PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristian Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Manny Pacquiao - Lalaban Ako . Tavares has chosen Karter comes out rocking #1 headband as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hopkins
vs
Tavares

180 cm
34
153 lbs
34 - 19 - 0

173 cm
26
150 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)
Bullet Proof System

Aspire Clothing
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinny Hopkins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cristian Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins misses with a straight right.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hopkins.
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins misses with a hook. Tavares ducked under it nicely.

Hopkins gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tavares takes a shot to the head.
Hopkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tavares goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Tavares blocks it.
Hopkins blocks a body shot from Tavares.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.
Tavares tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Tavares back against the cage.
Hopkins lands a nice uppercut.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.
Tavares can't find room to land a body shot as Hopkins controls the action.
I was talking to Hopkins's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Tavares swings wildly with an uppercut but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavares makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavares has a couple of punches blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A hook to the body from Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hopkins.
Tavares scores with a hook to the body.

Hopkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins lands a slapping body shot.
Tavares connects with an inside leg kick.
Tavares scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hopkins doesn't seem bothered though.
Tavares throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins lands with a straight right. Tavares didn't see that one coming.
Tavares scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopkins connects with a nice looking jab.
Hopkins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hopkins appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tavares misses with a double jab
and Hopkins counters with a left to the body.
Tavares thows a left - swing and a miss!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hopkins's sensitive parts.
Hopkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tavares doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins slips under a jab.
Tavares lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins misses with a hook. Tavares ducked under it nicely.
Hopkins misses with a jab to the body
and Tavares counters with a big head kick but Hopkins shrugs it off.
Tavares misses with a straight right.
Tavares looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Tavares with a hook.
Tavares connects with a crisp jab.
Tavares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hopkins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tavares in his tracks.
Tavares takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tavares tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tavares lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hopkins tries to work over Tavares's front leg with a kick but Tavares checks it.
Tavares misses with a wild body shot.
Tavares throws an overhand right that lands on Hopkins's shoulder, as Hopkins tries to avoid the shot.
Tavares just misses with a punch to the body.
Tavares swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins misses with a leg kick
and Tavares counters with a leg kick.
Tavares misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins scores with the left hand. Tavares knows he should have avoided that one.
Hopkins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hopkins loads up on a big right hand but Tavares slips the punch.
Hopkins clobbers Tavares with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hopkins blocks the body kick.
Tavares is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
Tavares throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hopkins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tavares doesn't seem bothered though.
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavares.
Tavares staying out of range there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tavares! But no joy.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hopkins swings for the body but Tavares moves out of range.
Hopkins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tavares.
Hopkins cracks Tavares with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tavares closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavares swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Hopkins appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hopkins clobbers Tavares with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hopkins misses with a hook.
Tavares appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A cross from Hopkins lands.
Tavares scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hopkins drops his hands momentarily and Tavares takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hopkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Tavares lands a leg kick that knocks Hopkins off balance momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Tavares lands a nice looking body shot.
Tavares throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tavares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
Hopkins swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tavares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vinny Hopkins will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tavares displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hopkins throws out the jab.
Tavares needs to keep his hands up - Hopkins had a free shot at his head there.
Tavares throws a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tavares. Tavares obviously looking to wear him down.

Hopkins has managed to clinch.
Tavares has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Hopkins seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tavares can turn it around.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hopkins.
Tavares misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tavares tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hopkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavares.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Tavares back against the cage.
Tavares jumps guard but Hopkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Hopkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tavares takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tavares tries a low kick but Hopkins avoids it.
Hopkins scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a hook.
Hopkins missing with a left hand there. Tavares was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tavares looks to land a right hand but Hopkins moved out of range.
Hopkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tavares was well out of range. Poor timing from Hopkins.
Hopkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tavares.

Hopkins moves into range and clinches up with Tavares.
Hopkins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Tavares misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins lands with a left to the head.
Hopkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tavares misses with a body punch.
Vinny Hopkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hopkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hopkins scores with a shoulder strike.
Tavares tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hopkins's elbow.
Tavares prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tavares lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Hopkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tavares tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Hopkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Hopkins fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Hopkins.
Hopkins blocking some punches.
Hopkins is trying to break the clinch but Tavares is controlling him.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.
Tavares drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tavares misses with a straight right.
Hopkins avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tavares slips a jab from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a lunging right hand
and Tavares counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hopkins misses with a looping right.
Tavares throws out a counter right but Hopkins avoids it with no problem.
Tavares misses with a hook.
Tavares punishes Hopkins's body with a nice straight punch.
Cristian Tavares seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tavares scores with a jab.
Tavares misses with a body shot.
Hopkins throws a leg kick but Tavares sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tavares now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Tavares takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Tavares misses.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hopkins digs a good body shot into Tavares's ribs.
Tavares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tavares throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins throws a hook but Tavares avoids it easily.
Tavares misses the jab.
Tavares looks to land a left hand but Hopkins moved out of range nicely.
Tavares throws a lazy uppercut
and Hopkins counters with a stiff right hand.
Tavares drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tavares waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hopkins.
Hopkins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tavares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hopkins fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A slow jab from Tavares misses its intended target.
Tavares swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins misses with a hook.
Hopkins loads up on a big right hand but Tavares slips the punch.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tavares throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tavares misses with a straight right.
Hopkins slips a jab from Tavares.
Tavares throws a chopping leg kick but Hopkins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
It looked like Hopkins was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tavares.
Hopkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Tavares.
Tavares thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hopkins takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tavares avoids the body shot from Hopkins.
A big right from Tavares misses.
Hopkins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tavares.
Hopkins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tavares throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.
Tavares walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Hopkins dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hopkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tavares was well out of range. Poor timing from Hopkins.
Hopkins fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Tavares does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Tavares misses.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tavares with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hopkins to score with a decent uppercut.
Hopkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tavares.
Hopkins half committed to a counter leg kick.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavares is just out of range.
Tavares pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hopkins is out of range and Tavares settles back down.
Tavares fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hopkins.
Hopkins is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tavares takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Tavares lands a jab to Hopkins's midsection.
Hopkins throws a shot from downtown. Tavares moves away and avoids it.
Tavares throws a body shot but no joy.
Tavares throws a series of strikes that have Hopkins backpedaling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Hopkins. That snapped Tavares's head back.
Hopkins checks a low kick from Tavares.
Tavares thumps Hopkins with a low kick.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tavares.
As Tavares backs away, Hopkins returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hopkins fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tavares has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hopkins closes the distance but Tavares moves to the side
and Hopkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tavares moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hopkins takes a swing at Tavares's ribcage but misses.
Tavares throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Tavares misses with a left hand
and Hopkins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hopkins slips a jab from Tavares.
Hopkins misses with a body shot.
Hopkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Tavares circles away.
Tavares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
Tavares misses the jab.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tavares. Hopkins shrugs it off though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares throws an overhand right that lands on Hopkins's shoulder, as Hopkins tries to avoid the shot.
Decent striking displayed by Tavares there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares takes one to the chin there.
Tavares misses the shot to the body.
Tavares lands a jab.
Hopkins misses with a hook
and Tavares counters with a left to the body.
Tavares missing with a left hand there. Hopkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tavares throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Hopkins to counter with a crisp jab.
Hopkins swings for the body but Tavares moves out of range.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that misses.
Tavares slips a jab from Hopkins.
The crowd cheers as Tavares lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hopkins doesn't seem phased though.
A swing and a miss from Hopkins.
Tavares throws a right hand that misses
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tavares throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Hopkins counter with a right hand.
Hopkins tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tavares is able to avoid easily.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hopkins's calf.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopkins lands a really nice looking cross but Tavares seems unphased.
Hopkins throws an overhand right that lands on Tavares's shoulder, as Tavares tries to avoid the shot.
Hopkins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tavares thuds a left hand into Hopkins's body.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavares is just out of range.
Tavares keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopkins.
Hopkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the body.
Hopkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tavares.
A jab from Hopkins finds it's way through Tavares's defenses.
Hopkins throws a chopping leg kick but Tavares manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tavares misses with a left hand
and Tavares takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tavares throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Tavares.
Tavares connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Tavares.
Hopkins clobbers Tavares with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins tries to counter by clinching up but Tavares breaks away and moves out of range.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Hopkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tavares replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Hopkins blocks it well.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hopkins darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hopkins misses with a hook.
Hopkins throws a body punch but Tavares moves out of range.
Hopkins works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Hopkins rushes Tavares and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tavares swings wildly with an uppercut but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Tavares.
Tavares misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Vinny Hopkins did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tavares missing with a left hand there. Hopkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tavares throws a solid leg kick but Hopkins takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tavares.
Tavares ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tavares takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tavares takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tavares steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
Tavares throws a looping overhand right but Hopkins ducks down to avoid it.
Tavares misses with an uppercut.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.
Tavares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hopkins.
Tavares misses with a looping right.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tavares.
Tavares walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares blocks a jab.
Hopkins throws a leg kick
and Tavares counters with a stiff right hand.
Hopkins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hopkins to score with a decent uppercut.
A slow jab from Hopkins misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tavares takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Tavares throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hopkins sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tavares looks to throw the jab but Hopkins is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Tavares checks the leg kick.
Hopkins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tavares throws out the jab.
Tavares fails to land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Tavares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tavares swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hopkins tries to clinch up.
Tavares takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hopkins lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tavares.
Tavares connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hopkins's hands.
Tavares smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tavares scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tavares tries to bum rush Hopkins with a series of wild strikes but Hopkins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares clobbers Hopkins with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hopkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hopkins walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A jab from Tavares misses.
Tavares on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hopkins misses with a straight left.
Tavares loads up on a big right hand but Hopkins slips the punch.
Hopkins misses with a looping left.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Tavares blocks a leg kick.
Tavares throws out a counter right but Hopkins avoids it with no problem.
Tavares throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hopkins lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice defenses there by Tavares.
Tavares throws a jab but it's blocked by Hopkins.

Hopkins drives through and clinches with Tavares against the cage.
Hopkins lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hopkins misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins breaks the clinch.
Tavares ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tavares avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It seemed like Tavares was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tavares keeps the fight on the outside.
Hopkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
It looked like Hopkins wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tavares throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
That kick from Hopkins tenderised Tavares's leg. Tavares is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tavares has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tavares throws a looping overhand right but Hopkins ducks down to avoid it.

Hopkins has Tavares up against the cage in a clinch.
Hopkins wants to get back to striking at distance but Tavares won't allow it.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Tavares's head.
A short left from Hopkins.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hopkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares thuds his shin into the meat of Hopkins's side.
Tavares moves out of range of the strikes.
Tavares throws a poor cross that misses
and Hopkins counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tavares tries to clinch up but Hopkins circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopkins dips to his left and cracks Tavares with an uppercut!
Tavares throws a right hand that Hopkins ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopkins also avoids with ease.
Tavares checks a leg kick nicely.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Tavares misses with a low kick.
Hopkins misses the jab.
Tavares feints a counter leg kick.
Good leg kick by Hopkins there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tavares blocks a jab.
Tavares takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tavares throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hopkins walks into a left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tavares.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Vinny Hopkins will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tavares uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hopkins.
Hopkins slips under a jab.
Tavares shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hopkins throws out a loose jab but Tavares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Tavares slips a straight right by Hopkins.
Hopkins tests Tavares's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tavares uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hopkins.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hopkins darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tavares moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tavares's hands.
Hopkins finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hopkins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tavares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tavares throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Tavares throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hopkins sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tavares darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tavares does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Tavares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tavares stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hopkins.
Hopkins takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hopkins tries a low kick but Tavares avoids it.
Tavares misses with a hook. Hopkins ducked under it nicely.
Tavares misses with a straight left.
Tavares steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
Tavares thuds a left hand into Hopkins's body.
Hopkins looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Tavares lands a nice hook to Hopkins's body. Hopkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Tavares swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A nice side step and Tavares releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hopkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavares manages to avoid it.
Hopkins slips a straight right by Tavares.
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Cristian Tavares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looks to throw the jab but Tavares is out of range.
Hopkins moves away from the strike by Tavares.
Tavares lands a nice shot that snaps Hopkins's head back.
Tavares on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hopkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tavares decides to pull guard.
Hopkins's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hopkins trying to control but Tavares is working from the bottom.
Tavares keeping full guard, as Hopkins tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tavares is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hopkins defends well.
Hopkins slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vinny Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Tavares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hopkins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hopkins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Tavares working for submissions but it's allowed Hopkins to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tavares is pressing down on Hopkins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Tavares is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hopkins defends well.
Hopkins slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins takes a decent strike to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vinny Hopkins.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hopkins, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vinny Hopkins!
Vinny Hopkins retains his featherweight title!
Vinny Hopkins decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.