PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leland Hopkins (ranked 9651 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scotch Johnson (ranked 6480 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopkins
vs
Johnson

176 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

182 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 3 - 4 - 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, Scotch Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hopkins is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Johnson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson controlling the action here.
Hopkins is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hopkins trying to control from the bottom.
Hopkins is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
Hopkins looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopkins, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hopkins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Johnson gets a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leland Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson shoots in but Hopkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins avoids it really well and circles away.
As Johnson looks to move away, Hopkins throws a big counter combo but Johnson just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hopkins can't break the clinch.

Hopkins turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Hopkins decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hopkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Hopkins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scotch Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Hopkins manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Hopkins lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hopkins trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Hopkins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hopkins preventing the sweep.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Johnson strikes from his own guard.
Hopkins is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson is trying to keep Hopkins in close.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopkins's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopkins managing to control the position.
Johnson wants to stand but Hopkins is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hopkins looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopkins, not yet.
Hopkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Hopkins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Hopkins gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hopkins looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopkins, not yet.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Hopkins is really struggling to control Johnson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Hopkins drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!

Johnson working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hopkins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hopkins is letting Johnson control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Scotch Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hopkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hopkins somewhat.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hopkins, pushing him back against the cage.
Hopkins tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson has picked Hopkins up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hopkins is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
It looks like Johnson is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hopkins is looking to improve his position.
Johnson is pressing down on Hopkins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hopkins is holding on for now.

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.
Hopkins tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson trying to control the action but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Scotch Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopkins is trying to get back to full guard.
Hopkins is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson looks to throw a body kick

and Hopkins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to control but Hopkins is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Hopkins content to stall in guard here.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hopkins trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Johnson working for a triangle but Hopkins defends it easily.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Hopkins controlling him for the moment.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Hopkins is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopkins postures up.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Hopkins defends easily.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Hopkins tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Johnson manages to circle out of the way.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leland Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scotch Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hopkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scotch Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scotch Johnson!