PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tory Hopkins (ranked 860 p4p, 956 weight class) and Mustafa Owens (ranked 129 p4p, 143 weight class). Hopkins comes into the arena with Last Time That I Checc'd by Nipsey Hussle & YG blaring out of the sound system. Mustafa Owens acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hopkins
vs
Owens

186 cm
22
200
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
190
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tory Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mustafa Owens!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Owens avoids the body shot from Hopkins.

Owens clinches with his opponent.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Owens scores with a shoulder strike.
Hopkins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short right from Owens on the inside.
Owens scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hopkins wants to get back to striking at distance but Owens won't allow it.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Owens blocks it.
Owens doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Owens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Owens connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopkins was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Owens moves out of range of the body kick from Hopkins.
Owens takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Owens.
Owens bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Owens checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Owens darts in trying to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a left to the body.
Owens tries to land a front kick but Hopkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hopkins throwing a counter right hand but Owens manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Owens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It appears Hopkins was looking to counter with a kick there.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hopkins finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Owens.
Hopkins looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hopkins misses with a low kick as Owens jumps back.
Hopkins misses with a left hand
and Owens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hopkins on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Hopkins misses with a kick to the body.
Hopkins misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tried to score with a low kick but Owens checks it.
Owens throws a body kick that misses
and Hopkins counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins is looking to chop away at Owens's legs.
Hopkins fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Owens on the side of the head.
Owens darts in trying to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Owens has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Owens uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hopkins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Owens at a distance.
Owens paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice straight punches there by Owens. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Owens.
Jab by Owens.
Owens connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hopkins's hands.
Hopkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins throws the left hand but Owens avoids the punch easily.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Owens moves out of range.
Owens swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Owens swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Owens.
Owens scores with a kick to the midsection.
Owens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Owens now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Owens bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hopkins's head backwards.
Hopkins takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Owens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Owens scores with a push kick.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Owens scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopkins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hopkins staying out of range there.
Owens throws a wild body kick that Hopkins sees coming a mile off.
Hopkins misses with a head kick.
Owens loads up on a big right hand but Hopkins slips the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopkins misses with a wild combination.
Owens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Owens darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Owens does it's job there.
Hopkins misses with a few strikes there.
Owens fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hopkins looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hopkins loads up on a big right hand but Owens slips the punch.
Owens looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hopkins moves out of range as Owens strikes.
Hopkins slips a jab from Owens.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Owens misses with a hook.

Owens tries to keep at a distance but Hopkins has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hopkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Owens's brow.
Owens misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Owens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Owens lands a shoulder strike.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Owens.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Owens dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but Owens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice elbow from Owens.
Mustafa Owens seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Owens blocking some punches.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Owens throws a head punch that misses.
Owens can't find room to land a body shot as Hopkins controls the action.
Hopkins has a couple of punches blocked by Owens.
A frustrated look appears on Hopkins's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hopkins gets through Owens's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins lands a hook that snaps the head of Owens backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens blocks a body shot from Hopkins.
A short right from Owens on the inside.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hopkins lands with a light punch inside.
Hopkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Owens uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice left hand lands by Owens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins scores with a shoulder strike.
Owens throws a punch but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Owens has Hopkins pressed against the cage, preventing Hopkins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

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

Owens clinches.
A body shot lands from Hopkins.
Owens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Owens scores with a hook to the body.
A short uppercut from Owens.
Owens can't find room to land a body shot as Hopkins controls the action.
Owens misses with a short punch on the inside.

Owens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins with a jab.

Owens rushes Hopkins and presses him up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hopkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Owens's brow.
Owens avoids the elbow strike from Hopkins, against the cage.
Hopkins has had enough of the clinch but Owens keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Owens scores with a hook to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hopkins.
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!
Hopkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Owens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Owens needs to keep his hands up - Hopkins had a free shot at his head there.

Owens clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Owens fails to land.
Owens misses with a body punch.
Owens working aggressively here.
Hopkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopkins misses with an elbow strike.
Hopkins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Owens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Owens.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Owens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens lands a nice elbow.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Owens blocks it.
Owens prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Owens swings wildly with an uppercut but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Owens lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Hopkins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mustafa Owens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Hopkins.
Hopkins takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Owens gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Owens is having none of it.
Hopkins takes a swing at Owens's ribcage but misses.
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Owens lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hopkins misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hopkins takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins throws a body kick that misses.
Hopkins throws a low kick, looking for Owens's leg but Owens calmly moves out of range.
Owens walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Owens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mustafa Owens seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Owens lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hopkins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hopkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Owens manages to avoid it.
Owens misses with a head kick.
Owens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins takes one to the side of the head.
Owens throws a series of punches but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Owens throws a leg kick but Hopkins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Owens throws a head kick but Hopkins moves out of range.
It looked like Hopkins was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Owens.
Owens connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Owens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hopkins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hopkins misses with a leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Owens on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Owens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hopkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Owens.
A slow jab from Owens misses its intended target.
Owens on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A jab from Owens misses.
Hopkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Owens.
Owens lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hopkins throws a shot from downtown. Owens moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Owens saw that one coming.
Owens chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Owens looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hopkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Owens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hopkins tries to work over Owens's front leg with a kick but Owens checks it.
A little jabbing left from Owens on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hopkins misses with the combination.
Owens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Owens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It looked like Hopkins wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hopkins will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Owens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Owens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.
A big left from Owens misses.
The fighters circling - Owens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hopkins looks to land a right hand but Owens moved out of range.
Hopkins takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hopkins connects with an inside leg kick.
A cross from Hopkins lands.
Hopkins throws out a loose jab but Owens uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins throws a head kick but Owens moves out of range.
Owens throws out a counter right but Hopkins avoids it with no problem.
Owens throws a push kick but Hopkins slaps the foot to one side.
Hopkins moves away from the strike by Owens.
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hopkins moves out of range of the body kick from Owens.
Hopkins blocks a head kick by Owens.
A little feinted left hand from Hopkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Owens scores with a decent looking hook.
Hopkins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Owens throws out the jab.
Hopkins misses with a wild combination.
Hopkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hopkins throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that misses.
Hopkins throws a right hand that misses
and Owens counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hopkins thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Owens is just out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hopkins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Owens has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Owens and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Owens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hopkins.

Owens takes the fight into the clinch.
Owens misses with a punch on the inside.
Owens tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins tries to break the clinch but Owens is controlling the position.
Hopkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Owens tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
A short right from Owens.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins dodges an elbow strike from Owens.
Owens lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hopkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens misses with some punches.
Owens lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Hopkins misses with a punch to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Owens.
Tory Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Owens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Owens.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Owens tries to clinch up but Hopkins circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopkins throws a nice outside leg kick.
Owens lands a front kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopkins is looking to land body kicks.
Owens misses the shot to the body.
Owens scores with a jab to the head.
Nice shot by Owens.
That kick from Hopkins tenderised Owens's leg. Owens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Owens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mustafa Owens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hopkins throws a chopping leg kick but Owens manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mustafa Owens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Owens 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mustafa Owens!
Mustafa Owens was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.