PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zane Trusdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Hopewell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Hopewell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Trusdale
vs
Hopewell

167 cm
21
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Fight Club Clothing™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Zane Trusdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Brian Hopewell!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopewell lands the left hand.

Hopewell drives through and clinches with Trusdale against the cage.
Hopewell tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hopewell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hopewell throws a right hand that Trusdale ducks under and follows up with a left that Trusdale also avoids with ease.
Trusdale fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Hopewell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Trusdale to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hopewell trying to control the position.
Trusdale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Trusdale prevents Hopewell from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopewell wants to sweep here but Trusdale controlling him for the moment.
Trusdale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Trusdale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hopewell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopewell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Trusdale works over Hopewell with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopewell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Trusdale looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Trusdale closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Trusdale working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hopewell is trying to improve his position.
Trusdale working away.
Hopewell might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Trusdale kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hopewell is looking for a sweep.
Trusdale is looking to take a break and control but Hopewell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Trusdale lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hopewell down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hopewell's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hopewell duly obliges.
Trusdale is breathing heavily.
Trusdale shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zane Trusdale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopewell moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hopewell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hopewell closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hopewell lands in his opponent's guard.

Hopewell has gone for a leg lock! Trusdale slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hopewell's guard.
Trusdale stopping the sweep attempt from Hopewell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopewell has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Trusdale off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Horrible takedown by Trusdale or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopewell which made him look bad.

Hopewell rushes Trusdale and presses him up against the cage.
Trusdale tries to break the clinch but Hopewell is controlling the position.
Hopewell jumps guard but Trusdale stands there with Hopewell around his waist. Hopewell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hopewell decides to pull guard.
Hopewell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Hopewell is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Trusdale to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Trusdale shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell landing strikes from the mount and Trusdale is in trouble!

Hopewell is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Hopewell has managed to clinch.
Hopewell is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hopewell jumps guard but Trusdale stands there with Hopewell around his waist. Hopewell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hopewell jumps guard but Trusdale stands there with Hopewell around his waist. Hopewell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Trusdale is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hopewell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Hopewell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hopewell!
Hopewell lands with a nice combination. Trusdale backs away looking to recover.
Trusdale shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopewell but Hopewell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Trusdale shoots and misses
and Hopewell counters with a series of strikes. Trusdale will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hopewell scores with a one two! Trusdale had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Danga de danga de dang - Hopewell scores with a four punch combination!
Hopewell closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hopewell tries to clinch but Trusdale moves out of range.
Hopewell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hopewell.
Hopewell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hopewell.
Hopewell wants to clinch up but Trusdale keeps it at a distance.
Hopewell throws a one two combo.

Hopewell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hopewell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Trusdale walks away with a smile on his face. Hopewell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopewell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hopewell tries to clinch but Trusdale moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopewell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A right-left combo lands from Hopewell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trusdale tries a head kick but it misses.

Hopewell closes the distance and clinches.
Hopewell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hopewell digs a right hand into Trusdale's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Trusdale's gas tank.

Hopewell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hopewell scores with a one two! Trusdale had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hopewell is working the combinations to good effect here.
Hopewell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hopewell fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hopewell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Trusdale is trying to stand.
Hopewell is taking a breather. Trusdale says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hopewell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Trusdale keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell wants to free his trapped foot but Trusdale is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hopewell seems to be working for a kimura but Trusdale defends the submission attempt.
Trusdale is refusing to be controlled, as Hopewell sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hopewell works over Trusdale's head and body with a nice combination.
Hopewell tries to clinch up.
A nice combination there by Hopewell.
Hopewell tries to clinch but Trusdale is having none of it.

Hopewell closes the distance and pushes Trusdale back into the cage.

Hopewell manages to break the clinch.
Brian Hopewell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopewell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hopewell scores with a one two! Trusdale had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Trusdale takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Hopewell closes the distance and pushes Trusdale back into the cage.
Hopewell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hopewell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopewell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hopewell gets a takedown into half guard.

Hopewell stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Trusdale to get to his feet.

Hopewell pushes Trusdale up against the cage in a clinch.
Hopewell working hard to break the clinch.

Hopewell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopewell thumps Trusdale with a low kick.

Hopewell rushes Trusdale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hopewell working hard to break the clinch.
Trusdale wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hopewell has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Hopewell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Trusdale takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hopewell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Trusdale dives in and grabs Hopewell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hopewell pushes down on Trusdale's head and hops out.
Hopewell moves in looking to clinch but Trusdale pushes him off.
Hopewell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Hopewell clinches with his opponent.
Hopewell avoids the elbow strike from Trusdale, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Trusdale tries to break the clinch but Hopewell is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trusdale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hopewell.
Hopewell fails to pull guard.
Trusdale wants to break free but Hopewell has control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopewell tries to pull guard but Trusdale won't allow it.
Zane Trusdale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Hopewell.
Hopewell blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopewell manages to pull guard.

Hopewell working for a triangle but Trusdale defends it easily.

Hopewell is looking for a triangle but Trusdale pushes his legs off easily.
Hopewell keeping full guard, as Trusdale tries to pass.
Hopewell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Trusdale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hopewell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Trusdale's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trusdale keeping moving, preventing Hopewell from controlling successfully.
Hopewell passes Trusdale's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Trusdale wants to get back to his feet.

Hopewell is looking for a kimura but Trusdale is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hopewell to get the leverage.
Hopewell wants to control but Trusdale is keeping him busy.
Trusdale blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hopewell.
Brian Hopewell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell tries to stand and escape but Trusdale is controlling the position.
Trusdale looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hopewell is trying to control the action in half guard but Trusdale is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hopewell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hopewell wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Hopewell darts in and clinches Trusdale up against the cage.
Hopewell scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Trusdale prevents Hopewell from breaking the clinch.

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.
Hopewell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hopewell tries to pull guard but Trusdale won't allow it.
Trusdale tries to break the clinch but Hopewell is controlling the position.
Hopewell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Trusdale gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopewell keeps control of Trusdale as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Hopewell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hopewell 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 26:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Hopewell!