PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esqueda comes to the cage accompanied by Cant del Barça. Hopkins is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by "The Red" by Chevelle. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Esqueda
vs
Hopkins

179 cm
39
155 lbs
39 - 22 - 2

180 cm
35
165 lbs
22 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 39 - 22 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Esqueda looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Esqueda lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esqueda slips a straight right by Hopkins.
Esqueda looks to land a body kick but Hopkins moved away.
Hopkins misses with a head kick.
Hopkins throws a nice head kick!
Esqueda avoids the head kick by Hopkins.
Esqueda motions for Hopkins to come forward. Esqueda throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hopkins throws a fast counter high kick but Esqueda manages to duck under it in time.
Esqueda thuds his shin into the meat of Hopkins's side.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hopkins connects with a jab.
Esqueda blocks a jab.
Esqueda slips under a jab.
Hopkins throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hopkins lands with a slapping head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hopkins throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Esqueda stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hopkins tries to clinch up but Esqueda circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins slips under a jab from Esqueda.
Esqueda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A big right from Esqueda misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Esqueda saw that one coming.

Hopkins moves into range and clinches up with Esqueda.
Hopkins is trying to stall.
Hopkins tries to work over Esqueda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Esqueda blocks an uppercut.
Hopkins misses with some punches.
Esqueda blocks an uppercut.
Esqueda misses with a body punch.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Esqueda.
Hopkins working aggressively here.

Esqueda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Esqueda.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the head.
Ryan Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esqueda scores with a leg kick.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut
and Esqueda counters with a nice uppercut.
Esqueda takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Esqueda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esqueda swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hopkins as he jumps to the side.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Esqueda moves out of range.
Esqueda avoids the head kick by Hopkins.
Esqueda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hopkins at a distance.
Esqueda shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Esqueda is looking to score with low kicks.
Esqueda missing with a left hand there. Hopkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circling - Hopkins throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Esqueda fakes the leg kick and cracks Hopkins in the body.
Esqueda lands a really nice looking cross but Hopkins seems unphased.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
Hopkins works the jab nicely.
Hopkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab lands there for Esqueda.
Hopkins takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Esqueda misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopkins is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda blocks a head kick by Hopkins.
Ryan Hopkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hopkins gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Esqueda to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Esqueda slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esqueda landing a few strikes.
Esqueda is chipping away with strikes.
Hopkins tries to buck Esqueda off but Esqueda is having none of it.

Esqueda has hold of Hopkins's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Hopkins tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Esqueda cranks the arm and Hopkins screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Hopkins, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Gerard Esqueda!
A relieved looking Gerard Esqueda thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.