PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zorba The Greek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hopkins
vs
The Greek

185 cm
35
180 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

183 cm
40
178 lbs
27 - 31 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zorba The Greek!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Greek.
Hopkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. The Greek sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hopkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Greek.
Hopkins is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Zorba The Greek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts The Greek as he jumps to the side.
The Greek throws a nice looking combination but Hopkins bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by The Greek!
Hopkins wants to clinch.
The Greek misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins is looking to clinch but The Greek is avoiding it.
A punch combination from The Greek misses.
The Greek throws a hook but Hopkins avoids it easily.

Hopkins fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging The Greek to the ground. Hopkins is now in The Greek's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The Greek trying to keep a closed guard but Hopkins is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Greek keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The Greek throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The Greek keeping full guard, as Hopkins tries to pass.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but The Greek keeps moving.
The Greek bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopkins's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
The Greek wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing The Greek from standing up.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
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.
The Greek stands and throws Hopkins's legs to the side, diving into side control.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The Greek thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

The Greek is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hopkins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hopkins is not content to let The Greek control the position.
The Greek tries to advance to mount but Hopkins denies him.
Hopkins sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hopkins wants to control but The Greek is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hopkins controlling the position for now.

The Greek seems to be working for a kimura but Hopkins defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hopkins wants to get back to full guard.
Hopkins trying to control but The Greek postures up.

The Greek is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hopkins wants to get back to full guard.

The Greek is trying to work for a kimura but Hopkins is defending well.
The Greek is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins controls The Greek momentarily but The Greek frees himself.
Hopkins pulls The Greek in close to his closed guard and prevents The Greek from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zorba The Greek dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopkins.
Hopkins works the jab nicely.
The Greek misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.
The Greek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts The Greek as he jumps to the side.

The Greek changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hopkins looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

The Greek goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hopkins rolls with the submission and now he's on top in The Greek's guard! Nice work there by Hopkins!
The Greek keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Hopkins won't allow The Greek to sweep him here.
Hopkins trying to control but The Greek is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The Greek swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The Greek has his foot on Hopkins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hopkins works his way back into a safe position though.
Hopkins won't allow The Greek to sweep him here.
The Greek is adopting a defensive guard.
Hopkins sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hopkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The Greek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopkins sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The Greek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopkins is looking to work some ground and pound but The Greek has wrist control.

The Greek throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The Greek bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopkins's guard.

The Greek passes Hopkins's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hopkins is trying to control but can't.

The Greek is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hopkins has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hopkins wants to control but The Greek is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but The Greek has control of the leg.
The Greek is trying to control the action in half guard but Hopkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hopkins is looking for a sweep. The Greek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The Greek is looking for a kimura here.
Hopkins wants to control but The Greek is keeping busy.
Hopkins desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The Greek is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hopkins doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time The Greek.

The Greek is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hopkins has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hopkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. The Greek is working away from the top position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The Greek is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hopkins sees it coming and defends easily.

The Greek is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hopkins defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zorba The Greek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

The Greek throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hopkins counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The Greek looking for a sweep. Not yet The Greek, not yet.
The Greek is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hopkins is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've been hearing that Hopkins has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hopkins lands a couple of digs.
The Greek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but The Greek keeps moving.
The Greek controls Hopkins momentarily but Hopkins frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Greek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in The Greek's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but The Greek keeps moving.
The Greek is trying to control the position but Hopkins postures up.
The Greek wants to get back to his feet but Hopkins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The Greek wants to sweep but no luck.
The Greek keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
The Greek has momentary wrist control but Hopkins slips an elbow through the middle.

The Greek had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopkins defends it easily.
Hopkins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The Greek looking to control.
Hopkins is in close to The Greek's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hopkins looking to pass the guard.

The Greek has his foot on Hopkins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hopkins works his way back into a safe position though.
The Greek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The Greek keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Greek swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The Greek shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. The Greek showed some decent athleticism there.
The Greek wants to take a breather but Hopkins is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Greek looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zorba The Greek has got the better of the ground game so far.

The Greek is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hopkins is just riding it out for now. The Greek eventually gives up the hold.
Hopkins wants to control but The Greek is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four 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.

The Greek is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The Greek prevents Hopkins from improving his position.
Hopkins trying to hold on to The Greek's head to control him but The Greek postures up.

The Greek is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hopkins still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hopkins has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The Greek sneaks back into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Anthony Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Greek tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anthony Hopkins.
Well The Greek 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zorba The Greek!
A very excited looking Zorba The Greek 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.