PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Hopp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavius Aetius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hopp
vs
Aetius

173 cm
22
178 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Hopp!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Flavius Aetius!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aetius lands with a slapping head kick.
Hopp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hopp throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aetius's waist but Aetius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopp off to one side.
Aetius misses with a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Hopp checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hopp blocks the body kick.

Aetius gets a clinch.
Hopp looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Hopp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopp tries for a takedown but Aetius manages to get underhooks.
Aetius tries for a takedown. No joy.

Aetius gets a trip takedown into half guard.
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.
Hopp pushes Aetius off looking to stand but Aetius dives back in and keeps control.
Hopp wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aetius is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Aetius is nestled in close to Hopp, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hopp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aetius.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aetius prevents Hopp from standing back up.
Aetius landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Aetius seems to be looking for submissions.
Hopp gets full guard.
Aetius trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aetius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aetius trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aetius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hopp looking for a guillotine here but Aetius defends easily.
Aetius postures up in Hopp's guard and throws a big left but Hopp blocks it.
Aetius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Aetius drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aetius jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aetius throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Aetius is looking to slow Hopp down with leg kicks.
Aetius tries for a takedown but Hopp circles away easily

and Hopp counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hopp.

Hopp manages to pull guard.

Hopp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aetius defends it easily.
Aetius distracts Hopp with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aetius works over Hopp with some ground and pound from guard.
Aetius is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopp has wrist control.
Hopp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Aetius is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopp pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Hopp looking for a guillotine from mount but Aetius is having none of it.
Hopp prevents Aetius from getting the reversal.
Aetius sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hopp is pressing down on Aetius's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aetius is holding on for now.
Aetius wants to control but Hopp is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aetius slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Aetius is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aetius is on top in guard.
Hopp throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Aetius thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aetius thows a big elbow that misses.

Hopp is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aetius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aetius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopp is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aetius trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aetius feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hopp's calf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavius Aetius dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aetius lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aetius is looking to chop away at Hopp's legs.
Aetius turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Aetius lands a head kick!

Aetius gets the takedown into side control.
Aetius lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hopp down.
Hopp tries to improve position but can't.

Aetius is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hopp has escaped the position, nice work there.

Aetius tries for a kimura but Hopp is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopp takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aetius tries to score with some ground and pound. Hopp controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Aetius thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aetius is breathing heavily.
Hopp manages to get back to half guard.
Hopp is pressing down on Aetius's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hopp lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Hopp tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Aetius drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hopp manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aetius has Hopp in his guard.
Hopp postures up in Aetius's guard and throws a big left but Aetius blocks it.
Hopp chips away with some ground and pound.
Aetius manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopp manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aetius landing some decent shots from guard.

Hopp working for a triangle but Aetius defends it easily.
Aetius is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Aetius stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Hopp throws up his legs and catches Aetius in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Aetius tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Hopp! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Michael Hopp!
Michael Hopp retains his welterweight title!