PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apachi Hopachi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pesho Talpata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apachi Hopachi has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hopachi
vs
Talpata

195 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
20
221 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Apachi Hopachi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pesho Talpata!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopachi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Talpata to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Talpata postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hopachi wants to sweep here but Talpata controlling him for the moment.
Talpata prevents Hopachi from getting back to his feet.
Talpata connects with a couple of short punches.
Talpata scoring with some ground and pound.
Hopachi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Talpata on the ground.
Talpata is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopachi has wrist control.
Talpata stands up over Hopachi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talpata not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Talpata landing some decent shots from guard.
Talpata missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Talpata trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopachi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Talpata postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hopachi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Talpata connects with a couple of short punches.
Hopachi wants to stand but Talpata is controlling the position.
Hopachi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Talpata content to stall in guard here.
Talpata trying to control but Hopachi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talpata is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopachi has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talpata postures up.
Talpata is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopachi has wrist control.
Talpata wants to control from the top but Hopachi keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hopachi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Talpata closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Apachi Hopachi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Talpata getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Talpata throws a series of strikes that have Hopachi backpedaling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopachi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Talpata shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Talpata controlling the pace for now.
Talpata scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hopachi?
Hopachi avoids a series of strikes thrown by Talpata.
Talpata working the ground and pound effectively.

It looks like Apachi Hopachi has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Talpata tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pesho Talpata dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Apachi Hopachi's cut.
That's time! Hopachi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Talpata scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hopachi tries to clinch up but Talpata circles away and keeps his distance.

Talpata bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Talpata are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Talpata creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hopachi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hopachi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Talpata wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pesho Talpata has got the better of the ground game so far.
Talpata wants to control but Hopachi is keeping him busy.
Hopachi on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Talpata landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopachi avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Talpata.
Hopachi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hopachi tries to get out of the position.
Talpata controls the position.
Hopachi is looking for a sweep.
Talpata is looking to take a break and control but Hopachi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Talpata tries to score with some ground and pound. Hopachi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Talpata throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Talpata postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Talpata cracks a nice hook into Hopachi's ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Talpata swings for the body but Hopachi moves out of range.
Talpata goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hopachi wants to clinch.

Talpata closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hopachi did well to prevent Talpata getting side control.
Talpata sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hopachi defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talpata scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Talpata lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Talpata has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Talpata with shots to the head and body - Hopachi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Talpata scoring with strikes but Hopachi is staying in there.
Hopachi is squirming around, avoiding Talpata's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talpata scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Talpata controlling from mount.
Hopachi is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Talpata with shots to the head and body - Hopachi looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pesho Talpata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Apachi Hopachi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Talpata shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hopachi is trying to defend but Talpata finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Talpata thows a huge punch but Hopachi dodges it nicely.
Talpata is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Talpata not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nice strikes from Talpata there.
Talpata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talpata thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hopachi's head.
Talpata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Talpata not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hopachi is trying to control but can't.
Talpata 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.
Talpata thows a huge punch but Hopachi dodges it nicely.
Talpata is keen to just control but Hopachi is a slippery customer.
Talpata is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Talpata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopachi tries to get to full guard but Talpata has control of the leg.
Talpata is nestled in close to Hopachi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Talpata connects with a nice short shot to Hopachi's temple.
Talpata lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Well, if Talpata is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talpata not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Talpata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Talpata drops an elbow to the side of Hopachi's head.
Hopachi is trying to stand.
Hopachi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Talpata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Talpata drops an elbow to the side of Hopachi's head.
Pesho Talpata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Talpata content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pesho Talpata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Talpata 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 25:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 25:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pesho Talpata!