PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bear Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is "The Red" by Chevelle. Ryan Hopkins could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bear Stevenson's chin.

Hopkins
vs
Stevenson

180 cm
34
165 lbs
19 - 7 - 1

178 cm
34
168 lbs
29 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

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 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bear Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Hopkins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hopkins throws a right hand that misses
and Stevenson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hopkins checks a low kick from Stevenson.
Hopkins has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Barracks - LOD in the buildup to the fight.
Stevenson connects with a right hand. Hopkins shakes it off.
Hopkins cracks Stevenson with a good jab.
Hopkins plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hopkins thuds his right hand into Stevenson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hopkins is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Stevenson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopkins blocks a low kick nicely.
Stevenson throws a hook but Hopkins avoids it easily.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stevenson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hopkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopkins throws a looping overhand right but Stevenson ducks down to avoid it.
Hopkins connects with a crisp jab.
Hopkins's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stevenson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hopkins scrambles back to his feet.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.

Stevenson tries to keep at a distance but Hopkins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Stevenson.
Stevenson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hopkins is defending well.
Stevenson is struggling to control the position.

Hopkins breaks the clinch.

That's two 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 lands with a hook. Stevenson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hopkins throws a hook but Stevenson blocks it.
Hopkins connects with a jab.
Ryan Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins catches Stevenson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins misses with a straight right.
A nice side step and Stevenson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Stevenson does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hopkins paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stevenson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopkins.
Stevenson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hopkins throws a sloppy head kick
and Stevenson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Hopkins throws a low kick but Stevenson avoids it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hopkins.
Donk. Stevenson catches Hopkins right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Ryan Hopkins has been cut.
Stevenson ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
Stevenson avoids the head kick by Hopkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hopkins slips under a jab from Stevenson.

Hopkins closes the distance and pushes Stevenson back into the cage.
Hopkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Stevenson.
Stevenson taking a breather.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hopkins.
Stevenson blocks an uppercut.
Stevenson is leaning against Hopkins and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right hand to the body from Stevenson.
Hopkins lands a body shot.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hopkins gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
Hopkins uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a hook to the side of Stevenson's head but Stevenson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stevenson misses with a looping left.

Hopkins has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins has Stevenson pressed against the cage, preventing Stevenson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Stevenson being controlled against the cage.
Stevenson lands a left hand.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.
Stevenson has Hopkins pushed against the cage.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Stevenson avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stevenson letting Hopkins take a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Hopkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Hopkins's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stevenson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hopkins misses with a few strikes there.
Stevenson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Stevenson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hopkins doesn't seem bothered though.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut. Hopkins saw that one coming.
Stevenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopkins.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevenson misses the target.
Stevenson misses with a body kick.
Stevenson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hopkins looks to land a left hand but Stevenson moved out of range nicely.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hopkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Hopkins clinches up against the cage.

Stevenson jumps guard.
Hopkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stevenson wants to hit a switch here but Hopkins passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Stevenson there!
Stevenson is trying to escape the mount.
Hopkins is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stevenson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Stevenson is trying to escape the mount.
Hopkins with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looking to control but Stevenson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stevenson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hopkins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hopkins scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Stevenson?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson is looking to improve his position but Hopkins isn't that keen on the idea.
Hopkins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hopkins landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hopkins raining down hammerfists from mount.
Stevenson is trying to escape the mount.
Hopkins fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Stevenson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Stevenson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Stevenson is keen to just control but Hopkins is a slippery customer.
Stevenson wants to free his trapped foot but Hopkins is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hopkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevenson is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hopkins throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hopkins controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hopkins won't allow Stevenson to pass to mount.
Stevenson blocks the strikes from Hopkins.
Hopkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevenson.
Hopkins is trying is best to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Hopkins dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Hopkins's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Hopkins.
Stevenson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stevenson throws a shot to the body.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hopkins is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stevenson throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stevenson. That did some damage!
Stevenson misses with a low kick.
Stevenson defending well as Hopkins loads up on a big left hand.
Stevenson slips a jab from Hopkins.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Hopkins moves away from the strike by Stevenson.
Hopkins lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hopkins lands with a straight right. Stevenson didn't see that one coming.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stevenson to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Stevenson.
Stevenson looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Hopkins tries to clinch up.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Stevenson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Stevenson ducks right into an uppercut from Hopkins.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stevenson. Hopkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stevenson cracks the inside of Hopkins's front leg.
Stevenson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson slips under a jab.
Hopkins blocks the body kick.

Hopkins moves into the clinch successfully.
Hopkins lands a shoulder strike.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Hopkins.
Hopkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stevenson can do to turn this around?
Stevenson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stevenson has a couple of punches blocked by Hopkins.
Bear Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hopkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stevenson working aggressively here.
Stevenson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Stevenson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hopkins's elbow.
Stevenson stalling in the clinch but Hopkins improves position.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins digs a right hand into Stevenson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Stevenson's gas tank.
Stevenson trying to control the position but instead, Hopkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stevenson into the cage.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Stevenson avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying to maintain a safe position but Hopkins gets an underhook and turns Stevenson into the cage.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Hopkins lands a right hand.
Hopkins lands a nice uppercut.
Hopkins blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Hopkins.
Stevenson misses with a punch on the inside.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevensons head.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ryan Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevenson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.
A head kick from Hopkins lands but Stevenson takes it in his stride.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hopkins darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hopkins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hopkins swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hopkins tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Hopkins circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopkins tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopkins lands a head kick!
Stevenson throws a leg kick but Hopkins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Stevenson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hopkins lands a high kick!
Stevenson throws a hook but Hopkins avoids it easily.
Hopkins connects with a right hand. Stevenson shakes it off.
Stevenson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopkins.
Stevenson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hopkins tries to clinch up.
Hopkins swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to land a front kick but Hopkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Hopkins!
Ryan Hopkins thanked the fans post fight for their support.