PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between William OConnor (ranked 7054 p4p, 25130 weight class) and Chris Hopkins (ranked 108 p4p, 121 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

OConnor
vs
Hopkins

183 cm
22
190
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
165
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William OConnor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins dives in for a single leg takedown but OConnor sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
OConnor throws a big counter combination but Hopkins scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hopkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hopkins shoots in looking for a takedown. OConnor tries to sprawl out of it but Hopkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. OConnor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like OConnor was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
OConnor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
OConnor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Chris Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but OConnor has taken the fight into the clinch.
OConnor unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hopkins lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
OConnor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
OConnor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hopkins avoids it.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by OConnor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnor landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hopkins looks winded!
OConnor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hopkins is defending well for now.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
OConnor stalling.
Knees to the body from OConnor.
OConnor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hopkins avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

OConnor jumps guard.
OConnor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
OConnor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but OConnor is proving a slippery customer.
OConnor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
OConnor is in close to Hopkins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hopkins can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as OConnor controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConnor's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
OConnor pushes down on Hopkins's leg and manages to get into half guard.
OConnor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins pushes OConnor off looking to stand but OConnor dives back in and keeps control.
OConnor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
OConnor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
OConnor gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hopkins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It looked like OConnor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
William OConnor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to clinch but OConnor is having none of it.
OConnor circles away from the clinch attempt.
OConnor throws a counter high kick but Hopkins was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to clinch but OConnor is having none of it.
OConnor is looking to counter the offense by Hopkins and move into the clinch.
Hopkins scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopkins.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hopkins tries to clinch but OConnor moves out of range.
OConnor lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
OConnor swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.

Hopkins gets a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
OConnor working Hopkins over with knees to the body.
OConnor throws an elbow but it misses.
OConnor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William OConnor dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hopkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
OConnor is looking for a counter combo.
Hopkins throws a nice looking combination but OConnor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
OConnor wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
William OConnor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
OConnor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hopkins doesn't manage to clinch there - OConnor circles away.
OConnor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
OConnor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and OConnor wants it to stay on the feet.
OConnor is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hopkins.
No luck for Hopkins with that takedown attempt.
OConnor tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hopkins manages to circle out of the way.
Hopkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
William OConnor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
OConnor stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
OConnor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. OConnor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
OConnor seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

OConnor clinches up against the cage.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with OConnor's elbow.
OConnor lands an elbow inside.
Hopkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of OConnor backwards.
Hopkins is trying to break the clinch but OConnor has him pressed against the cage.

OConnor drags the fight down to the ground.
Hopkins is fighting to break OConnor's control of his arms but OConnor is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hopkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hopkins drops back, looking for a kneebar! OConnor looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. OConnor looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from OConnor!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to escape the position but OConnor is controlling the position.
Hopkins takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
OConnor controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnor in side control lands a decent elbow.
William OConnor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Hopkins is looking to regain half guard here but OConnor keeps moving and retains side control.
OConnor scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hopkins to see if he's OK.
OConnor controlling the position from side mount.
OConnor seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hopkins for as long as he can get away with.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William OConnor dominated that second round.
That's time! OConnor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hopkins tries to clinch up.
As Hopkins tries to get set, OConnor tries to push him back and clinch up but Hopkins manages to avoid the attempt.
OConnor swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopkins.
OConnor throws a big counter combination but Hopkins scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hopkins wants to clinch.
Hopkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
OConnor tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hopkins manages to circle out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Hopkins.
Nice takedown defense from OConnor. No joy for Hopkins on that attempt.
OConnor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
William OConnor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OConnor rushes Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
OConnor misses with a knee to the head.
Hopkins has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
William OConnor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
OConnor putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hopkins in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hopkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hopkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
OConnor keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hopkins's efforts to push away.
OConnor trying to land knees to the body.
OConnor prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
OConnor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopkins is trying to drag OConnor to the mat but OConnor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hopkins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
OConnor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hopkins avoids it.
Hopkins trying to control the position but instead, OConnor has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hopkins into the cage.
OConnor is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, OConnor throws an elbow but misses.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.

OConnor jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OConnor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hopkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
OConnor keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
OConnor is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
William OConnor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
OConnor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopkins can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now OConnor is on top in guard.

OConnor stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hopkins tries to clinch but OConnor moves out of range.
William OConnor is winning the standup battle so far.

OConnor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hopkins managing to block the knees to the body from OConnor.
Hopkins tries to break the clinch but OConnor is controlling the position.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Hopkins fails to land.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopkins lands a good knee to the midsection. OConnor won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to maintain a safe position but OConnor gets an underhook and turns Hopkins into the cage.
OConnor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
OConnor pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hopkins tries to break the clinch but OConnor is controlling the position.
Hopkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from OConnor.
OConnor managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.
A head punch on the inside from Hopkins fails to land.
Hopkins is trying to force a seperation but OConnor has the dominant position.
Knees in the clinch landing for OConnor.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins works on OConnor's body with a couple of short punches.
OConnor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hopkins's defenses.
Chris Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like Chris Hopkins has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
William OConnor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well OConnor 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William OConnor!