PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Hopp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Stevenson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Stevenson
vs
Hopp

175 cm
21
182 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

173 cm
21
178 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Hopp!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Hopp shows good takedown defense.

Hopp shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stevenson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hopp wants to control but Stevenson is keeping him busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stevenson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hopp is trying to control the action in half guard but Stevenson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevenson pushes Hopp off but Hopp dives into side control.
Stevenson tries to buck Hopp off but Hopp is having none of it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
An elbow from Hopp crashes against the mat.
Hopp trying to control the position but Stevenson is working away.
Stevenson tries to buck Hopp off but Hopp is having none of it.

Hopp is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stevenson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hopp tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hopp has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stevenson is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopp looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stevenson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevenson wants to get back to his feet but Hopp drags him back down.
Stevenson can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hopp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson misses with a straight left.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Hopp circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the body.

That's two 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.
Hopp looks for a takedown but Stevenson sprawls well.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hopp shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson shows good takedown defense.
Stevenson works over Hopp's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Michael Hopp has been cut.

Stevenson gets a clinch.
Stevenson working Hopp over with knees to the body.
Hopp drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stevenson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Joseph Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hopp.
Stevenson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab from Stevenson finds it's way through Hopp's defenses.
Stevenson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hopp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hopp shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson shows good takedown defense.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt

and Hopp counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Hopp 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.
Hopp uses his free foot to push down on Stevenson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hopp with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Stevenson wants to control but Hopp is having none of it.
Stevenson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hopp trying to pass the guard but Stevenson defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep. Hopp is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopp scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stevenson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Hopp from controlling successfully.
Stevenson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hopp lands a couple of digs.
Hopp passes Stevenson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hopp wants to take a breather but Stevenson is having none of it.
Hopp prevents Stevenson from improving his position.

Hopp is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson is pressing down on Hopp's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joseph Stevenson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Hopp's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hopp shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevenson tries to sprawl out of it but Hopp keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stevenson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevenson slaps away a takedown attempt from Hopp, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stevenson misses with a series of wild punches.
Stevenson misses with a jab to the body

and Hopp counters with a single leg into guard. Stevenson didn't expect that.
Stevenson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevenson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hopp manages to pass to side control.

Stevenson actively working from the bottom here.
Stevenson is trying to stand back up but Hopp is controlling him
Hopp trying to control from half guard but Stevenson is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopp tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stevenson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Stevenson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Hopp wants to work for an arm triangle but Stevenson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevenson looks to land a right hand but Hopp moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Stevenson.
Hopp avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevenson misses with a wild body shot.
No luck for Hopp with that takedown attempt.
Joseph Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hopp.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stevenson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hopp counters with a single leg into guard. Stevenson didn't expect that.
Stevenson trying to keep a closed guard but Hopp is proving a slippery customer.

Hopp thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hopp tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevenson is retaining full guard.
Stevenson trying to strike off his back.
Hopp trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Hopp is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopp.
Hopp slips a jab and a cross from Stevenson.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown attempt from Hopp. Hopp gets slowly back to his feet.

Hopp decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Hopp has control of the leg.
Hopp lands strikes from half guard.
Hopp is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hopp lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Stevenson is squirming around, avoiding Hopp's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stevenson is squirming around, avoiding Hopp's attempts to control the action.
Hopp is landing with some decent strikes but Stevenson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stevenson tries to lock up and control but Hopp gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hopp looking to control but Stevenson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Hopp throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Stevenson has his hands clasped together but Hopp breaks the hold and Stevenson is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Hopp!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Hopp!