PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Moneymaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robbie Hopkins has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hopkins
vs
Moneymaker

203 cm
20
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
177 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robbie Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Moneymaker!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins walks into a straight right hand from Moneymaker.
Hopkins wants to clinch up but Moneymaker keeps it at a distance.

Moneymaker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hopkins's guard.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing Moneymaker from standing up.

Moneymaker stands up from Hopkins's guard - Moneymaker perhaps looking for a knockout.

Moneymaker gets a clinch.
Hopkins connects with a knee to the head.

Moneymaker breaks from the clinch.

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but Moneymaker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hopkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Moneymaker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moneymaker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hopkins looking to slow down the pace here.
Moneymaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Hopkins won't allow it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Moneymaker looking to throw knees to the head but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
Hopkins has Moneymaker pressed against the cage, preventing Moneymaker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Moneymaker pushes off an throws an elbow but Hopkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but Moneymaker blocks it.
Hopkins is looking to control Moneymaker's arms but Moneymaker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hopkins has his back to the cage.

Moneymaker wants the takedown. Hopkins is fighting it off but Moneymaker persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hopkins's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moneymaker trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.

Hopkins is working an open guard so Moneymaker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hopkins dodges the punch combination from Moneymaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moneymaker swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Moneymaker paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hopkins gets caught flat footed, as Moneymaker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hopkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moneymaker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Moneymaker stands up and waves to Hopkins to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moneymaker tries a head kick but it misses.
Hopkins closes the distance and clinches up with Moneymaker, looking for a takedown. Hopkins pushes Moneymaker against the cage but Moneymaker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Moneymaker avoids the head kick by Hopkins.

Moneymaker closes the distance and clinches.
Moneymaker blocks the elbow strike.
Hopkins avoids the elbow strike from Moneymaker, against the cage.
Hopkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Moneymaker blocks it with crossed arms.
Moneymaker managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Moneymaker avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
Moneymaker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hopkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Moneymaker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Moneymaker blocks a body shot from Hopkins.
Moneymaker lands a nice uppercut.
Hopkins trying to stall but Moneymaker improves his position.
Moneymaker tries to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling the position.
Moneymaker avoids the elbow strike from Hopkins, against the cage.
Moneymaker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hopkins after a bit of a struggle.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins fails with a takedown attempt.
Hopkins misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Moneymaker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Moneymaker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Moneymaker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Moneymaker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Moneymaker lands a nice uppercut.
Hopkins looking to throw knees to the head but Moneymaker is blocking nicely.
Hopkins creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Moneymaker successfully pulls guard.
Hopkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Moneymaker is looking to stand up but Hopkins isn't so interested in that idea.

Moneymaker pushes Hopkins off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Hopkins slips a jab and a cross from Moneymaker.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moneymaker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Moneymaker stands up from half guard.
Jab, jab by Moneymaker - just one landing.
A head kick by Moneymaker misses
and Hopkins makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut.

Moneymaker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Moneymaker trying to control the pace.

Moneymaker stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moneymaker.
Hopkins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Moneymaker avoids the body shot from Hopkins.
Moneymaker shoots in looking for a takedown. Hopkins tries to sprawl out of it but Moneymaker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hopkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Moneymaker darts in and clinches Hopkins up against the cage.
Hopkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Moneymaker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moneymaker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hopkins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Robbie Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Moneymaker.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Moneymaker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hopkins blocks it with crossed arms.

Hopkins breaks the clinch.

Moneymaker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Moneymaker postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hopkins to stand up.
Moneymaker scores with a jab.

Hopkins gets tackled into the cage by Moneymaker. Moneymaker maintains the clinch.
Hopkins is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Moneymaker is keeping busy.
Hopkins tries to circle away but Moneymaker has him pinned against the cage.
Johan Moneymaker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to push Moneymaker away but Moneymaker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Moneymaker manages to break the clinch.
Hopkins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johan Moneymaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins scores with a head kick. Moneymaker tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Moneymaker clinches.

Moneymaker jumps guard and drags Hopkins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins throwing strikes from guard but Moneymaker blocks nicely.

Moneymaker uses the cage to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins misses with a takedown attempt - Moneymaker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Moneymaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Moneymaker forces Hopkins back against the cage and clinches.
Hopkins wants to stall.
Moneymaker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hopkins takes a shot to the head.
Hopkins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hopkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Moneymaker moves into range and clinches up with Hopkins.

Moneymaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins avoids the head kick by Moneymaker.

Moneymaker gets the takedown into side control.
Hopkins trying to remain calm as Moneymaker controls from the top position.
Hopkins is trying to buck Moneymaker off.
Johan Moneymaker has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins manages to work his way to half guard, despite Moneymaker's best efforts.
Moneymaker works his way into full mount!
Moneymaker looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopkins is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moneymaker gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Moneymaker. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Moneymaker closes the distance and pushes Hopkins back into the cage.
Hopkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Moneymaker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Moneymaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moneymaker scores with a nice right hand.
Johan Moneymaker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Moneymaker moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hopkins's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moneymaker jumps guard but Hopkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hopkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hopkins misses with a short punch on the inside.

Moneymaker manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hopkins throws an elbow that misses. Moneymaker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hopkins's guard. Nice move by Moneymaker!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moneymaker stands up and waves to Hopkins to follow him.

Moneymaker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Moneymaker breaks the clinch.
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Moneymaker is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hopkins's half guard.
Moneymaker content to control rather than advance.
Moneymaker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moneymaker postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hopkins to stand up.
Moneymaker lands with an overhand left.
Moneymaker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Left hook, right uppercut from Moneymaker.

It looks like Robbie Hopkins has been cut.

Moneymaker takes the fight into the clinch.
Robbie Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Moneymaker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johan Moneymaker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hopkins tried to score with a low kick but Moneymaker checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Moneymaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Moneymaker 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Moneymaker!
Post fight, Johan Moneymaker stared into the camera and said 'I want to thank LA Elite Clothing for getting my something for me towear and thank my fans and my coach at my corner and I want that 155 title so Wacth out.And Rich i have no respect for you and i ask for this fight to prove that i dont like you or respect you but i respect your fighting you little'.