PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Florentino Ernesto Alvarez
vs
Hopkins

180 cm
30
166 lbs
19 - 5 - 1

180 cm
30
165 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Sparta Fightware
Sex Panther!

Modern Wear Apparel
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 19 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That kick from Hopkins tenderised Alvarez's leg. Alvarez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hopkins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Alvarez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hopkins misses with a body kick.
Hopkins scores with a decent looking hook.
Hopkins cracks Alvarez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hopkins dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Alvarez. That did some damage!
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alvarez.

Alvarez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez tries to move to mount but Hopkins blocks the move with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins can't do much from the bottom here.
Alvarez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hopkins is not content to let Alvarez control the position.
Alvarez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hopkins is looking for a sweep.
Hopkins sneaks back into half guard.
Hopkins is looking for a sweep. Alvarez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopkins trying to hold on to Alvarez's head to control him but Alvarez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alvarez is keen to just control but Hopkins is a slippery customer.
Alvarez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hopkins manages to get to full guard.
Hopkins controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
Hopkins seems keen to control Alvarez's posture.
Hopkins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.

Alvarez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hopkins is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Alvarez, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins postures up in Alvarez's guard and throws a big left but Alvarez blocks it.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Hopkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hopkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Alvarez just misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hopkins cracks Alvarez with a good jab.
Nice body punch from Alvarez.
Hopkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hopkins wants it to stay on the feet.
Alvarez connects with a single shot there.
Alvarez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Alvarez checks it well.
Hopkins misses the jab.
Alvarez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hopkins throws a chopping leg kick but Alvarez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Alvarez attempts a counter takedown but Hopkins avoids it well and moves away.
Hopkins misses with a wild combination.
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 Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hopkins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Alvarez's sensitive parts.
Hopkins misses with a leg kick.
Alvarez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from Hopkins misses

and Alvarez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hopkins!
Hopkins sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hopkins trying to control from the bottom.

Hopkins actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez is taking a breather. Hopkins says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hopkins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control from Hopkins's half guard. Hopkins has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
Hopkins working a defensive guard here.
Alvarez is fighting to break Hopkins's control of his arms but Hopkins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.
Hopkins working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Alvarez checks a leg kick.
Alvarez throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Hopkins misses the shot to the body.
Hopkins tried to score with a low kick but Alvarez checks it.
Alvarez throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hopkins throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Hopkins throws the left hand but Alvarez avoids the punch easily.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez throws out a loose jab but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hopkins tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Alvarez is able to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hopkins lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Alvarez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
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 Alvarez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Alvarez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Alvarez takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Alvarez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hopkins buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Alvarez looks for a takedown but Hopkins sprawls well.
Hopkins thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Alvarez if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hopkins fails with the takedown.
Alvarez shoots in but Hopkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hopkins connects with a looping right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Alvarez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Alvarez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hopkins flicks out a counter leg kick but Alvarez steps away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Alvarez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt - Hopkins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alvarez looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Hopkins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Alvarez tests Hopkins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hopkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.
Hopkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Alvarez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the body
and Hopkins counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hopkins connects with the punch.
Hopkins misses with a body kick.
Alvarez looks to land a right hand but Hopkins moved out of range.
Hopkins scores with a sloppy right hand. Alvarez should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins connects with a leg kick. Alvarez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hopkins throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hopkins tries to land a front kick but Alvarez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alvarez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hopkins throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Alvarez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hopkins sprawls and moves away.
Alvarez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut. Hopkins saw that one coming.
Hopkins tries to land a leg kick but Alvarez saw it coming and moves away.
Alvarez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Hopkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hopkins. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Hopkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hopkins throws out a leg kick but Alvarez moves out of range and Hopkins only half commits.
Alvarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hopkins. Hopkins obviously looking to wear him down.

Hopkins fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Alvarez to the ground. Hopkins is now in Alvarez's guard.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hopkins is now in half guard.
Alvarez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alvarez.
Hopkins trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Alvarez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hopkins with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hopkins fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Alvarez.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that is checked

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Alvarez trying to control from half guard but Hopkins is working away.
Hopkins tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is not content to let Alvarez control the position.

Alvarez is trying to work for a kimura but Hopkins is defending well.
Alvarez stalling.

Alvarez is working for a kimura but Hopkins is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alvarez seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Hopkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hopkins 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Hopkins!