PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergio Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopkins
vs
Jackson

184 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergio Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joey Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopkins is retaining full guard.
Jackson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Jackson gets to his feet - Hopkins follows without any prompting.

Jackson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hopkins's half guard.

Hopkins manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Jackson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jackson successfully pulls guard.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Hopkins is working Jackson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hopkins postures up in Jackson's guard and throws a big left but Jackson blocks it.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Hopkins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopkins working some strikes from top position.

Jackson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jackson blocks a low kick nicely.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jackson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hopkins trying to control but Jackson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Jackson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hopkins defends it well.
Hopkins wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to improve his position but Jackson is controlling well.

Hopkins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hopkins trying to hold on to Jackson's head to control him but Jackson postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hopkins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Jackson.

Jackson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to buck Jackson off but Jackson is having none of it.
Hopkins struggling a bit here.
Hopkins prevents Jackson from improving position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins is not content to let Jackson control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Jackson dominated that round.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hopkins moves into range and clinches up with Jackson.
Hopkins keeps control of Jackson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Jackson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hopkins to the ground. Jackson is now in Hopkins's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Hopkins is keeping the position.

Hopkins has his foot on Jackson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jackson works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Jackson drives through with a takedown into Hopkins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Jackson throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Hopkins wants to control the position but Jackson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hopkins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jackson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jackson's back!
Hopkins is not going to allow Jackson to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins controlling well, preventing Jackson from escaping the position.
Hopkins lands strikes to the head.
Jackson trying to control the action but Hopkins just sinks the hooks in.
Hopkins is punishing Jackson with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jackson has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Hopkins.
Hopkins has the hooks in. Jackson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hopkins scores with punches from the back.
Jackson is trying to remain composed but Hopkins is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Hopkins throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Hopkins. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Jackson is covering up but some of the strikes from Hopkins are getting through and doing damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Jackson is trying to break free.
Hopkins is punishing Jackson with strikes - can he finish him?!
Hopkins tries to keep control of the position but Jackson is staying busy.
Jackson is trying to get back to his feet but Hopkins has full control of the position and if anything, Jackson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Hopkins wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy.
Hopkins is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Hopkins gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Hopkins gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Hopkins apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Hopkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Jackson has one foot on Hopkins's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Jackson dives in and scores a takedown into Hopkins's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
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.

Hopkins trying to control from half guard but Jackson is working away.
Jackson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hopkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hopkins is in close to Jackson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jackson controlling Hopkins's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Hopkins dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hopkins shoots in and drives through. Jackson sprawls well.
Despite the aggression on Jackson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hopkins avoids the head kick by Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.
Hopkins feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jackson's calf.

Jackson drives through with a takedown into Hopkins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hopkins pulls Jackson in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Hopkins is keeping the position.
Hopkins 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 escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jackson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Jackson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hopkins bucks up and tries to throw Jackson off but instead Jackson has got his back!
Hopkins is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hopkins tries to escape the position.
Jackson missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Hopkins rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Jackson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Hopkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Hopkins won't allow it.
Hopkins is pressing down on Jackson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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.
Jackson wants to stand but Hopkins is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jackson is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Jackson is proving a slippery customer.

Hopkins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jackson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joey Jackson.
I think Jackson 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joey Jackson!