PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Serj Tankyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Adema - Immortal. Tankyan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sugar by SOAD. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hopkins
vs
Tankyan

194 cm
18
230 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

196 cm
20
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Serj Tankyan!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches.
Tankyan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hopkins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tankyan fails to land the takedown.
Tankyan circles away from the clinch attempt.

Tankyan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tankyan lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tankyan throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Hopkins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
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.
Tankyan chips away with some ground and pound.
Tankyan won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankyan throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Tankyan stops Hopkins from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Tankyan moves out of range.
Tankyan wants to clinch but Hopkins slips to the side
and Hopkins counters with a nice kick to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Hopkins as Tankyan shoots in.
Mark Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Serj Tankyan.
Hopkins tries to clinch there but Tankyan circles away.
A big right from Tankyan misses.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hopkins moves into the clinch.

Tankyan has picked Hopkins up - he's going for a ride! Tankyan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hopkins gets back to full guard.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Tankyan controlling him for the moment.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tankyan's guard.
Tankyan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Tankyan looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankyan looking for a sweep. Not yet Tankyan, not yet.

Hopkins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tankyan 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.

Tankyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tankyan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hopkins!
Hopkins regains half guard.
Tankyan throws a strike but Hopkins avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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 is looking to stand up but Tankyan isn't so interested in that idea.
Hopkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hopkins unloading with bombs!
Tankyan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hopkins breaks from Tankyan's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tankyan is bucking up trying to escape but Hopkins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tankyan throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hopkins. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hopkins is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Tankyan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tankyan is bucking up trying to escape but Hopkins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hopkins lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tankyan avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hopkins.
Tankyan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Hopkins connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hopkins looking to finish with strikes here!
Hopkins throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Tankyan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tankyan regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Hopkins will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tankyan looks for a takedown but Hopkins sprawls well.
Tankyan fails to land with a series of punches.
Tankyan swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tankyan.
Hopkins manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hopkins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tankyan is looking for a sweep. Hopkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tankyan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopkins working over Tankyan with some ground and pound. Tankyan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tankyan is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hopkins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tankyan tries to close the distance and clinch but Hopkins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mark Hopkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopkins wants to clinch up but Tankyan keeps it at a distance.
Hopkins has his takedown stuffed

and Tankyan counters by clinching up.
Hopkins is pressed up against the cage. Tankyan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hopkins down to the mat. Hopkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Tankyan instigates a clinch.
Hopkins landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tankyan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tankyan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hopkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tankyan lands a body shot.
Tankyan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hopkins misses with a knee strike.
Hopkins lands an elbow inside that Tankyan shrugs off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tankyan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hopkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mark Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Serj Tankyan.
Tankyan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tankyan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tankyan wants to stall.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but Tankyan blocks with his arms.
Hopkins gets underhooks to prevent Tankyan's takedown attempt.
Hopkins unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tankyan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Hopkins.
Tankyan prevents the takedown attempt.
Hopkins keeps control of Tankyan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hopkins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tankyan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hopkins throws a sloppy head kick and Tankyan moves out of range easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Tankyan. That snapped Hopkins's head back.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tankyan as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Hopkins. No joy for Tankyan on that attempt.
Tankyan has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to clinch there but Tankyan circles away.
Hopkins tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tankyan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tankyan.
Tankyan lands a couple of digs.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Tankyan controlling him for the moment.
Serj Tankyan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Tankyan from controlling successfully.
Hopkins punching from the bottom - just letting Tankyan know he's still in a fight.
Tankyan throws a big right hand that misses.
Hopkins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hopkins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tankyan wants to control but Hopkins is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tankyan gets full guard.
Tankyan keeping full guard, as Hopkins tries to pass.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tankyan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hopkins won't allow Tankyan to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tankyan tries to bum rush Hopkins with a series of wild strikes but Hopkins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Hopkins takes the fight into the clinch.
Tankyan tries to pull guard but Hopkins holds him up against the cage and eventually Tankyan drops back down to his feet.
Hopkins keeps control of Tankyan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serj Tankyan 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!

Hopkins connects with a high kick.
Tankyan lands with a nice combination. Hopkins backs away looking to recover.
Tankyan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hopkins wants to clinch.

Tankyan has managed to clinch.
Tankyan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hopkins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tankyan swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Tankyan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hopkins moves into the clinch.
Hopkins lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopkins lands a knee to the head.
Hopkins connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tankyan's face.
Hopkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hopkins misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tankyan is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hopkins can't fight it off and eventually Tankyan manages to take the fight to the floor. Hopkins looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tankyan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tankyan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hopkins throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Tankyan won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.
Tankyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopkins wants to get back to his feet but Tankyan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tankyan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Tankyan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Tankyan fails with a takedown attempt.
Mark Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Serj Tankyan.

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches.
Hopkins keeps control of Tankyan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hopkins blocks an elbow strike.
Hopkins scores a nice knee to the body.
Hopkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tankyan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tankyan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hopkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hopkins.
Hopkins is pressed up against the cage. Tankyan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hopkins down to the mat. Hopkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tankyan looks to land a combination but Hopkins avoids it well.
Hopkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tankyan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hopkins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tankyan tries to avoid it but Hopkins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tankyan to the ground. Tankyan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins shoots in for a double leg but Tankyan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tankyan circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tankyan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hopkins as he jumps to the side.
Tankyan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hopkins closes the distance but Tankyan moves to the side
and Tankyan counters with a nice body shot.

Hopkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tankyan, pushing him back against the cage.
Tankyan scores with a hook to the body.
Hopkins looking to throw knees to the head but Tankyan is blocking nicely.
Tankyan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hopkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tankyan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tankyan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins lands a knee to the head.

Tankyan breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tankyan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hopkins pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hopkins can't get the takedown.
Tankyan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but Tankyan blocks with his arms.
Tankyan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tankyan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tankyan is working for takedown but Hopkins is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice elbow from Hopkins.
Hopkins lands a knee to the body.
Hopkins landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hopkins landing knees to the head.
Hopkins landing knees to the body.
Hopkins prevents Tankyan from breaking the clinch.

Tankyan has picked Hopkins up - he's going for a ride! Tankyan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Tankyan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hopkins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tankyan.
Nice strikes from Tankyan there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serj Tankyan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tankyan 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serj Tankyan!