PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leland Hopkins (ranked 25680 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Jabuout (ranked 6567 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hopkins
vs
Jabuout

176 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

189 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leland Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony Jabuout!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jabuout misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Jabuout pushes Hopkins up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Hopkins is trying to trip Jabuout. He has hold of a leg but Jabuout is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hopkins persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hopkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Hopkins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Jabuout has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Hopkins has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Jabuout wants a takedown.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hopkins wants to stand up but Jabuout is controlling the position.
Hopkins is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jabuout wants to get back to full guard.

Jabuout pushes Hopkins off and gets back to his feet.
Hopkins shoots in looking for a takedown but Jabuout manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hopkins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A solid body kick from Jabuout.

Jabuout rushes Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jabuout taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hopkins is looking to control Jabuout's arms but Jabuout gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hopkins has his back to the cage.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins shoots in and drives through. Jabuout sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hopkins.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leland Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jabuout throws a sloppy head kick and Hopkins moves out of range easily.
Hopkins takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hopkins has a takedown stuffed.
Despite the aggression on Jabuout's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.
Jabuout shoots in looking for a takedown but Hopkins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jabuout's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Jabuout has closed the distance and engaged Hopkins in a clinch.

Hopkins turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hopkins manages to end up in side control.

Hopkins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jabuout is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jabuout manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hopkins's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jabuout looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jabuout has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jabuout missing with punches from the bottom.

Hopkins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jabuout tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Jabuout is looking to control Hopkins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jabuout avoid being mounted?

Hopkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jabuout is just riding it out for now. Hopkins eventually gives up the hold.
Jabuout is trying to maintain the position but Hopkins is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Jabuout dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jabuout pushes Hopkins up against the cage in a clinch.

Hopkins jumps guard and drags Jabuout to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins pulls Jabuout in close to prevent any damage.
Jabuout wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Jabuout stays in close to Hopkins's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Jabuout from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Jabuout stands up from Hopkins's guard - Jabuout perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jabuout throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Leland Hopkins has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hopkins dives in for a single leg takedown but Jabuout sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Leland Hopkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jabuout shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hopkins counters with a series of strikes. Jabuout will be more careful next time no doubt.

Jabuout takes the fight into the clinch.
Jabuout tries to pull guard but Hopkins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hopkins tries to pull guard but Jabuout forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jabuout is trying to pull guard but Hopkins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Leland Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Jabuout.
Jabuout keeps control of Hopkins as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hopkins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hopkins has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Jabuout is trying to keep an underhook but Hopkins manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Hopkins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jabuout doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hopkins.
Leland Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jabuout manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hopkins seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jabuout for as long as he can get away with.
Hopkins throwing strikes from guard but Jabuout blocks nicely.
Hopkins content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hopkins postures up.
Hopkins stands and throws Jabuout's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jabuout being controlled for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leland Hopkins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leland Hopkins's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Jabuout misses with a straight left.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Jabuout.
Hopkins throws a big counter combination but Jabuout scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jabuout misses with a takedown
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.

Hopkins scores with a takedown into Jabuout's guard.
Hopkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jabuout is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jabuout being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins stopping the sweep attempt from Jabuout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Further stalling from Hopkins.
Hopkins wanted to stand there but Jabuout had control of the position.
Hopkins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hopkins decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jabuout, up you get!
Jabuout takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jabuout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Jabuout gets a clinch.
Hopkins has Jabuout pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jabuout manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Hopkins turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hopkins controlling from side mount.
Hopkins landing a few strikes.
Hopkins just content to control the position.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jabuout has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jabuout is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Hopkins looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jabuout takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hopkins taking a breather here.
Hopkins passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Jabuout!

Hopkins goes for an armbar but Jabuout turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Jabuout.
Jabuout won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins pulls Jabuout in close to prevent any damage.
Jabuout trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hopkins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leland Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hopkins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leland Hopkins!