PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Booker Rosales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Hopes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Hopes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Booker Rosales's chin.

Rosales
vs
Hopes

177 cm
23
194 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Booker Rosales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Hopes!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Damien Edna and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rosales tries to sprawl but Hopes drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hopes trying to control the action but Rosales is working from the bottom.
Hopes throwing shots but Rosales is blocking nicely.

Hopes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hopes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hopes thows a huge punch but Rosales dodges it nicely.
Hopes trying to control the action but Rosales is working from the bottom.
Hopes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rosales defending well though.
Hopes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopes is looking to advance position but Rosales won't allow it.
Rosales might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hopes moves into full mount! Rosales won't be happy about that!
Hopes sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hopes throwing strikes but Rosales bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Rosales throws an elbow that misses. Hopes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rosales's guard. Nice move by Hopes!
Rosales keeping moving, preventing Hopes from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopes wants to get up but he can't break Rosales's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rosales keeping moving, preventing Hopes from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnny Hopes has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rosales avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rosales enables Hopes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rosales manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hopes trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rosales swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopes throws a big elbow that misses.
Hopes throws a big right hand that misses.
Hopes trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johnny Hopes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rosales gets caught flat footed, as Hopes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hopes dominated that round.
That's time! Rosales's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hopes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hopes trying to control the position but Rosales is working away.
Hopes tries to score with some ground and pound. Rosales controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rosales can't do much from the bottom here.
Hopes lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hopes wants to control but Rosales is keeping him busy.

Hopes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rosales could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hopes controlling from the top position.
Rosales utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rosales keeping moving, preventing Hopes from controlling successfully.
Hopes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rosales preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hopes looking to sit in guard and control but Rosales gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hopes 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Johnny Hopes has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hopes drives through with a takedown into Rosales's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopes throws an elbow that misses. Rosales uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hopes's guard. Nice move by Rosales!
Hopes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rosales postures up.
Rosales postures up and lands a big shot to Hopes's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopes is trying to control the position but Rosales postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johnny Hopes was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Hopes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hopes wants to control from the top but Rosales keeps moving.
Hopes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rosales's guard.
Rosales is not content to let Hopes control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rosales avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hopes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hopes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rosales's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hopes tries to clinch there but Rosales circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rosales enables Hopes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rosales manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hopes advances position into side control!
Hopes throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Rosales works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Hopes is looking to take a break and control but Rosales is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopes thows a huge punch but Rosales dodges it nicely.
Hopes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rosales keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rosales avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hopes.

Hopes decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Hopes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rosales's guard.
Hopes looking to sit in guard and control but Rosales gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopes looking to control.
Hopes is pulling down on Rosales's head to control his posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Johnny Hopes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rosales enables Hopes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rosales manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopes forces his way into half guard.
Hopes throwing shots but Rosales is blocking nicely.
Hopes is thwarting Rosales's attempts to control the position.
Hopes is trying to control the action in half guard but Rosales is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hopes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rosales defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosales is staying active underneath Hopes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hopes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hopes trying to pass the guard but Rosales defending well.
Johnny Hopes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Hopes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hopes 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 26:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Hopes!
A very excited looking Johnny Hopes made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.