PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rajja Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Khan
vs
Hopkins

179 cm
36
160 lbs
28 - 10 - 2

180 cm
29
165 lbs
13 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 10 - 2, fighting out of London, Rajja Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Ryan Hopkins has been cut.
Hopkins scores with a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hopkins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Khan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Khan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hopkins will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hopkins moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hopkins moves away from the strike by Khan.

Khan gets caught flat footed, as Hopkins shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hopkins throwing strikes from guard but Khan blocks nicely.
Khan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Khan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopkins controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins controls from within his opponent's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hopkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khan slips a jab from Hopkins.
Khan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hopkins lands with a nice body punch.
Hopkins misses with a few strikes there.
Hopkins scores with a spinning back kick!
Khan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Khan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hopkins.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Khan.
Khan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Khan misses with a left hand
and Hopkins counters with an inside leg kick.
Crunch! Hopkins slams his shin into Khan's torso.
Khan thows a left - swing and a miss!
A swing and a miss from Khan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khan loads up on a big right hand but Hopkins slips the punch.
Khan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hopkins fails with the takedown.
Hopkins is looking to score with low kicks.
Khan throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopkins defending well as Khan loads up on a big left hand.

Hopkins scores with a takedown into Khan's guard.
Hopkins trying to control but Khan is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Khan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Khan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopkins defends it easily.
Hopkins controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four 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.
Hopkins controlling from the top position.

Khan is looking for a triangle but Hopkins pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Khan pushes a forearm under Hopkins's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Hopkins is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rajja Khan!
Rajja Khan gave a mention to GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).