PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Mashburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mashburn
vs
Hopkins

173 cm
26
212 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tommy Mashburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins fails to land the takedown.

Hopkins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mashburn is looking to control Hopkins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mashburn avoid being mounted?

Hopkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mashburn is just riding it out for now. Hopkins eventually gives up the hold.
Mashburn is looking for a sweep. Hopkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins is keen to just control but Mashburn is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins stalling.
Mashburn is looking for a sweep. Hopkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mashburn keeps working.
Mashburn on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mashburn tries to get out of the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ben Hopkins hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Mashburn drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mashburn taking a break here but Hopkins is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins manages to get to full guard.
Mashburn is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Mashburn from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mashburn manages to get himself to full guard.

Mashburn uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Mashburn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mashburn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hopkins working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mashburn wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Hopkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mashburn is one step ahead there.
Mashburn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

and Hopkins counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hopkins prevents Mashburn from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Hopkins dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Some wild striking there from Mashburn.
Horrible takedown by Mashburn or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopkins which made him look bad.

Mashburn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hopkins's guard.
Mashburn 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.
Mashburn stops Hopkins from standing up.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Mashburn is proving a slippery customer.
Mashburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tommy Mashburn.
Hopkins misses with a takedown attempt

and Mashburn counters with a single leg into guard. Hopkins didn't expect that.
Mashburn trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Mashburn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mashburn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Mashburn from controlling successfully.
Mashburn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control the position.
Mashburn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mashburn throwing strikes but missing.
Hopkins controls Mashburn momentarily but Mashburn frees himself.
Mashburn stays in close to Hopkins's body and controls the position.

Tommy Mashburn has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Mashburn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopkins tries to avoid it but Mashburn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopkins to the ground. Hopkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mashburn shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hopkins is trying to maintain the position but Mashburn is very close to passing his half guard.
Mashburn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hopkins moves into full guard.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Mashburn is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins keeping full guard, as Mashburn tries to pass.
Mashburn trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Mashburn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tommy Mashburn wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Mashburn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hopkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Mashburn dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hopkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mashburn counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hopkins's guard now.
Mashburn sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Mashburn stands and steps away. Hopkins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mashburn fails to land the takedown.
Hopkins has his takedown stuffed

and Mashburn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mashburn.
Hopkins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mashburn walks away with a smile on his face. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tommy Mashburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a takedown attempt

and Mashburn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hopkins's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mashburn is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashburn looking to sit in guard and control but Hopkins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hopkins won't allow Mashburn to sweep him here.
Mashburn is working hard here to advance position.
Hopkins trying to control but Mashburn is working from the bottom.

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.
Hopkins looking to sit in guard and control but Mashburn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mashburnis looking to pass into half guard but Hopkins pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hopkins is in guard.
Hopkins preventing the sweep.
Tommy Mashburn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashburn looking to control.
Mashburn is pulling down on Hopkins's head to control his posture.
Hopkins is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mashburn decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hopkins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mashburn's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mashburn's back!
Mashburn is keeping busy.

Hopkins looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Mashburn taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ben Hopkins!