PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hessu Hopo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopo
vs
James

183 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
172 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Top MMA Nutrition

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 Tokyo, Hessu Hopo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rick James!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hopo.
Hopo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Hopo closes the distance and clinches.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hopo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hopo gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
Hessu Hopo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick James.

Hopo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hessu Hopo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopo misses with a double jab.

Hopo shoots in and bounces James off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopo wanted to stand there but James had control of the position.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopo is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hopo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James looks gassed!
James not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hopo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James has a closed guard, preventing Hopo from standing up.
Hopo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hopo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.
Hopo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hopo is proving hard to escape from.
Hopo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hopo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.
Hopo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hopo counters with a nice uppercut.

Hopo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.

Hopo manages to break the clinch.

Hopo moves into the clinch.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hopo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
James tries to pull guard but Hopo won't allow it.
Hessu Hopo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick James.
Hopo has James pushed against the cage.

Hopo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
Hopo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Hopo forces James back against the cage and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hopo.
James tries to pull guard but Hopo won't allow it.
Hopo stops a takedown attempt from James.

Hopo breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopo misses with the combination.
Hopo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Hopo has James up against the cage in a clinch.

Hopo breaks from the clinch.
James dodges the punch combination from Hopo.
Hopo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James dodges the punch combination from Hopo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James tries to keep at a distance but Hopo has taken the fight into the clinch.
James fails to pull guard.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hopo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Hopo manages to break the clinch.

Hopo moves into range and clinches up with James.

Hopo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by James.
Hopo misses with a body shot.
Hopo connects with a body shot.
Hopo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hessu Hopo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopo misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Hopo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hopo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

James changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hopo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

James has an Americana. Hopo didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! James is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if James hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rick James!