good defense by Hood, which made it look bad.
Hood throws a fast counter high kick but Spechal manages to duck under it in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Spechal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hood closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spechal is trying to get back to half guard.

Hood tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Spechal stops Hood from passing to mount.
Hood has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hood stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Spechal tries for a takedown but Hood circles away easily

and Hood counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Spechal!
Spechal on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hood is staying tight to Spechal's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Hood has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Hood bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Spechal throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hood looking to score a takedown here. Spechal is defending well but Hood drives through and ends up in Spechal's guard.
Hood tries to free his leg and advance position but Spechal is retaining full guard.
Hood passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hood trying to control the position but Spechal is working away.
You can see the frustration on Spechal's face as Hood controls the position.
Hood wants to control but Spechal is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Hood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Adam Spechal's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hood has closed the distance and engaged Spechal in a clinch.
Spechal tries to pull guard but Hood won't allow it.

Spechal jumps guard and drags Hood to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hood sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Spechal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spechal winds up and cracks Hood with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hood holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Spechal prevents Hood from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hood gets full guard.

Spechal thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Spechal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spechal trying to control but Hood is working from the bottom.

Spechal decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hood, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Spechal tries to sprawl but Hood drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Spechal controlling the position well.

Hood decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spechal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hood sprawls well. Hood wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Spechal gets slowly back to his feet.

Hood clinches up against the cage.
Spechal tries to pull guard but Hood forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Spechal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hood just misses with a elbow thrown towards Spechal's brow.
Spechal jumps guard but Hood stands there with Spechal around his waist. Spechal gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hood turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spechal struggling a bit here.

Hood decides to stand back up. Hood steps back and let's Spechal get back to his feet.
Hood throws a body kick that misses.

Spechal closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Spechal lands in his opponent's guard.

Hood has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Spechal off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Hood manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Spechal on his heels. He'll look to pass Spechal's guard now, I'm sure.
Spechal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shannon Hood has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hood controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Spechal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hood working some strikes from top position.
Hood controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hood must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hood gets to his feet. Spechal looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hood gets a double leg takedown into Spechal's guard.
Adam Spechal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shannon Hood is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hood advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shannon Hood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hood has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shannon Hood!