PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sonnen
vs
Hopkins

185 cm
26
185 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

185 cm
28
180 lbs
15 - 3 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Great elbows
Granite chin

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
Brute

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sonnen to the mat! Sonnen manages to get full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen wants to sweep here but Hopkins controlling him for the moment.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anthony Hopkins has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hopkins walks into a straight right hand from Sonnen.
Hopkins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sonnen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hopkins thinking.
Sonnen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sonnen throws a right and a left that both miss.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hopkins manages to get to full guard.
Hopkins has his hands on Sonnen's head, controlling the position.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is working Hopkins over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hopkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
Sonnen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen throws a strike but Hopkins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hopkins.
Hopkins stops Sonnen from standing up.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.

Anthony Hopkins has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hopkins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Hopkins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sonnen defends it nicely.
Ryan Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a takedown
and Hopkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Sonnen has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hopkins takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hopkins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sonnen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but Sonnen blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Hopkins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sonnen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sonnen misses with a body shot.
Sonnen misses the shot to the body.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins fails with the takedown
enabling Sonnen to counter with a crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopkins.

Sonnen rushes Hopkins and presses him up against the cage.
Hopkins controlling the action here for a moment.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sonnen working aggressively here.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
Sonnen misses with some punches.
Hopkins lands an elbow that stopped Sonnen in his tracks for a moment.
Hopkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sonnen lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Ryan Sonnen has been cut.
Hopkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Sonnen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hopkins creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sonnen's defenses.
Sonnen misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hopkins.
Sonnen blocks the elbow strike.
Sonnen dodges an elbow strike from Hopkins.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hopkins blocks an uppercut.
Hopkins lands a knee to the body.
Hopkins utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sonnen tries to break free but Hopkins pushes him back against the cage.
Hopkins misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins lands an elbow that stopped Sonnen in his tracks for a moment.
Sonnen misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins lands a hook that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hopkins obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hopkins lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins stalling against the cage.
Hopkins looking to stall.
Sonnen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hopkins lands an elbow inside.

Sonnen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sonnen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hopkins.
Ryan Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Hopkins.

Hopkins tries to sprawl but Sonnen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hopkins is looking to improve his position.
Hopkins is controlling Sonnen's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hopkins manages to get to full guard.
Sonnen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Hopkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Hopkins controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Hopkins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen postures up.
Hopkins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hopkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing Sonnen from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hopkins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Hopkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ryan Sonnen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hopkins fails with the takedown.
Hopkins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hopkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Sonnen to counter with a crisp jab.
Ryan Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Hopkins.
Sonnen missing with a left hand there. Hopkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sonnen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hopkins counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hopkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sonnen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sonnen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.

Sonnen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hopkins, pushing him back against the cage.
Sonnen throws a punch but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
Sonnen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen throws a punch but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins with a knee to the head.
Hopkins lands a nice elbow.

Ryan Sonnen's cut is getting worse.
Hopkins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Hopkins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Hopkins is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Anthony Hopkins has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen works over Hopkins with some ground and pound from guard.
Hopkins looking to control.
Hopkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sonnen trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hopkins is trying to hold Sonnen in close to prevent damage but Sonnen has managed to pass into half guard.
Sonnen working over Hopkins with some ground and pound. Hopkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hopkins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hopkins.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing Sonnen from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looking to control.

Hopkins is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sonnen cracks Hopkins with a solid left hand.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen advances to half guard.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sonnen working over Hopkins with some ground and pound. Hopkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hopkins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopkins works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hopkins's head.
Ryan Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hopkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopkins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hopkins is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hopkins trying to control the position.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hopkins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anthony Hopkins!
Anthony Hopkins very nearly forgot to thank Just Fight (Everything 7$) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.