PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Forolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Hoppus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Forolov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Forolov
vs
Hoppus

187 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mark Forolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adam Hoppus!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Forolov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hoppus is adopting a defensive guard.
Forolov trying to control but Hoppus is working from the bottom.
Forolov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Forolov pushing down on Hoppus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Forolov controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoppus trying to control from the bottom.
Forolov tries to stand and escape but Hoppus actually recovers to full guard.
Hoppus seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Forolov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoppus might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Forolov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Adam Hoppus was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Forolov misses with a takedown

and Hoppus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Forolov actively working from the bottom here.
Hoppus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Forolov's head.
Hoppus tries to stand and escape but Forolov is controlling the position.
Hoppus wants to take a breather but Forolov is having none of it.

Forolov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Forolov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hoppus jumps into side control!
Hoppus is looking to take a break and control but Forolov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hoppus working the ground and pound but Forolov is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoppus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Forolov keeps working.
Forolov tries to improve position but can't.
Hoppus wants to control but Forolov is keeping him busy.
Hoppus working the ground and pound but Forolov is defending the strikes.
Forolov is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoppus trying to control the action but Forolov is working from the bottom.

Hoppus working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forolov tries to bench press Hoppus off him but Hoppus keeps the position.

Hoppus tries for a kimura but Forolov is defending well.

Hoppus looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hoppus stands up and beckons Forolov to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forolov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hoppus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hoppus works his foot free and advances to mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Forolov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hoppus content just to control the position here.
Forolov tries to reverse the position but Hoppus maintains control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoppus lands with some strikes.
Forolov working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Hoppus dominated that round.
That's time! Forolov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hoppus throws a head kick but Forolov moves out of range.

Hoppus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hoppus is trying to trip Forolov. He has hold of a leg but Forolov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hoppus persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hoppus throws a big elbow that misses.

Hoppus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hoppus trying to control the position from guard on top but Forolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Forolov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hoppus passes into half guard.
Hoppus wants to control but Forolov is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoppus tries to pass the half guard into mount. Forolov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Forolov wants to control but Hoppus is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Hoppus escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mark Forolov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Forolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hoppus gets back to half guard.
Hoppus trying to control from the bottom.
Forolov stops Hoppus from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forolov trying to mount his opponent but Hoppus defends it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Forolov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Forolov is working for a submission of some sort.
Hoppus is trying to stand.
Hoppus is looking to control Forolov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hoppus avoid being mounted?
Hoppus is pressing down on Forolov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoppus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hoppus is trying to control the position but Forolov postures up.
Hoppus keeping moving, preventing Forolov from controlling successfully.

Forolov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hoppus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hoppus has escaped and now he's on top!
Forolov keeping moving, preventing Hoppus from controlling successfully.
Forolov wants to sweep here but Hoppus controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forolov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hoppus trying to control but Forolov is working from the bottom.

Forolov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hoppus passes into half guard.
Hoppus thows a huge punch but Forolov dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Hoppus there.
Forolov trying to control but Hoppus postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoppus controlling the action here.
Hoppus is trying to control. Forolov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Hoppus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hoppus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hoppus lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hoppus tries to pass to full mount but Forolov defends it.
Adam Hoppus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Forolov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Hoppus decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Hoppus leaves Forolov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hoppus throws a sloppy head kick and Forolov moves out of range easily.
Hoppus misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Forolov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hoppus did well to prevent Forolov getting side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hoppus actively working from the bottom here.
Hoppus is trying to control but can't.

Hoppus pushes Forolov off and gets back to his feet.
Forolov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hoppus counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Forolov tries to clinch there but Hoppus circles away.

Forolov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hoppus tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Forolov is in Hoppus's guard.
Forolov stands up over Hoppus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Forolov advances to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Forolov wants to stand up but Hoppus is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoppus preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hoppus is trying to stand.
Hoppus missing with punches from the bottom.
Hoppus trying to hold on to Forolov's head to control him but Forolov postures up.
Forolov trying to mount his opponent but Hoppus defends it.
Forolov trying to control from half guard but Hoppus is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Forolov is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Hoppus is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mark Forolov!