PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yancy Malaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins has chosen Manny Pacquiao - Lalaban Ako as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malaki
vs
Hopkins

182 cm
43
150 lbs
30 - 18 - 3

180 cm
31
157 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Russian Bears Nutrition

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 18 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yancy Malaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinny Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins lands a two punch combo.

Hopkins moves into the clinch.
Hopkins lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hopkins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Malaki has a couple of punches blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Malakis head.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Malakis head.

Malaki breaks from the clinch.
Malaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malaki connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malaki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Hopkins is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Malaki's half guard.
Hopkins trying to mount his opponent but Malaki defends it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hopkins in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Malaki wants to improve his position but Hopkins is controlling well.

Hopkins stands up and beckons Malaki to join him on the feet.
Malaki misses the jab.
Malaki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Malaki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Malaki misses with an uppercut
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A left lands for Malaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Malaki is having none of it.
Hopkins lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hopkins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Malaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Malaki wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Malaki throws a right hand that misses
and Hopkins counters with a left and a right that stings Malaki.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malaki misses with a body shot
letting Hopkins counter with a right hand.

Hopkins takes the fight into the clinch.
Malaki trying to control the position but instead, Hopkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Malaki into the cage.
Malaki is trying to force a seperation but Hopkins has the dominant position.
Hopkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Malaki misses with some punches.
Hopkins lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Malaki blocks it.
Malaki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Malaki blocking some punches.
Hopkins working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hopkins scores with a hook to the body.
Hopkins stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hopkins.
Malaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hopkins lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hopkins presses Malaki against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hopkins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Malaki backwards.
Malaki is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling him.
Hopkins working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.
Hopkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Malaki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hopkins lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malaki swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hopkins scores with a decent looking hook.
Malaki fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malaki gets tackled into the cage by Hopkins. Hopkins maintains the clinch.
Hopkins lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hopkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Malaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Malaki's head.
Hopkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Malaki.
Hopkins lands a shot to the body.
Hopkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hopkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Malaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hopkins lands a left hand.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Malaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins looks to land a right hand but Malaki moved out of range.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good standup being displayed there by Hopkins as he connects with a hook.
Hopkins ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Hopkins drives through and clinches with Malaki against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Hopkins scores with a nice short uppercut.
Malaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Hopkins dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hopkins throws a series of punches but Malaki moves out of range.

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches.
Hopkins lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.
Malaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Hopkins won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
A right hand to the body from Hopkins.
Hopkins has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Malaki seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hopkins can turn it around.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malaki's elbow.
Hopkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Malaki pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hopkins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaki takes a shot to the head.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Hopkins has double underhooks.
Hopkins digs a right hand underneath Malaki's ribcage. Malaki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Malaki stalling in the clinch but Hopkins improves position.
Hopkins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malaki's efforts to push away.

Malaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins clinches up with Malaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Malaki is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling him.
Hopkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to work over Malaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malaki tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
Malaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hopkins lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Malaki or not.
Hopkins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malaki's efforts to push away.
Malaki tries to circle away but Hopkins has him pinned against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Hopkins.
Hopkins lands with a right to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hopkins.
Hopkins gets through Malaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hopkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hopkins leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Malaki backwards.

Malaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Hopkins lunges at Malaki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Malaki's hand.
Malaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Malaki looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Hopkins scores with a jab.
Malaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hopkins moves out of range as Malaki strikes.
Malaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yancy Malaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hopkins clinches.
A short right from Hopkins on the inside.
Malaki is trying to force a seperation but Hopkins has the dominant position.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Malaki prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Malakis head.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Malaki.
Hopkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hopkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Hopkins lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hopkins cracks Malaki with a nice body shot.
Malaki blocking some punches.
Hopkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of Malaki backwards.
Malaki prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Malaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Hopkins won't allow it.
Malaki tries to break free but Hopkins pushes him back against the cage.
Hopkins can't find room to land a body shot as Malaki controls the action.
A short uppercut from Hopkins.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hopkins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Malaki can't break the clinch.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Malaki's head.
Malaki is trying to force a seperation but Hopkins has the dominant position.
Hopkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Malaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Hopkins won't allow it.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Hopkins.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Malaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
Malaki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hopkins is keeping busy.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Malaki's head.
Malaki misses with the head strike.
Malaki misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
Malaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Malaki working aggressively here.
Malaki prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Malaki tries to break free but Hopkins pushes him back against the cage.
Malaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hopkins lands with a left to the head.
Hopkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Malaki is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.
Hopkins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hopkins bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Malaki's head.
Malaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from Malaki misses.
Hopkins feints a jab promting Malaki to slip. Hopkins then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Malaki slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hopkins misses with a few strikes there.

Hopkins rushes Malaki and presses him up against the cage.
Hopkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hopkins keeps control of Malaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short uppercut from Malaki.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malaki's elbow.
Hopkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Malakis head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Malaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.

Malaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins throws a shot from downtown. Malaki moves away and avoids it.
Hopkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malaki takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Malaki misses with the head strike.
Hopkins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malaki's efforts to push away.

Malaki breaks the clinch.
Jab by Hopkins.
Malaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopkins.
Donk. Malaki catches Hopkins right on the button with a cross.
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Malaki circles away.
Hopkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hopkins slips under a jab from Malaki.
Malaki misses with a looping left.
Hopkins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A counter left hand to the body from Malaki misses its target.
Hopkins sizes up Malaki with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hopkins getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Malaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hopkins turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Malaki lands with a good body shot.

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Malaki blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Hopkins.
A short right from Hopkins.
Malaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hopkins effectively controlling the action here.
A short body shot lands from Hopkins as the two fighters clinch.
A hook to the body from Hopkins.
Hopkins holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hopkins lands a left hand.
Hopkins pushes Malaki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
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.
A right handed body shot lands from Hopkins.
Malaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malaki tries to work over Hopkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hopkins prevents Malaki from breaking the clinch.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Malaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slow jab from Malaki misses its intended target.
Hopkins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Malaki in his tracks.
Hopkins misses with a looping left.
Hopkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hopkins throws an overhand right that lands on Malaki's shoulder, as Malaki tries to avoid the shot.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Malaki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hopkins.

Hopkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Malaki, pushing him back against the cage.

Malaki manages to break the clinch.
Malaki misses with a wild body shot.
A nice side step and Hopkins releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Malaki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malaki misses with a low kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hopkins darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hopkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malaki circles away.
Hopkins lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hopkins tries to clinch up but Malaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Malaki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hopkins.
A slow jab from Hopkins misses its intended target.
Hopkins looks to land a right hand but Malaki moved out of range.
Malaki looks to land a left hand but Hopkins moved out of range nicely.
Malaki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Malaki misses with a two punch combination.
Hopkins looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Yancy Malaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A looping hook to the body misses from Malaki. Hopkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hopkins scores with a jab.
Hopkins stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hopkins lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hopkins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinny Hopkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hopkins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinny Hopkins!
After winning the bout, Vinny Hopkins thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.