PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brian Hopewell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Winkletoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopewell
vs
Winkletoe

172 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

176 cm
27
156 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Brian Hopewell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Winkletoe!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopewell drives through with a takedown into guard.

Winkletoe looking for a guillotine here but Hopewell defends easily.
Hopewell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Winkletoe working a defensive guard here.
Hopewell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hopewell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Winkletoe tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Winkletoe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hopewell defends well.

Winkletoe working for a triangle but Hopewell defends it easily.
Hopewell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Winkletoe's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopewell wants to pass the guard but Winkletoe is keeping the position.
Hopewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Winkletoe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winkletoe manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Winkletoe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hopewell can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Winkletoe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Winkletoe lands with some strikes.
Hopewell wants to control but Winkletoe is having none of it.
Winkletoe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hopewell looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winkletoe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hopewell can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Winkletoe lands a big shot there that rocks Hopewell but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Winkletoe lands with some strikes.
Winkletoe pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Winkletoe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Winkletoe wants to finish this one by submission but Hopewell is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Winkletoe.

Winkletoe working for a guillotine from mount but Hopewell is in no mood to give up.
Winkletoe in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hopewell working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winkletoe unloading with bombs!
Hopewell is in a horrible position here. Winkletoe smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Winkletoe lands a big shot there that rocks Hopewell but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Winkletoe is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hopewell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Winkletoe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Winkletoe is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hopewell has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hopewell!

Winkletoe is looking for a triangle but Hopewell pushes his legs off easily.
Winkletoe looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell wants to control from the top but Winkletoe keeps moving.

Winkletoe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopewell defends it easily.
Winkletoe 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.
Hopewell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Winkletoe's guard.
Hopewell trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopewell tries to free his leg and advance position but Winkletoe is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Winkletoe 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.

Winkletoe closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Winkletoe lands in his opponent's guard.
Winkletoe slips nicely into half guard.
Hopewell tries to roll over but Winkletoe keeps him under control.
Winkletoe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Winkletoe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Winkletoe working Hopewell over with strikes.
Winkletoe has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hopewell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Winkletoe has hold of Hopewell's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hopewell manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Winkletoe lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopewell squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Winkletoe goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hopewell is on top in guard.
Winkletoe is breathing heavily.

Winkletoe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Winkletoe wants to get back to his feet but Hopewell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Hopewell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Winkletoe dives on top into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Winkletoe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Winkletoe preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winkletoe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopewell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Winkletoe lands a couple of elbows.
Winkletoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopewell has wrist control.
Winkletoe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Winkletoe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Winkletoe is in close to Hopewell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Winkletoe tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopewell is retaining full guard.

Hopewell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hopewell keeping moving, preventing Winkletoe from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winkletoe pushes down on Hopewell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hopewell tries to kick Winkletoe off but Winkletoe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hopewell is looking to control Winkletoe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopewell avoid being mounted?

Winkletoe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hopewell trying to control but Winkletoe postures up.
Hopewell tries to roll over but Winkletoe keeps him under control.
Hopewell is looking to escape.

That's four 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.
Winkletoe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Winkletoe slows the pace down in half guard.
Hopewell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hopewell wants to improve his position but Winkletoe is controlling well.
Winkletoe is trying to control. Hopewell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hopewell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Winkletoe.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Winkletoe lands a nice short elbow.
Hopewell tries to roll over but Winkletoe keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Winkletoe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Winkletoe 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.
Winkletoe passes Hopewell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Winkletoe wants to free his trapped foot but Hopewell is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Winkletoe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hopewell sees it coming and defends easily.
Winkletoe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hopewell defending well though.
Tom Winkletoe has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hopewell is trying to stand.
Hopewell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Winkletoe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopewell is keeping the position for now.
Hopewell keeping moving, preventing Winkletoe from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopewell trying to control the position.
Winkletoe lands a couple of digs.
Hopewell keeping moving, preventing Winkletoe from controlling successfully.
Hopewell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Winkletoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopewell has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hopewell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hopewell fails with the takedown

and Winkletoe counters with a single leg into guard. Hopewell didn't expect that.
Winkletoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopewell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winkletoe is in close to Hopewell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Winkletoe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Winkletoe tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopewell is retaining full guard.
Hopewell looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopewell, not yet.
Winkletoe lands a couple of digs.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopewell keeping moving, preventing Winkletoe from controlling successfully.
Hopewell can't keep his opponent in guard - Winkletoe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Winkletoe working over Hopewell with some ground and pound. Hopewell looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Winkletoe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hopewell gets back to full guard.
Hopewell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winkletoe tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopewell is retaining full guard.
Winkletoe is pushing down on Hopewell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hopewell is fighting to maintain full guard but Winkletoe has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winkletoe is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Winkletoe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Winkletoe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Winkletoe there.
Hopewell is looking to control Winkletoe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopewell avoid being mounted?
Winkletoe passes the guard and advances to mount!
Winkletoe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Winkletoe looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Winkletoe lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Winkletoe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Winkletoe 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Winkletoe!