PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leland Hopkins (ranked 25367 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darijo Kreslin (ranked 6279 p4p, 0 weight class). Kreslin has chosen Bang Bang as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hopkins
vs
Kreslin

176 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

185 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 - 6 - 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, Darijo Kreslin!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kreslin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hopkins on his heels. He'll look to pass Hopkins's guard now, I'm sure.
Hopkins 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.
Kreslin wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.

Kreslin gets to his feet - Hopkins follows without any prompting.
Kreslin fails with the takedown.

Hopkins looking to score a takedown here. Kreslin is defending well but Hopkins drives through and ends up in Kreslin's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kreslin wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopkins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hopkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kreslin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hopkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hopkins won't allow Kreslin to sweep him here.
Hopkins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hopkins seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kreslin for as long as he can get away with.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kreslin holds on and takes a little breather.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Kreslin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopkins controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Kreslin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hopkins napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Hopkins throws Kreslin to one side and escapes!
Kreslin shoots in but Hopkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kreslin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hopkins swivels and escapes.
Leland Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darijo Kreslin.
Kreslin misses with a low kick.
Hopkins tries to counter by clinching up but Kreslin breaks away and moves out of range.
Kreslin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hopkins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Darijo Kreslin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hopkins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins takes a little break here. Kreslin wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kreslin is trying to get back to his feet.
Kreslin is letting Hopkins control him for a moment.

Hopkins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hopkins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kreslin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kreslin struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kreslin is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kreslin struggling a bit here.
Kreslin is trying to improve his position.
Kreslin looks winded!
Hopkins slows the pace down.
Kreslin is trying to get back to half guard.
Hopkins taking a breather here.

Hopkins decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hopkins takes the fight into the clinch.

Kreslin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Hopkins dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kreslin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hopkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kreslin pinned against the cage. Kreslin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hopkins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kreslin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Hopkins decides to stand back up. Hopkins steps back and let's Kreslin get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreslin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hopkins circles away.
Kreslin misses with a takedown
and Hopkins counters with a one-two to the body.
Leland Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darijo Kreslin.

Hopkins clinches.

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

Kreslin drives through and clinches with Hopkins against the cage.

Hopkins manages to pull guard.
Hopkins throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Hopkins trying to control the position.
Hopkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kreslin throws an elbow that misses. Hopkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kreslin's guard. Nice move by Hopkins!

Kreslin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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.

Kreslin manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Hopkins shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kreslin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hopkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control but Kreslin is working from the bottom.

Hopkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hopkins tries to stand but Kreslin is controlling from the bottom.

Kreslin 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.

Hopkins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins checks a leg kick.

Kreslin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hopkins was covering up waiting for the punch and Kreslin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kreslin trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kreslin is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kreslin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hopkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kreslin stands and throws Hopkins's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kreslin trying to control the action but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Hopkins gets back to half guard.
Kreslin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hopkins gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Kreslin has managed to clinch.
Kreslin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hopkins.
Hopkins is trying to force a seperation but Kreslin has the dominant position.
Kreslin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kreslin jumps guard but Hopkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins can't break the clinch.

Kreslin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kreslin.
Leland Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darijo Kreslin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins shoots for a double leg takedown but Kreslin sprawls well. He's pushed Hopkins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kreslin looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Kreslin rushes Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hopkins gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kreslin regains guard.
Hopkins preventing the sweep.

Hopkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kreslin trying to control the position.
Hopkins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hopkins trying to control but Kreslin is working from the bottom.
Kreslin looking to control.
Kreslin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hopkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Hopkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hopkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hopkins seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kreslin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopkins defends it easily.
Hopkins controlling from the top position.
Kreslin looking for a sweep. Not yet Kreslin, not yet.
Hopkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kreslin working a defensive guard here.
Hopkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kreslin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hopkins sprawls well. Hopkins wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kreslin gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kreslin gets a clinch.
Hopkins drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kreslin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hopkins tries to break the clinch but Kreslin is controlling the position.
Kreslin tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kreslin breaks the clinch.

Kreslin gets a clinch.

Kreslin breaks from the clinch.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hopkins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hopkins is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Darijo Kreslin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leland Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hopkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Darijo Kreslin.
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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

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