PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brian Hopewell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Tyree (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hopewell
vs
Tyree

172 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Hopewell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Tyree!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tyree lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hopewell circles away quickly and effectively.
Hopewell misses with the combination.
Hopewell looks to land a combination but Tyree avoids it well.
Tyree moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rob Tyree seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tyree shoots in for a takedown but Hopewell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hopewell connects with a nice looking jab.
Tyree throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Hopewell counter with a right hand.

Hopewell gets caught flat footed, as Tyree shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tyree missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tyree throws and elbow that misses. Hopewell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tyree's guard. Nice move by Hopewell!
Hopewell tries to free his leg and advance position but Tyree is retaining full guard.
Tyree keeping moving, preventing Hopewell from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopewell prevents Tyree from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Tyree is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tyree wants to get back to his feet but Hopewell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hopewell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tyree tries for a takedown but Hopewell circles away easily
and Hopewell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hopewell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hopewell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tyree.
Brian Hopewell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Tyree.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tyree looks to clinch
and Hopewell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hopewell throws a nice looking combination but Tyree bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Tyree drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tyree trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopewell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tyree looks gassed!
Tyree is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopewell has wrist control.

Tyree has gone for a leg lock! Hopewell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tyree's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopewell wants to control from the top but Tyree keeps moving.
Tyree wants to sweep here but Hopewell controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyree not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hopewell trying to control but Tyree is working from the bottom.
Hopewell is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tyree is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tyree wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hopewell manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hopewell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tyree defends it well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tyree tries to clinch up
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Hopewell counters with a series of strikes. Tyree will be more careful next time no doubt.

Tyree drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hopewell defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tyree looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hopewell!
A nice elbow there by Tyree.
Tyree scoring with strikes but Hopewell is staying in there.
Hopewell tries to lock up and control but Tyree gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tyree raining down shots from the mount!
Tyree with shots to the head and body - Hopewell looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hopewell is desperately trying to improve his position but Tyree has a good base and remains in mount.
Tyree lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hopewell holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tyree tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tyree is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hopewell has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hopewell!
Tyree keeping moving, preventing Hopewell from controlling successfully.
Hopewell content to stall in guard here.
Hopewell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tyree for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hopewell wants to get up but he can't break Tyree's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Hopewell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hopewell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hopewell fails to land with a series of punches.
Tyree throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tyree throws a combination that misses

so Hopewell counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tyree controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell stopping the sweep attempt from Tyree.
Hopewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Tyree is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tyree preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopewell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tyree works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hopewell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tyree is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopewell is controlling him.
Hopewell trying to control but Tyree is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tyree doesn't manage to clinch there - Hopewell circles away.
Tyree tries to clinch but Hopewell moves out of range.
Tyree throws a series of punches but Hopewell avoids them all with ease.
Tyree moves in looking to clinch but Hopewell pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tyree.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brian Hopewell will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tyree moves in looking to clinch but Hopewell pushes him off.

Tyree changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hopewell looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tyree with the ground and pound but Hopewell regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Tyree not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hopewell is trying to maintain the position but Tyree is very close to passing his half guard.
Tyree sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hopewell defending well though.
Hopewell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tyree.
Tyree works his way into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyree working the strikes but Hopewell uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Tyree trying to control from Hopewell's half guard. Hopewell has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Tyree missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hopewell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tyree throws and elbow that misses. Hopewell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tyree's guard. Nice move by Hopewell!
Hopewell wants to control from the top but Tyree keeps moving.
Tyree really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hopewell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.
Hopewell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tyree is pulling down on Hopewell's head to control his posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tyree can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tyree wants to sweep here but Hopewell controlling him for the moment.
Tyree is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopewell is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell is stalling in the full guard.
Hopewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Tyree is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brian Hopewell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Hopewell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tyree wants to stand but Hopewell is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopewell swats away the attempt to clinch by Tyree.
Tyree misses with a takedown
and Tyree takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tyree shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tyree not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Tyree comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hopewell has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!