PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brad Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dawson Hopkins (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.

Tavares
vs
Hopkins

186 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brad Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dawson Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Tavares, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tavares shoots for a takedown but Hopkins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hopkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hopkins wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Tavares, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A jab from Hopkins does it's job there.
Hopkins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Dawson Hopkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tavares.
Tavares shoots in but no luck this time.
Hopkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hopkins wants it to stay on the feet.
Tavares changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopkins tries to avoid it but Tavares manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopkins to the ground. Hopkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hopkins connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hopkins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Tavares dives in and grabs Hopkins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hopkins pushes down on Tavares's head and hops out.
Hopkins defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tavares.
Hopkins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hopkins bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tavares fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tavares closes the distance and clinches up with Hopkins, looking for a takedown. Tavares pushes Hopkins against the cage but Hopkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tavares fails to land the takedown.
Tavares fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four 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.
Horrible takedown by Tavares or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopkins which made him look bad.
Hopkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Tavares, before circling back to the center of the mat.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Tavares. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Tavares on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hopkins lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tavares will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tavares fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins avoids it really well and circles away.
Hopkins with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares closes the distance and clinches up with Hopkins, looking for a takedown. Tavares pushes Hopkins against the cage but Hopkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Hopkins. No joy for Tavares on that attempt.
Hopkins clobbers Tavares with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hopkins as he jumps to the side.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins drops Tavares with a beautiful combination! Tavares stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Hopkins is looking for the KO!
Tavares shoots in looking for a takedown. Hopkins tries to sprawl out of it but Tavares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hopkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tavares misses with a takedown attempt - Hopkins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tavares.
Tavares ducks right into an uppercut from Hopkins.
Hopkins uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tavares has time to react.

Tavares feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tavares advances position into side control!
Hopkins wants to get back to his feet but Tavares drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Tavares trying to control the action but Hopkins is working from the bottom.

Tavares tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tavares prevents Hopkins from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dawson Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tavares fails with a takedown attempt.
Tavares shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hopkins defends it nicely.
Tavares shoots in and drives through. Hopkins sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hopkins might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins avoids it really well and circles away.
Tavares shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hopkins as he jumps to the side.
Nice body punch from Hopkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tavares tries for a takedown but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tavares changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopkins tries to avoid it but Tavares manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopkins to the ground. Hopkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dawson Hopkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horrible takedown by Tavares or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopkins which made him look bad.
Hopkins scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the body.
Horrible takedown by Tavares or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopkins which made him look bad.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the head.
Tavares looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Hopkins catches Tavares right on the button with a cross.
A left lands for Hopkins.
Hopkins connects with a jab.
Hopkins connects with a right hand. Tavares shakes it off.
Tavares fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dawson Hopkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hopkins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dawson Hopkins!