PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Cerrano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Hopp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cerrano
vs
Hopp

182 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
178 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pedro Cerrano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Hopp!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cerrano with a poor takedown

and Hopp counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hopp trying to control from half guard but Cerrano is working away.

Hopp is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cerrano has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hopp is stalling here. Cerrano is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hopp seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cerrano has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hopp tries to buck Cerrano off but Cerrano is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cerrano tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hopp gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hopp gets back to full guard.
Cerrano trying to control but Hopp is working from the bottom.
Hopp trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Hopp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cerrano defends it easily.
Cerrano slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cerrano throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hopp striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Hopp gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hopp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cerrano.

Cerrano is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hopp has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cerrano is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hopp has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hopp wants to get back to full guard.

Hopp actively working from the bottom here.
Hopp trying to hold on to Cerrano's head to control him but Cerrano postures up.
Cerrano is keen to just control but Hopp is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrano is pressing down on Hopp's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hopp is holding on for now.
Cerrano trying to control the action but Hopp is working from the bottom.
Hopp manages to get to full guard.
Cerrano trying to control but Hopp is working from the bottom.
Hopp trying to keep a closed guard but Cerrano is proving a slippery customer.

Cerrano thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Cerrano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hopp has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cerrano has managed to get both his arms back between Hopp's legs - danger averted.
Hopp tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Cerrano throws a big right hand that misses.

Hopp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cerrano defends it easily.
Cerrano is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopp has wrist control.
Hopp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cerrano tries to hold on but Hopp pushes him away.
Cerrano tries to reverse the position but Hopp maintains control.
Cerrano gets back to half guard.
Hopp tries to pass to full mount but Cerrano defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Hopp dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cerrano misses with an uppercut.
Cerrano fails with the takedown

and Hopp counters with a takedown into side control.
Hopp cracks Cerrano with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Hopp tries for a kimura but Cerrano is defending well.

Hopp thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cerrano is not content to let Hopp control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrano is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hopp off and has taken his back!

Cerrano is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Hopp tries to roll but Cerrano sticks to his back.
Cerrano is not going to allow Hopp to sit and survive in this position.
Cerrano trying to control momentarily.
Hopp manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cerrano's guard. Nice work there by Hopp.

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.
Hopp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cerrano looking for a sweep. Not yet Cerrano, not yet.
Hopp wants to control from the top but Cerrano keeps moving.
Hopp thows a big elbow that misses.

Hopp drops back looking for a leg! Cerrano is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cerrano manages to kick Hopp off! Hopp jumps back into Cerrano's guard.
Cerrano is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopp trying to control the position from guard on top but Cerrano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopp postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Cerrano has his foot on Hopp's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hopp works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopp is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cerrano wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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.
Hopp trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Michael Hopp has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopp trying to control the position from guard on top but Cerrano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hopp slips nicely into half guard.

Hopp is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cerrano is just riding it out for now. Hopp eventually gives up the hold.
Hopp tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cerrano knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Hopp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hopp drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hopp trying to control the position from guard on top but Cerrano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopp working some strikes from top position.
Hopp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cerrano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cerrano working a defensive guard here.
Cerrano wants to stand but Hopp is controlling the position.
Hopp postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrano keeping moving, preventing Hopp from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pedro Cerrano.

Hopp shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cerrano's guard.
Hopp scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hopp throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopp with a nice head shot there.
Hopp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cerrano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopp thows a big elbow that misses.
Cerrano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopp stands up over Cerrano, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cerrano keeping moving, preventing Hopp from controlling successfully.
Hopp controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hopp scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrano is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hopp is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pedro Cerrano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hopp in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cerrano keeping moving, preventing Hopp from controlling successfully.
Hopp is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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.
Hopp wants to pass the guard but Cerrano is keeping the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hopp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cerrano keeping full guard, as Hopp tries to pass.
Hopp makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hopp wants to control from the top but Cerrano keeps moving.
Hopp advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Hopp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hopp 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight for Michael Hopp!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Michael Hopp!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Michael Hopp!

Michael Hopp wins by unanimous decision!