PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tory Hopkins (ranked 1786 p4p, 1133 weight class) and ZaDarius Haden (ranked 259 p4p, 168 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Last Time That I Checc'd by Nipsey Hussle & YG. Haden has chosen Mot�rhead - Orgasmatron as his entrance music. ZaDarius Haden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopkins
vs
Haden

186 cm
33
205
16 - 13 - 1

198 cm
34
222
25 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Conquer

Sakura Style
Urban Fighter

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 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tory Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, ZaDarius Haden!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haden slips a jab from Hopkins.
Haden works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hopkins has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Primal Concrete Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Hopkins lands a body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Haden. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Haden.
Haden throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Haden.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hopkins misses with a body kick.
Haden scores with a hook.
Hopkins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Haden counters with a nice body shot.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haden slips a straight right by Hopkins.
Haden doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Haden scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopkins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haden scores with a jab. Hopkins acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hopkins throws out the jab.
Haden just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins misses with a low kick.
Jab from Haden.
Haden fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Hopkins wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The fighters circling - Haden throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haden is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.
It looked like Hopkins was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Haden.
Haden misses with a body shot.
Haden throws a right hand that misses
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like ZaDarius Haden has been cut.
Haden throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Hopkins dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Haden. That did some damage!

Haden looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hopkins!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is working to avoid the ground and pound but Haden connects with a decent elbow.
Haden wants to control but Hopkins is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haden passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hopkins!
Hopkins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Haden can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hopkins is looking to escape.
Haden punching from mount but Hopkins doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hopkins on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hopkins tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haden controlling from mount.
Hopkins reaches up and holds on to Haden to control the position.
Hopkins holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Haden tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Haden cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Haden is landing with some decent strikes but Hopkins is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Haden trying to control but Hopkins is having none of it.
Hopkins knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Haden on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hopkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hopkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Haden putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Haden tries to control but Hopkins wriggling away.
Hopkins taking shots to the head.
Haden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haden tries to control but Hopkins wriggling away.
Haden looking to finish with strikes here!
Hopkins is looking to improve his position but Haden isn't that keen on the idea.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

ZaDarius Haden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on ZaDarius Haden's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Haden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haden is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Haden dips to his left and cracks Hopkins with an uppercut!
Hopkins is looking to land body kicks.
Haden scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Haden tries to clinch but Hopkins is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Hopkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Haden closes the distance and clinches up with Hopkins, looking for a takedown. Haden pushes Hopkins against the cage but Hopkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Haden throws a hook but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins takes a swing at Haden's ribcage but misses.
Hopkins on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hopkins tries to move into range but Haden moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins takes a swing at Haden's ribcage but misses.
Haden misses with a body shot
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins throws a leg kick which misses Haden's front leg but catches the back leg as Haden tries to avoid it.

Haden shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Haden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hopkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Haden is one step ahead there.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Haden from controlling successfully.
Haden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hopkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Haden trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haden engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two 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.
Nice takedown defense from Hopkins. No joy for Haden on that attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Haden as he connects with a hook.
Haden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haden shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tory Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ZaDarius Haden.

Haden looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
ZaDarius Haden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Haden from controlling successfully.
Hopkins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hopkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haden working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Haden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hopkins pulls Haden in close to his closed guard and prevents Haden from doing any damage or advancing position.
Haden forces his way into half guard.
Haden scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hopkins wants to control but Haden is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Haden passes the guard and advances to mount!
Haden controlling the pace for now.
Hopkins wants to hold on but Haden pushes him away.
Haden controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haden trying to control but Hopkins is having none of it.
Hopkins wants to hold on but Haden pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haden ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Haden throws a good cross that connects.
Haden misses with a wild body shot.
Hopkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Hopkins swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Haden fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hopkins looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hopkins digs a good hook to Haden's body.
A low kick lands for Hopkins.
Haden tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hopkins defends well and Haden ends up having to push Hopkins into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Haden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins throws a leg kick but Haden checks it.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Haden moves away.
Haden connects with a body shot that sends Hopkins's belly button to the back.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Haden.
Hopkins looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Haden crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hopkins - the referee stops the clock and Haden gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hopkins. Haden manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Haden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Haden misses with a body shot.
Hopkins throws a leg kick which misses Haden's front leg but catches the back leg as Haden tries to avoid it.

Haden decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hopkins is concentrating on defense, preventing Haden from advancing position.
Hopkins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haden.
Haden trying to control the action but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Hopkins is trying to get back to full guard.
Tory Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hopkins is looking to improve his position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Haden working over Hopkins with some ground and pound. Hopkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Haden 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.
Hopkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Haden is working away from the top position though.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Haden has control of the leg.

Hopkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is looking to control Haden's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopkins avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Haden scores with a takedown into Hopkins's guard.
Haden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hopkins keeping full guard, as Haden tries to pass.
Haden sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Haden is pushing down on Hopkins's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hopkins is fighting to maintain full guard but Haden has managed to sneak the leg through.
Haden is pressing down on Hopkins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hopkins is holding on for now.
Nice strikes from Haden there.
ZaDarius Haden is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hopkins desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Haden wants to pass the guard but Hopkins is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
ZaDarius Haden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Haden 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ZaDarius Haden!
ZaDarius Haden bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.