PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julian Hopson (ranked 5649 p4p, 4286 weight class) and Aito Akatsuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hopson
vs
Akatsuki

172 cm
18
150
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julian Hopson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aito Akatsuki!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Francis DeMontford and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopson shoots in and bounces Akatsuki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Akatsuki wants to get back to his feet but Hopson passes into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Akatsuki can do anything to dispel that myth.

We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hopson throwing shots but Akatsuki is blocking nicely.
Hopson working Akatsuki over with strikes.
Akatsuki has hold of Hopson's hands but Hopson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hopson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hopson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akatsuki keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hopson passes to full mount!
Hopson unloading with bombs!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopson raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hopson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Akatsuki?
Akatsuki is working to get back to half guard.
Hopson lands a big shot there that rocks Akatsuki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hopson lands with some strikes.
Hopson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Akatsuki looks a forlorn figure.
Hopson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Akatsuki hang on?
Hopson cracks Akatsuki with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hopson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopson lands a nice shot to the head.
Hopson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hopson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hopson unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akatsuki in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hopson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
A nice elbow there by Hopson.
Hopson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hopson working Akatsuki over with strikes here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
BOOM! Hopson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hopson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Akatsuki looks winded!
Hopson landing shots from mount.
Hopson controlling his opponent.
Hopson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hopson with a couple of short strikes.
Hopson scoring with strikes but Akatsuki is staying in there.
Hopson scoring with strikes but Akatsuki is staying in there.
Hopson punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
BOOM! Hopson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hopson landing punches.
Akatsuki is in a horrible position here. Hopson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hopson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hopson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hopson landing strikes from the mount and Akatsuki is in trouble!
The referee warns Akatsuki that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hopson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hopson breaks from Akatsuki's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hopson lands with some strikes.
Hopson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hopson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hopson with good strikes from the mount here!
Hopson landing punches.
Akatsuki taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Akatsuki in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hopson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hopson raining down shots from the mount!
BOOM! Hopson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
BOOM! Hopson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hopson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hopson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Hopson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hopson goes for a double leg but Akatsuki avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Akatsuki continues to drive forward.
Akatsuki is looking for the big counter here.
Akatsuki gets underhooks to prevent Hopson's takedown attempt.
Hopson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Hopson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akatsuki gets underhooks to prevent Hopson's takedown attempt.
Hopson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akatsuki can do to turn this around?
Hopson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Akatsuki after a bit of a struggle.
Hopson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Akatsuki prevents it.
Akatsuki stops a takedown attempt from Hopson.
Akatsuki looking to slow down the pace here.
Akatsuki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hopson backwards.
Hopson can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopson tries for a takedown but Akatsuki manages to get underhooks.

Akatsuki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Akatsuki or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopson, which made it look bad.
Akatsuki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Akatsuki is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopson closes the distance and clinches up with Akatsuki, looking for a takedown. Hopson pushes Akatsuki against the cage but Akatsuki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Akatsuki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hopson misses with a takedown attempt
and Hopson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akatsuki throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hopson.
Hopson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Akatsuki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hopson shoots in and drives through. Akatsuki sprawls well.
Hopson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Akatsuki counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hopson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Akatsuki scores with a head kick.

Akatsuki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hopson to the ground. Akatsuki is now in Hopson's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hopson slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akatsuki is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hopson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Well, if Hopson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ground and pound from Hopson.
Hopson is trying to control. Akatsuki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Akatsuki is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hopson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hopson lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Hopson there.
Hopson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hopson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Akatsuki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hopson slips a nice elbow through Akatsuki's hands, connecting with Akatsuki's forehead.
Hopson working over Akatsuki with some ground and pound. Akatsuki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hopson trying to control the pace.
Hopson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hopson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hopson drops an elbow to the side of Akatsuki's head.
Hopson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Akatsuki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopson lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Hopson there.
Still in half guard, Hopson seems content to control.
Hopson working the head and body with strikes.
Hopson working over Akatsuki with some ground and pound. Akatsuki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hopson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hopson trying to control the pace.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hopson lands a nice short elbow.
Akatsuki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hopson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hopson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Akatsuki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopson working the head and body with strikes.
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!
Hopson working Akatsuki over with strikes.
Hopson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julian Hopson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hopson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hopson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hopson connects with a couple of short punches.
Hopson controlling from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hopson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hopson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Akatsuki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopson scoring with some ground and pound.
Hopson wants to control from the top but Akatsuki keeps moving.
Hopson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hopson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hopson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hopson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hopson is in close to Akatsuki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hopson stands up over Akatsuki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hopson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hopson stays in close to Akatsuki's body and controls the position.
Julian Hopson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hopson'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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopson gets the takedown into side control.
Hopson controlling the position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Hopson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Akatsuki for as long as he can get away with.
Aito Akatsuki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Hopson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hopson, 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:26
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Hopson!
Julian Hopson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.