PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Granville Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Da Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Da Nero is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: My Top 10 Moments. This should be a great matchup!

Hopkins
vs
Da Nero

211 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

172 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Granville Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robert Da Nero!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Nero shoots in but Hopkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Da Nero shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins shows good takedown defense.
Da Nero throws a wild body kick that Hopkins sees coming a mile off.
Hopkins stuffs the takedown.
Granville Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Da Nero.

Hopkins has taken the fight to the clinch.
Da Nero is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling him.
Hopkins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Da Nero is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hopkins is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Da Nero to the mat. Da Nero regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Da Nero wants to get back to his feet but Hopkins passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hopkins seems to be looking for submissions.

Hopkins postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Da Nero to stand up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Da Nero.
Hopkins tries to counter by clinching up but Da Nero breaks away and moves out of range.
Da Nero fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Nero misses with a takedown

and Hopkins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Hopkins successfully pulls guard.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Da Nero's guard.

Hopkins lands a couple of elbows.
Hopkins landing with the ground and pound.
Da Nero striking off his back but it's not causing Hopkins any problems.
Da Nero looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hopkins stands and steps away. Da Nero gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice takedown defense from Hopkins. No joy for Da Nero on that attempt.

Da Nero closes the distance and pushes Hopkins back into the cage.
Da Nero jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hopkins walks away with a smile on his face. Da Nero gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Nero misses with a takedown attempt

and Hopkins counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hopkins.
Hopkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hopkins prevents Da Nero from breaking the clinch.

Hopkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Da Nero closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.

Da Nero rushes Hopkins and presses him up against the cage.
Da Nero wants to take the fight to the mat but Hopkins manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Da Nero avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
Hopkins keeps control of Da Nero as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Da Nero.
Da Nero is trying to pull guard but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.
Da Nero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Hopkins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hopkins punching from the bottom - just letting Da Nero know he's still in a fight.
Hopkins looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Hopkins kicks Da Nero off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Nero moves into the clinch.
Da Nero tries to pull guard but Hopkins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Hopkins successfully pulls guard.
Hopkins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Da Nero's guard.

Hopkins won't allow Da Nero to sweep him here.
Da Nero wants to hit a switch here but Hopkins passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Da Nero there!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hopkins is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Da Nero tries for a takedown but Hopkins circles away easily

and Hopkins moves into the clinch.
Hopkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Da Nero has him pressed against the cage.
Da Nero tries to pull guard but Hopkins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins manages to pull guard.
Hopkins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hopkins pulls Da Nero in to control the position.
Hopkins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hopkins has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Da Nero defend it? Hopkins steps over the head and cranks it - Da Nero is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Hopkins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Granville Hopkins!
The defeated Robert Da Nero had this to say: 'I'll need to train harder to not disappoint you next time '.