PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Cerruti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Hopler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopler has chosen Bodies (Let the Bodies Hit the Floor) as his entrance music. Lucas Cerruti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cerruti
vs
Hopler

188 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

196 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lucas Cerruti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sammy Hopler!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cerruti throws a head kick that misses.

Hopler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cerruti working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cerruti can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hopler controls the pace.
Cerruti manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopler manages to get himself to full guard.
Cerruti seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cerruti trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hopler wriggles free and stands up.
Cerruti wants to clinch.
Cerruti fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopler closes the distance and pushes Cerruti back into the cage.
Hopler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cerruti walks away with a smile on his face. Hopler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hopler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hopler takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hopler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cerruti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hopler raining down shots from the mount!
Cerruti is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Hopler goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cerruti turns into him and now he's in Hopler's guard.
Hopler looks gassed!
Hopler has Cerruti pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerruti is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cerruti forces his way into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cerruti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hopler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hopler wants to get back to his feet.
Hopler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cerruti.
Cerruti is looking to take a break and control but Hopler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopler trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Cerruti manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cerruti controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerruti trying to control but Hopler is having none of it.
Hopler tries to reverse the position but Cerruti maintains control.
Cerruti trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hopler is working to get back to half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cerruti trying to control but Hopler is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerruti lands a big elbow.
Cerruti trying to control but Hopler is having none of it.
Cerruti looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lucas Cerruti will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cerruti looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hopler is fending him off so far but Cerruti persists. Nope, Hopler circles away and we're back to standing.
Cerruti shoots in but Hopler avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Hopler pushes Cerruti up against the cage in a clinch.

Hopler decides to pull guard.
Cerruti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hopler keeping full guard, as Cerruti tries to pass.
Cerruti trying to control but Hopler is working from the bottom.
Hopler wants to stand up but Cerruti is controlling him.
Cerruti pushes down on Hopler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerruti seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hopler is trying to stand.
Hopler misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cerruti is controlling the pace.
Cerruti wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hopler keeps working.
Cerruti trying to control the pace.
Hopler controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Lucas Cerruti wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cerruti shoots for a double leg takedown but Hopler sprawls well. He's pushed Cerruti's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Cerruti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cerruti gets a double leg takedown into Hopler's guard.
Cerruti preventing the sweep.
Hopler controlling the position.
Hopler is trying to keep Cerruti in close.

Hopler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hopler is looking for a triangle here but Cerruti uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopler is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hopler is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cerruti's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hopler tries to kick Cerruti off but Cerruti keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cerruti is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cerruti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerruti is keen to just control but Hopler is a slippery customer.
Cerruti tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hopler is refusing to be controlled, as Cerruti sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lucas Cerruti.
Hopler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cerruti tries to avoid it but Hopler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cerruti to the ground. Cerruti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cerruti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hopler closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cerruti's guard.
Lucas Cerruti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cerruti wants to stand and escape but Hopler is having none of it.

Cerruti manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cerruti as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucas Cerruti will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cerruti lands with a kick to the ribs.

Hopler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cerruti is looking to reverse the position.
Cerruti is letting Hopler control him for a moment.
Cerruti wants to control but Hopler postures up.
Hopler landing strikes.

Hopler decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cerruti to his feet.

Cerruti closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cerruti trying to control the position but Hopler is working away.
Hopler is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cerruti decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hopler to his feet.
A head kick misses from Cerruti.
Cerruti fails with the takedown.

Hopler rushes Cerruti and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hopler breaks the clinch.
Hopler swinging wildly here.
A head kick misses from Cerruti.

Hopler drives through and clinches with Cerruti against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cerruti just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cerruti is trying to break free.
Hopler slows down the pace here.
Cerruti tries to circle away but Hopler has him pinned against the cage.
Cerruti tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hopler smiles and moves away.
Hopler moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cerruti misses with a takedown attempt

and Hopler counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Cerruti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cerruti blocks a body shot from Hopler.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopler has Cerruti pressed against the cage.
Hopler fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerruti fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cerruti letting Hopler take a breather here.
The crowd are getting on Hopler's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Cerruti is trying to break the clinch but Hopler has him pressed against the cage.
Hopler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cerruti is trying to push Hopler away but Hopler has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hopler tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hopler prevents a takedown attempt there.

Hopler breaks from the clinch.
No luck for Hopler with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopler looks for a takedown but Cerruti sprawls well.
Hopler blocks a head kick by Cerruti.

Hopler forces Cerruti back against the cage and clinches.
Hopler trying to stall but Cerruti improves his position.
Hopler working aggressively here.

Hopler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cerruti scores with a jab.
Cerruti misses with a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cerruti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cerruti gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hopler to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hopler thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammy Hopler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cerruti has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Cerruti!