PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Marailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JD Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marailov comes into the arena with Вставай blaring out of the sound system. Hopkins has chosen Symptom of the Universe - by Sepultura as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marailov
vs
Hopkins

191 cm
21
267 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
280 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

GREEN!160

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gustav Marailov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, JD Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marailov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Marailov fails to land with a series of punches.
Marailov misses the jab.
Hopkins throws a body punch but Marailov moves out of range.
Marailov misses with a hook

and Hopkins counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hopkins trying to control but Marailov is working from the bottom.
Hopkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marailov is keeping the position for now.
Hopkins stays in close to Marailov's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins postures up in Marailov's guard and throws a big left but Marailov blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marailov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marailov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hopkins is refusing to be controlled, as Marailov sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gustav Marailov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hopkins throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Marailov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Marailov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hopkins with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hopkins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marailov throws out the jab.
Marailov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Marailov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopkins.
Gustav Marailov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins thows a body shot but no joy.
We've been told by Marailov's head coaches at Warrior MMA and Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Marailov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marailov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A slow jab from Marailov misses its intended target.
Marailov lands a lovely overhand right.
Marailov is looking to score with low kicks.
Marailov looks to land a left hand but Hopkins moved out of range nicely.
Marailov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hopkins has time to react.

It looks like JD Hopkins has been cut.
Marailov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marailov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
Marailov misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Marailov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hopkins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Marailov at a distance.
Marailov throws out a loose jab but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marailov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hopkins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Hopkins.
Marailov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hopkins.
Marailov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Marailov tries to bum rush Hopkins with a series of wild strikes but Hopkins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marailov misses with an uppercut. Hopkins saw that one coming.
Hopkins is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Marailov rather than just go for the knockout.
Marailov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hopkins comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Marailov misses with a looping left.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hopkins.
Marailov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marailov connects with a crisp jab.
Marailov misses with a double jab

and Hopkins counters with a single leg into guard. Marailov didn't expect that.
Hopkins trying to control but Marailov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marailov can't keep his opponent in guard - Hopkins advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hopkins working over Marailov with some ground and pound. Marailov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hopkins throwing shots but Marailov is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins trying to control the action but Marailov is working from the bottom.
Hopkins thows a huge punch but Marailov dodges it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marailov is trying to control but can't.
Marailov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marailov.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Marailov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JD Hopkins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marailov misses with a body shot.
Marailov misses with a left hand

and Hopkins counters with a single leg into guard. Marailov didn't expect that.
Marailov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hopkins wants to improve his position but Marailov is controlling well.
Hopkins manages to get to full guard.
Marailov wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins has control of Marailov's left arm, preventing Marailov from doing any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gustav Marailov.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Marailov looks to throw the jab but Hopkins is out of range.
Hopkins takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hopkins moves away.
Marailov misses with a hook. Hopkins ducked under it nicely.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Gustav Marailov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marailov throws an off balance right hand

so Hopkins counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hopkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins pushes down on Marailov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hopkins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hopkins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marailov is looking for a sweep. Hopkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hopkins is looking to stall here but Marailov recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marailov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopkins is controlling him.
Hopkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hopkins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marailov's guard.
Hopkins is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Marailov!
Hopkins landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Gustav Marailov has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marailov is bucking up trying to escape but Hopkins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Marailov taking shots to the head.
Hopkins lands a big shot there that rocks Marailov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hopkins is landing with some decent strikes but Marailov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Marailov is rocked!

Gustav Marailov's cut is getting worse.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot lands for Hopkins! Marailov is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). JD Hopkins!
A relieved looking JD Hopkins thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.