PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Hoppen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shazaam McDaniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hoppen
vs
McDaniels

178 cm
20
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tim Hoppen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shazaam McDaniels!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDaniels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hoppen pinned against the cage. Hoppen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hoppen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hoppen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McDaniels moves in looking to clinch but Hoppen pushes him off.
Horrible takedown by McDaniels or perhaps it was just good defense by Hoppen which made him look bad.
Hoppen tries to bum rush McDaniels with a series of wild strikes but McDaniels uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hoppen stuffs the takedown.
Tim Hoppen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shazaam McDaniels.
Hoppen lands a jab.
Hoppen misses with the combination.
Hoppen misses with a double jab
and McDaniels counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hoppen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McDaniels.
McDaniels shoots in and drives through. Hoppen sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniels is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hoppen.
Hoppen missing with a left hand there. McDaniels was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hoppen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
No joy there for Hoppen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hoppen throws a combination that misses
and McDaniels counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McDaniels wants to clinch.
McDaniels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McDaniels displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice straight punches there by Hoppen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hoppen.
Hoppen throws a right and a left that McDaniels avoids nicely.
McDaniels fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hoppen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hoppen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoppen tries to bum rush McDaniels with a series of wild strikes but McDaniels uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McDaniels moves in looking to clinch but Hoppen pushes him off.
Hoppen misses with a few strikes there.
Hoppen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McDaniels counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hoppen falls off balance throwing a combination
and McDaniels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hoppen is breathing heavily.
Hoppen misses with a two punch combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Hoppen as he connects with a hook.
Hoppen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hoppen wants it to stay on the feet.
Hoppen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McDaniels counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hoppen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McDaniels counters with a straight right hand.
McDaniels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hoppen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDaniels shoots in looking for a takedown but Hoppen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McDaniels's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hoppen misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hoppen as he jumps to the side.
McDaniels closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hoppen circles away.
Hoppen stuffs the takedown attempt from McDaniels. McDaniels gets slowly back to his feet.
Hoppen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hoppen throws a right and a left that McDaniels avoids nicely.
Hoppen throws a left and a right that both miss

and McDaniels holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McDaniels is looking to control Hoppen's arms but Hoppen gets an underhook and turns him. Now McDaniels has his back to the cage.

Hoppen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McDaniels works over Hoppen's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels fails in his attempt to clinch.
McDaniels tries to clinch but Hoppen is having none of it.
Hoppen throws a right hand that McDaniels ducks under and follows up with a left that McDaniels also avoids with ease.
Tim Hoppen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDaniels takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
McDaniels dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hoppen throws a big shot that misses.
McDaniels tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hoppen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hoppen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McDaniels is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hoppen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McDaniels ducks under a wild hook from Hoppen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoppen throws a left and a right that both miss
and McDaniels counters with a stiff right hand.
Hoppen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McDaniels counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDaniels shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hoppen but Hoppen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
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 Tim Hoppen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hoppen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
McDaniels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by McDaniels misses
and Hoppen counters with a three punch combo that has McDaniels backing up. McDaniels nods at Hoppen to acknowledge the strikes.
McDaniels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoppen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McDaniels.
McDaniels fails with the takedown
and Hoppen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tim Hoppen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McDaniels is defended easily by Hoppen.
Hoppen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Hoppen throws a nice looking combination but McDaniels bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hoppen throws a series of punches but McDaniels avoids them all with ease.
McDaniels is breathing heavily.
McDaniels lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoppen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McDaniels counters with a left to the body.
Hoppen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tim Hoppen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shazaam McDaniels.
Hoppen throws a series of punches but McDaniels avoids them all with ease.
Hoppen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hoppen wants it to stay on the feet.
Hoppen looks to land a combination but McDaniels avoids it well.
Hoppen misses with a looping left.
Hoppen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hoppen misses with a left hand
and McDaniels counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hoppen connects with a good right hand that stumbles McDaniels. McDaniels circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hoppen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
McDaniels fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tim Hoppen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoppen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hoppen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hoppen tries to avoid it but McDaniels manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hoppen to the ground. Hoppen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McDaniels takes one to the side of the head.
Hoppen throws a right hand that McDaniels ducks under and follows up with a left that McDaniels also avoids with ease.
McDaniels is looking to clinch but Hoppen is avoiding it.
McDaniels shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hoppen sprawls well. Hoppen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDaniels gets slowly back to his feet.
McDaniels defending well as Hoppen loads up on a big left hand.
Hoppen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hoppen stuffs the takedown attempt from McDaniels. McDaniels gets slowly back to his feet.
Hoppen looks to land a combination but McDaniels avoids it well.
McDaniels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hoppen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McDaniels somewhat.
Hoppen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoppen cracks McDaniels with a good jab.
Hoppen throws a right hand that McDaniels ducks under and follows up with a left that McDaniels also avoids with ease.
Hoppen leaves McDaniels with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hoppen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

McDaniels gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hoppen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hoppen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McDaniels.
McDaniels dodges the punch combination from Hoppen.
McDaniels scores with a jab to the body.
McDaniels has a takedown stuffed.
Hoppen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hoppen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McDaniels tries for a takedown but Hoppen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoppen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McDaniels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hoppen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Hoppen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McDaniels clinches up with Hoppen and pushes him back against the cage.

Hoppen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hoppen swats away the attempt to clinch by McDaniels.
Hoppen falls off balance throwing a combination
and McDaniels counters with a two punch combo.
Hoppen throws a combination that misses
and McDaniels counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McDaniels tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tim Hoppen is winning the standup battle so far.
Hoppen falls off balance throwing a combination
and McDaniels counters with a three punch combo that has Hoppen backing up. Hoppen nods at McDaniels to acknowledge the strikes.
Hoppen missing with a left hand there. McDaniels was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hoppen stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoppen throws a left and a right that both miss
and McDaniels counters with a three punch combo that has Hoppen backing up. Hoppen nods at McDaniels to acknowledge the strikes.
Hoppen looks to land a combination but McDaniels avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoppen tries to bum rush McDaniels with a series of wild strikes but McDaniels uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McDaniels misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hoppen misses with a series of wild punches.
McDaniels shoots in but Hoppen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McDaniels moves in looking to clinch but Hoppen pushes him off.
McDaniels lands a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Hoppen. No joy for McDaniels on that attempt.
Tim Hoppen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shazaam McDaniels.
Hoppen looks to land a combination. McDaniels sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hoppen throws a right and a left that McDaniels avoids nicely.
McDaniels lands a two punch combo.
No luck for McDaniels with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoppen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hoppen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McDaniels shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hoppen as he avoids it easily.
Hoppen misses with a wild combination.
Hoppen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McDaniels.
A punch combination from Hoppen misses.
McDaniels tries to clinch up.
Hoppen throws a combination that misses
and McDaniels counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hoppen thinking.
McDaniels fails in his attempt to clinch.
McDaniels tries to clinch but Hoppen moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hoppen. Those never looked like landing.
McDaniels misses with a head kick.
McDaniels tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hoppen swivels and escapes.
Hoppen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hoppen misses with a double jab
and McDaniels counters with a three punch combo that has Hoppen backing up. Hoppen nods at McDaniels to acknowledge the strikes.
McDaniels shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hoppen sprawls well. Hoppen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDaniels gets slowly back to his feet.
Hoppen throws a right hand that McDaniels ducks under and follows up with a left that McDaniels also avoids with ease.
McDaniels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoppen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hoppen is fending him off so far but McDaniels persists. Nope, Hoppen circles away and we're back to standing.
McDaniels showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hoppen.
Hoppen slaps away a takedown attempt from McDaniels, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hoppen misses with a double jab
and McDaniels makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McDaniels looks for a takedown but Hoppen sprawls well.
Hoppen misses with a double jab.
Hoppen falls off balance throwing a combination
and McDaniels cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDaniels tries to clinch
and Hoppen counters with a stiff right hand.
Shazaam McDaniels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tim Hoppen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hoppen misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shazaam McDaniels.
I think Hoppen 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Hoppen!