PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by "The Red" by Chevelle. Van Kelly has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopkins
vs
Kelly

180 cm
33
165 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

181 cm
43
168 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Van Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly is looking to clinch.

Kelly moves into the clinch.

Kelly lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kelly missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hopkins flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Kelly wants to work for an arm triangle but Hopkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kelly looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hopkins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Kelly has control of the leg.
Kelly missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kelly with the ground and pound but Hopkins uses the opportunity to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly works over Hopkins with some ground and pound from guard.
Kelly throws a big right hand that misses.
Kelly trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hopkins's guard.
Kelly stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kelly throws a big elbow that misses.
Kelly working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kelly throws a big right hand that misses.
Kelly postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
Kelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hopkins throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kelly stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hopkins is on top in guard.

Kelly looking for a guillotine here but Hopkins defends easily.

Kelly looking for subs off his back but Hopkins has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Kelly.
Hopkins lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kelly has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kelly is being controlled here.
Kelly is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hopkins off and has taken his back!
Well, with Kelly on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Hopkins is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Kelly throwing sloppy strikes.
Can Hopkins hold on?! Kelly is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kelly tightening his grip on Hopkins, looking for the choke.

Kelly has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Hopkins is controlling Kelly 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Hopkins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Kelly is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hopkins is aware though and is defending well.
Hopkins working some strikes from top position.

Kelly had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopkins defends it easily.

Kelly has an active guard here but Hopkins has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kelly has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Hopkins escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Hopkins!
Kelly tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kelly keeps trying to improve his position.

Hopkins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kelly is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kelly is not content to let Hopkins control the position.
Hopkins works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Kelly dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kelly shoots in looking for a takedown. Hopkins tries to sprawl out of it but Kelly keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hopkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kelly closes the distance and clinches.
Hopkins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kelly.

Hopkins drags the fight down to the ground.
Kelly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kelly stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kelly is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.

Hopkins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kelly gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kelly's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kelly cracks Hopkins with a solid left hand.
Kelly connects with a couple of short punches.
Hopkins looking to control.
Van Kelly has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kelly working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopkins's head.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kelly's guard.

Kelly 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 stands up over Kelly, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Kelly looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hopkins passes into side control.
Kelly is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins landing a few strikes.
Hopkins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kelly tries to improve position but can't.
Hopkins content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kelly is not content to let Hopkins control the position.
Kelly is looking to regain half guard here but Hopkins keeps moving and retains side control.
Hopkins works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly manages to get back to half guard.
Hopkins wants to pass to mount but Kelly is defending the position.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Hopkins there.
Kelly is looking to improve his position.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins lands with a punch from half guard.
Kelly moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins postures up and lands a big shot to Kelly's brow.

Hopkins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kelly has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hopkins has managed to get both his arms back between Kelly's legs - danger averted.

Kelly looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hopkins passes into side control.
Kelly is breathing heavily.
Hopkins is looking to take a break and control but Kelly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopkins working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kelly is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Hopkins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kelly fails with the takedown

and Hopkins moves into the clinch.
Hopkins scores with a shoulder strike.
Kelly drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hopkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hopkins manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hopkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kelly has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins connects with a crisp jab.

Kelly scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hopkins is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kelly's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Kelly is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throwing shots but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
Hopkins has his hands clasped together around Kelly's back. He's all about the action.
Kelly throwing shots but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
Hopkins is pressing down on Kelly's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hopkins doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hopkins is trying to control the position but Kelly postures up.
Kelly with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two 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 is trying to keep Kelly in close.
Hopkins is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kelly is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hopkins throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kelly works over Hopkins with some ground and pound from guard.
Kelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hopkins with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Kelly can't handle though.
Kelly throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
Kelly wants to stand but Hopkins has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hopkins wants it to stay on the feet.
Hopkins appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ryan Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Kelly.
Hopkins missing with a left hand there. Kelly was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kelly works the jab nicely.

Kelly shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kelly showed some decent athleticism there.

Hopkins kicks Kelly off and gets back to his feet.
Kelly shoots and misses
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Kelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hopkins loads up on a big right hand but Kelly slips the punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kelly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hopkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hopkins throws an elbow that misses.
Hopkins lands with a light punch inside.
Hopkins content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kelly looking for a takedown.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.
Kelly with a poor takedown
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
That kick from Hopkins tenderised Kelly's leg. Kelly is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kelly tries to clinch up.
Van Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Hopkins misses.

Hopkins gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hopkins stuffs the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Hopkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hopkins has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Hopkins!
Our winner, Ryan Hopkins, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.