PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Julio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins has chosen Blueprint 2 Mashup - Eminem, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Julio
vs
Hopkins

186 cm
31
184 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

180 cm
27
167 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Conquer

Bullet Proof System

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 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Don Julio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vinny Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Julio.
Julio is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Hopkins gets a takedown into half guard.
Julio pushes Hopkins off looking to stand but Hopkins dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Hopkins has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Julio is trying to stand.
Hopkins is pressing down on Julio's thigh, looking to free his foot. Julio is holding on for now.
Julio is trying to stand back up but Hopkins is controlling him

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hopkins has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hopkins misses with a hook.

Julio tries to keep at a distance but Hopkins has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hopkins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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.
Julio tries to bum rush Hopkins with a series of wild strikes but Hopkins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch lands to the side of Hopkins 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hopkins looks to throw the jab but Julio is out of range.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the body.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Julio with a hook.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Julio misses with a head kick.
Hopkins drops his hands momentarily and Julio takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Julio seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Julio stuffs the takedown attempt from Hopkins. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet.
Hopkins scores with a one two! Julio had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hopkins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Julio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Hopkins. That snapped Julio's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Julio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
Julio scores with a hook.
A big right from Julio misses.
Julio misses with the combination.
Despite the aggression on Hopkins's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hopkins wants to clinch up but Julio keeps it at a distance.
Julio gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hopkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Julio.
Hopkins checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Julio looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Hopkins lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.

Hopkins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hopkins slows the pace down.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Julio prevents Hopkins from improving position.
Hopkins is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vinny Hopkins will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Julio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopkins throws a counter combo.
Julio throws a head kick but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins throws a chopping leg kick but Julio manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Julio is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Julio moves out of range.
Hopkins loads up on a big right hand but Julio slips the punch.
Hopkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Julio.
Julio is looking to counter punch.
Julio just misses with a punch to the body.
Julio on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A jab from Julio does it's job there.

Hopkins has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Julio working hard to break the clinch.
A short uppercut from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins is leaning against Julio and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hopkins.
Julio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Julio.

Julio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Julio throws a right and a left that Hopkins avoids nicely.
Julio digs a good hook to Hopkins's body.
Julio misses the shot to the body.
Julio scores with a shot to the body.
Julio avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hopkins misses with the body kick
and Julio counters with a right hand to the body.
Hopkins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Julio keeps the fight on the outside.
Julio just misses with a punch to the body.
Julio avoids a punch combination nicely.
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!
Julio swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Julio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hopkins thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch combination from Hopkins misses.
Nice defenses there by Julio.
Julio throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hopkins on the side of the head.
Julio throws a looping overhand right but Hopkins ducks down to avoid it.
Julio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Don Julio is winning the standup battle so far.
Hopkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Julio.
Julio throws a push kick but Hopkins slaps the foot to one side.
Hopkins misses with a double jab
and Julio counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hopkins thinking.
Don Julio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Julio misses with a head kick.
Hopkins lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Julio throws a head kick but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins lands a glancing blow to the side of Julio's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Julio showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a wild combination.
Hopkins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Julio circles away quickly and effectively.
Julio lands a head kick!
Hopkins moves out of range of the body kick.
Hopkins scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Julio is just out of range.
Julio is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Julio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the head.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice defenses there by Julio.
It looked like Julio was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hopkins.
Hopkins looks to throw the jab but Julio is out of range.
Julio misses with the body kick

and Hopkins counters by clinching up.
Hopkins misses with some punches.
Hopkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins slips a jab and a cross from Julio.
Julio throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vinny Hopkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hopkins moves to clinch but Julio breaks away
and Julio counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hopkins is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hopkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Julio circles away.
Julio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It seemed like Hopkins was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hopkins with a poor takedown
and Julio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hopkins throws out a loose jab but Julio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hopkins blocks a head kick by Julio.
Hopkins with the counter takedown but Julio avoids it easily.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Julio.
Hopkins is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hopkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Julio manages to avoid it.
Vinny Hopkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Julio moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Julio takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Julio slips a jab and a cross from Hopkins.
Hopkins punishes Julio's body with a nice straight punch.
Julio connects with a jab.
No joy there for Julio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Julio looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hopkins tries to bum rush Julio with a series of wild strikes but Julio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Julio was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Julio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Julio misses with a head kick.
Hopkins shoots for a takedown but Julio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Don Julio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinny Hopkins.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Julio sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hopkins throws a hook but Julio blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Julio misses the target.
Julio lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jab by Hopkins.
Julio throws a hook but Hopkins avoids it easily.
Julio moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hopkins misses with a looping right.
Hopkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hopkins looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Julio throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Julio feints and then cracks Hopkins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hopkins down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Julio misses with a hook
and Hopkins counters with a solid body kick.
Julio drops his hands momentarily and Hopkins takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hopkins throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Julio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Julio just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hopkins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Julio circles away quickly and effectively.
Hopkins fails to land the takedown.
Hopkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Julio swivels and escapes.
Hopkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hopkins on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Vinny Hopkins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Julio pushes him off.
Hopkins jabs at Julio's body.
A big left from Hopkins misses.
Julio throws a lazy right hand but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Julio lands a nice hook to Hopkins's body. Hopkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Julio.
Don Julio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice defenses there by Julio.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Julio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hopkins moves away.
Hopkins takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Julio moves away.
Julio thinks about countering with a head kick.
Julio circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Julio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Hopkins lands a right hook to the body.
Hopkins throws a hook but Julio blocks it.
Julio is looking to counter punch.
Julio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice uppercut there from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopkins lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Julio is looking to wear down Hopkins with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hopkins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Julios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hopkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It looked like Julio wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

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 Don Julio.
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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinny Hopkins!
As Vinny Hopkins got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: I never got to show my full potential before. Welcome to my show..'.