PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masaaki Kanagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hessu Hopo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Hessu Hopo enters the cage!

Kanagawa
vs
Hopo

186 cm
26
211 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

191 cm
26
216 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Masaaki Kanagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hessu Hopo!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopo looks to land a left hand but Kanagawa moved out of range nicely.
Hopo tries to clinch up.
Kanagawa went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Hopo moves into the clinch.
Hopo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kanagawa lands a right hand.
Hopo has Kanagawa pressed against the cage, preventing Kanagawa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hopo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kanagawa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kanagawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kanagawa scores with a hook to the body.
Hopo stalls.
Hopo effectively controlling the action here.
Hopo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hopo content to slow the pace in the clinch.

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

Hopo gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanagawa working hard to break the clinch.

Kanagawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopo walks into a left hand.
A big left from Hopo misses.
Hopo throws a hook to the side of Kanagawa's head but Kanagawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kanagawa is looking for a counter combo.
Hopo wants to clinch up but Kanagawa keeps it at a distance.
Hopo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kanagawa.
Kanagawa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hopo takes the fight into the clinch.
Hopo swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanagawa uses good head movement to avoid it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa lands with a nice combination. Hopo backs away looking to recover.
Hopo throws a shot to the body.
Hopo throws a hook but Kanagawa blocks it.
Kanagawa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hopo clinches with his opponent.
Kanagawa can't break the clinch.
Hopo digs a right hand into Kanagawa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kanagawa's gas tank.
Kanagawa is trying to force a seperation but Hopo has the dominant position.
Kanagawa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Kanagawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kanagawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hopo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hopo misses with a lunging right hand
and Kanagawa counters with a nice uppercut.
Kanagawa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hopo in his tracks.
Nice defenses there by Kanagawa.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopo misses the target.
Kanagawa swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa keeps the fight on the outside.
An attempted straight right counter from Kanagawa misses the target.
Kanagawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kanagawa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hopo ducks under a wild hook from Kanagawa.

Hopo darts in and clinches Kanagawa up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hopo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kanagawa breaks from the clinch.
Hessu Hopo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Kanagawa misses its intended target.
Kanagawa staying out of range there.
Hopo misses with a straight left.
Hopo tries to close the distance and clinch but Kanagawa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hopo looks to land a right hand but Kanagawa moved out of range.
A big left from Hopo misses.
As Hopo looks to move away, Kanagawa throws a big counter combo but Hopo just gets out of the way.
Hopo misses with a right hand
and Kanagawa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hopo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kanagawa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Hopo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kanagawa, pushing him back against the cage.
Hopo prevents Kanagawa from breaking the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hopo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A hook to the body from Kanagawa.
Hopo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kanagawa manages to break the clinch.
Kanagawa throws a hook to the side of Hopo's head but Hopo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kanagawa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A big left from Hopo misses.
Hopo doesn't manage to clinch there - Kanagawa circles away.
The fighters circling - Kanagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It seemed like Hopo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Kanagawa tries to keep at a distance but Hopo has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hessu Hopo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kanagawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hopo.
Kanagawa misses with a hook. Hopo ducked under it nicely.
Kanagawa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopo lands a glancing blow to the side of Kanagawa's head.
Masaaki Kanagawa is winning the standup battle so far.
Hopo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kanagawa's hands.
Hopo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hopo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hopo tries to close the distance and clinch but Kanagawa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kanagawa throwing a counter right hand but Hopo manages to avoid it.
Kanagawa throws a lazy right hand but Hopo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kanagawa walks into a stiff left hand from Hopo.
Kanagawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopo.
Hopo misses with a hook. Kanagawa ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopo misses with an uppercut. Kanagawa saw that one coming.
Kanagawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hopo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kanagawa ducks under a wild hook from Hopo.
Kanagawa is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hopo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kanagawa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kanagawa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopo.
It looked like Kanagawa was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hopo.
Hopo scores with a shot to the body.
Kanagawa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Hopo moves into the clinch.

Kanagawa breaks from the clinch.

Hopo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hook to the body lands for Hopo.
Hopo blocking some punches.
Hopo struggles to land a body shot inside as Kanagawa controls his hands.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Hopo. Beautiful body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hopo has Kanagawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Kanagawa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kanagawa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kanagawa is trying to break the clinch but Hopo is controlling him.
Hopo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopo just leaning against Kanagawa, taking a breather.
Kanagawa cracks Hopo with a nice body shot.

Kanagawa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kanagawa misses with an uppercut.
Kanagawa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopo.
Hopo throws an off balance right hand
and Kanagawa counters with a stiff right hand.
Hopo misses with a hook
and Hopo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopo misses with a body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Kanagawa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopo drops his hands momentarily and Kanagawa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kanagawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hopo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hopo lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Kanagawa breaks from the clinch.

Hopo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kanagawa.
Hopo tries a body shot but Kanagawa blocks it.
Hopo stalling against the cage.
Kanagawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanagawa tries to break free but Hopo pushes him back against the cage.
Hopo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kanagawa wants to get back to striking at distance but Hopo won't allow it.
Hopo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo is pushing Kanagawa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hopo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kanagawa's efforts to push away.
Kanagawa working hard to break the clinch.
A short uppercut from Kanagawa.
Kanagawa tries to circle away but Hopo has him pinned against the cage.

Kanagawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopo looks to land a left hand but Kanagawa moved out of range nicely.
Hopo throws a hook but Kanagawa blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Kanagawa misses the target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hopo with a hook.
Hopo throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Kanagawa to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopo. Kanagawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kanagawa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hessu Hopo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hopo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kanagawa counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hopo tries to close the distance and clinch but Kanagawa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kanagawa seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hopo lands a really nice looking cross but Kanagawa seems unphased.
Kanagawa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hopo.
Kanagawa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hopo ducks under a wild hook from Kanagawa.
Hopo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kanagawa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanagawa blocks a jab.
Kanagawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopo.
Kanagawa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hopo finds it's way round the side to connect with Kanagawa's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopo tries to clinch but Kanagawa moves out of range.
Kanagawa tries to move into range but Hopo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopo misses the target.
Hopo looks to land a left hand but Kanagawa moved out of range nicely.
Hopo throws a body punch but Kanagawa moves out of range.
Kanagawa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hopo throws out the jab.
Hopo loads up on a big right hand but Kanagawa slips the punch.
Kanagawa moves away from the strike by Hopo.
Hopo wants to clinch.
Hopo looks to throw the jab but Kanagawa is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa slips under a jab from Hopo.
Hopo throws the left hand but Kanagawa avoids the punch easily.
A swing and a miss from Hopo.
Kanagawa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hopo ducks under a wild hook from Kanagawa.
Kanagawa slips under a jab.
Kanagawa is looking to counter punch.
Kanagawa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hopo.
Hopo tries to clinch up but Kanagawa circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopo slips under a jab.
Hopo tries to clinch up.
Kanagawa scores with a hook to the body. Hopo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kanagawa misses with a lunging right hand
and Hopo counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hopo moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kanagawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kanagawa throws the left hand but Hopo avoids the punch easily.
Hopo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kanagawa is looking to counter punch.

Hopo pushes Kanagawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Hopo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kanagawa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kanagawa can't break the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Hopo.

Kanagawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopo misses with a straight right.
Kanagawa appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hopo tries to clinch but Kanagawa moves out of range.
Kanagawa is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hopo throws a hook but Kanagawa blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo lands a jab to the head.

Hopo gets a clinch.
Hessu Hopo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kanagawa tries to break free but Hopo pushes him back against the cage.
Kanagawa tries to throw a body punch but Hopo avoids it by throwing Kanagawa back against the cage.
Hopo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kanagawa's efforts to push away.
Kanagawa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hopo throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kanagawa.
Kanagawa gets through Hopo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Hopo.
Hopo has Kanagawa pushed against the cage.
Masaaki Kanagawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kanagawa tries to break free but Hopo pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hessu Hopo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hopo 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hessu Hopo!