PBP Commentary

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

Hopkins
vs
Tard

200 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fard Tard!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Hopkins or perhaps it was just good defense by Tard which made him look bad.
No luck for Hopkins with that takedown attempt.

Tard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Tard controlling him for the moment.
Hopkins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Tard from controlling successfully.
Hopkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hopkins has his takedown stuffed

and Tard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hopkins's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tard.
Tard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopkins's head.
Tard won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.
Tard stays in close to Hopkins's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Tard from controlling successfully.
Tard stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
Tard chips away with some ground and pound.
Tard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hopkins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hopkins tries to get out of the position.
Tard trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Hopkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hopkins is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Tard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.
Tard tries to control but Hopkins wriggling away.
Hopkins tries to reverse the position but Tard maintains control.
Tard working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hopkins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tard tries to control but Hopkins wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tard working Hopkins over with strikes here.
Tard dominating with strikes here.
Tard landing strikes from the mount and Hopkins is in trouble!
Tard landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tard scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hopkins?
A nice elbow there by Tard.
Hopkins bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hopkins throws and elbow that misses. Tard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hopkins's guard. Nice move by Tard!
Tard works over Hopkins with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tard wants to pass the guard but Hopkins is keeping the position.
Tard postures up and lands a big shot to Hopkins's brow.
Hopkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hopkins breaks from Tard's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tard is bucking up trying to escape but Hopkins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tard is desperately trying to improve his position but Hopkins has a good base and remains in mount.
Tard is in a horrible position here. Hopkins smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hopkins raining down shots from the mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tard blocking the ground and pound.
Tard manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fard Tard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Tard circles away easily

and Tard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tard prevents the takedown attempt.

Tard gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Tard lands with a punch from half guard.
Hopkins is looking for a sweep. Tard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hopkins.
Tard postures up and lands a big shot to Hopkins's brow.
Tard wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Tard stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tard advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tard 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.
Tard is looking to take a break and control but Hopkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fard Tard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopkins gets full guard.
Tard pushing down on Hopkins's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Tard has control of the leg.
Tard is controlling the pace.
Tard is keen to just control but Hopkins is a slippery customer.
Tard slips a nice elbow through Hopkins's hands, connecting with Hopkins's forehead.
Hopkins is pressing down on Tard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tard landing some decent shots from guard.
Hopkins lands some strikes from the bottom.
Tard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tard trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Tard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tard preventing the sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hopkins with a poor takedown

and Tard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hopkins's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopkins's head.
Tard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tard wants to pass the guard but Hopkins is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tard throwing strikes but missing.
Hopkins with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Tard can't handle though.
Hopkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tard won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopkins has his takedown stuffed

and Tard counters with a takedown into side control.
Tard wants to control but Hopkins is keeping him busy.
Hopkins manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hopkins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tard's back!
Hopkins connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Tard to escape the position.
Tard tries to escape but Hopkins has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Tard trying to control the hands but Hopkins won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tard is really stuck here.
Hopkins lands a shot to the head.

Tard is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Hopkins with a poor takedown

and Tard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hopkins won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tard prevents Hopkins from improving his position.
Tard throwing shots but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hopkins defending well though.
Tard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hopkins works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fard Tard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hopkins prevents Tard from standing back up.
Hopkins lands with a punch from half guard.
Hopkins working over Tard with some ground and pound. Tard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tard tries to kick Hopkins off but Hopkins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hopkins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tard is looking to improve his position.
Hopkins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tard is looking to control Hopkins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tard avoid being mounted?
Tard is looking for a sweep. Hopkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tard's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hopkins 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tard seems keen to control Hopkins's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins postures up and lands a big shot to Tard's brow.

Tard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hopkins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hopkins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hopkins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hopkins with a nice head shot there.
Tard wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hopkins doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tard counters with a shoot takedown. Hopkins fights it but they end up in guard.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Tard controlling him for the moment.
Fard Tard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tard trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hopkins kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hopkins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tard's guard.

Tard pushes Hopkins off and gets back to his feet.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Tard circles away easily

and Tard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hopkins's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Tard from controlling successfully.
Tard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hopkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tard is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tard wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tard's guard.
Tard is trying to control the position but Hopkins postures up.
Hopkins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Tard has his feet on Hopkins's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Hopkins with a poor takedown

and Tard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins is trying to drag Tard to the mat but Tard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hopkins is working for takedown but Tard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hopkins is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Tard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hopkins regains guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tard is one step ahead there.
Tard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tard stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
Tard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tard wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tard scoring with some ground and pound.
Tard trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnny Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hopkins throws a sloppy head kick

and Tard counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fard Tard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tard 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fard Tard!