PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Van der Laan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II. Van der Laan has chosen Eazy-E ft. Tupac, The Game - How We Do as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hopkins
vs
Van der Laan

180 cm
33
190 lbs
24 - 20 - 0

185 cm
37
195 lbs
33 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Sex Panther Supplements!

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 24 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malcolm Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Andre Van der Laan!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Van der Laan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Van der Laan defends well and Hopkins ends up having to push Van der Laan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van der Laan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Van der Laan stalling the fight.
Van der Laan tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Van der Laan back against the cage.

Hopkins breaks the clinch.
Van der Laan leaves Hopkins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Van der Laan's corner calls for a 1-2. Van der Laan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hopkins tests Van der Laan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van der Laan lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins drives through with a takedown into Van der Laan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hopkins sitting in guard here, content to control.
Van der Laan keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Van der Laan is adopting a defensive guard.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Van der Laan is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van der Laan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Van der Laan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hopkins misses the shot to the body.
Van der Laan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van der Laan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hopkins slips a jab from Van der Laan.
Horrible takedown by Hopkins or perhaps it was just good defense by Van der Laan which made him look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van der Laan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Hopkins has a takedown stuffed.
Van der Laan misses with a kick to the body.
Hopkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Van der Laan's waist but Van der Laan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopkins off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Van der Laan as Hopkins shoots in.
Hopkins shoots for a takedown but Van der Laan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Hopkins blocks the leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van der Laan. Hopkins shrugs it off though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van der Laan lands a big head kick that sends Hopkins tumbling to the mat! Van der Laan takes a step backwards and waves Hopkins back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Malcolm Hopkins has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins closes the distance and clinches up with Van der Laan, looking for a takedown. Hopkins pushes Van der Laan against the cage but Van der Laan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andre Van der Laan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van der Laan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hopkins somewhat.
Van der Laan pushes Hopkins away with a front kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hopkins on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Van der Laan throws a head kick that misses.
Van der Laan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hopkins if he has to take too many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Van der Laan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Hopkins's cut.
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.

Hopkins blocks a head kick by Van der Laan.
Hopkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van der Laan circles away.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van der Laan. Hopkins shrugs it off though.
Van der Laan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van der Laan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van der Laan throws a big shot that misses.
Hopkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Hopkins with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Van der Laan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins darts in looking for a takedown but Van der Laan gets double underhooks and turns Hopkins into the cage.
Hopkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Van der Laan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van der Laan looking to throw knees to the head but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hopkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van der Laan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van der Laan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van der Laan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hopkins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hopkins managing to block the knees to the body from Van der Laan.

Hopkins wants the takedown. Van der Laan is fighting it off but Hopkins persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Van der Laan's guard against the cage.
Hopkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hopkins is looking to stand up but Van der Laan won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan working a defensive guard here.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Van der Laan is keeping the position.
Van der Laan keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Malcolm Hopkins wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hopkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Van der Laan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan leaves Hopkins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van der Laan, right into the meat.
Van der Laan lands with a good body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Van der Laan. That's going to slow Hopkins down.

Van der Laan rushes Hopkins and presses him up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Van der Laan.
Van der Laan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hopkins.
Van der Laan tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.
Hopkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van der Laan slows down the pace here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van der Laan misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van der Laan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van der Laan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hopkins trying to stall but Van der Laan improves his position.
Van der Laan tries to land a knee to the head but Hopkins blocks with his arms.
Van der Laan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van der Laan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Van der Laan misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Van der Laan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Hopkins'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!

Van der Laan throws a front kick aimed at Hopkins's knee but Hopkins avoids it well.
Van der Laan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van der Laan wants to clinch but Hopkins slips to the side

and Hopkins counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Van der Laan!

Hopkins tries for a kimura but Van der Laan is defending well.
Hopkins moves into full mount!
Van der Laan wants to control but Hopkins is having none of it.
Van der Laan is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins avoids the attempt from Van der Laan to control.
Hopkins wants to take his opponent's back but Van der Laan doesn't allow it.
Hopkins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hopkins can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van der Laan is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins landing strikes, looking to finish!
Van der Laan is squirming around, avoiding Hopkins's attempts to control the action.
Van der Laan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hopkins punching from mount but Van der Laan doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hopkins wants to control the pace but Van der Laan is squirming around nicely.
Van der Laan blocking the ground and pound.
Van der Laan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hopkins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hopkins lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van der Laan is looking to escape.
Malcolm Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hopkins avoids the attempt from Van der Laan to control.
Van der Laan tries to reverse the position but Hopkins maintains control.
Malcolm Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins trying to control but Van der Laan is having none of it.
Van der Laan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Van der Laan 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Van der Laan!
Andre Van der Laan bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.