PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Moshe Hopper (ranked 8472 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristaps Kerschov (ranked 6101 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Hopper
vs
Kerschov

154 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
23
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Moshe Hopper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kristaps Kerschov!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Chris Dean and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerschov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Moshe Hopper has been cut.

Kerschov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hopper, pushing him back against the cage.

Kerschov decides to pull guard.
Hopper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kerschov looking for a sweep. Not yet Kerschov, not yet.
Hopper could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hopper wants to get up but he can't break Kerschov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kerschov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kerschov trying to strike off his back.
Hopper has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kerschov is proving hard to escape from.
Kerschov looking to control.

Hopper gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kerschov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hopper pushes Kerschov off but Kerschov dives into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kerschov trying to control the position but Hopper is working away.
Kerschov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hopper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper tries to improve position but can't.
Hopper sneaks back into half guard.
Hopper is looking to improve his position.
Kerschov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hopper gets back to full guard.
Kerschov trying to control but Hopper is working from the bottom.
Hopper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerschov is staying active underneath Hopper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kerschov is looking to control Hopper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kerschov avoid being mounted?

Hopper is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kerschov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hopper.

Hopper stands up and beckons Kerschov to join him on the feet.
Kerschov thuds his shin into the meat of Hopper's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerschov rushes Hopper and presses him up against the cage.

Kerschov jumps guard.
Kerschov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopper manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopper trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Hopper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kerschov is controlling him.
Kerschov is looking to stand up but Hopper won't let him.

Hopper uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Kerschov closes the distance and clinches.
Kerschov lands a hook that snaps the head of Hopper backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopper wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hopper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kerschov looking to score a takedown here. Hopper is defending well but Kerschov drives through and ends up in Hopper's guard.
Hopper is looking to stand back up but Kerschov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hopper.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hopper wants to improve his position but Kerschov is controlling well.
Kerschov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hopper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kerschov is taking a breather. Hopper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kerschov working Hopper over with strikes.
Kerschov prevents Hopper from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristaps Kerschov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Moshe Hopper's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kerschov throws a leg kick but Hopper sees it coming and moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kerschov.

Kerschov closes the distance and clinches.

Hopper jumps guard.
Hopper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kerschov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hopper is working away from the top position though.

Hopper seems to be working for a kimura but Kerschov defends the submission attempt.

Hopper is working for a kimura but Kerschov is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kerschov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kerschov pushes Hopper off looking to stand but Hopper dives back in and keeps control.
Kerschov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hopper.

Hopper seems to be looking for submissions.

Hopper is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kerschov trying to hold on to Hopper's head to control him but Hopper postures up.
Hopper wants to stand but Kerschov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Hopper is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kerschov defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kerschov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hopper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kerschov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopper's guard.

Kerschov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerschov tries to stand but Hopper is controlling from the bottom.
Kerschov won't allow Hopper to sweep him here.
Hopper is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kerschov dives into side control.
Hopper can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopper wants to get back to his feet.
Kerschov working the head with strikes.
Kerschov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kerschov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kerschov working the ground and pound.
Hopper tries to bench press Kerschov off him but Kerschov keeps the position.
Kerschov cracks Hopper with a big right hand but Hopper just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hopper is looking for a sweep.

Kerschov decides to stand back up. Kerschov steps back and let's Hopper get back to his feet.
Kristaps Kerschov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kerschov instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopper is trying to pull guard but Kerschov has him pressed against the cage.

Kerschov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kerschov closes the distance and clinches.

Hopper jumps into guard, dragging Kerschov to the mat.
Kerschov postures up.
Kerschov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hopper's guard.
Kerschov forces his way into half guard.
Kerschov wants to pass to mount but Hopper is defending the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kerschov in particular looking to stall.

Kerschov 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristaps Kerschov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Moshe Hopper's cut.
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!

Kerschov has closed the distance and engaged Hopper in a clinch.
Kerschov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kerschov prevents Hopper from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerschov prevents a body shot from Hopper.
Kerschov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hopper's efforts to push away.
Hopper misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kerschov walks away with a smile on his face. Hopper gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kerschov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hopper to the ground. Kerschov is now in Hopper's guard.
Hopper wants to sweep here but Kerschov controlling him for the moment.
Hopper is working hard here to advance position.
Hopper tries to strike from the bottom.
Hopper keeping moving, preventing Kerschov from controlling successfully.
Kerschov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopper wants to sweep here but Kerschov controlling him for the moment.
Hopper trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerschov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kerschov looking to pass the guard.

Hopper looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kerschov passes into side control.
Kerschov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hopper keeps working.

Kerschov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kerschov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kerschov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerschov moves into the clinch successfully.
Hopper tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hopper successfully pulls guard.
Kerschov looking to pass the guard.
Kerschov controlling from the top position.
Hopper looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopper, not yet.
Kerschov postures up and lands a big shot to Hopper's brow.
Hopper 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.
Hopper striking from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerschov lands a couple of digs.
Kerschov with a nice head shot there.
Hopper wants to sweep but no luck.
Kerschov tries to stand but Hopper is controlling from the bottom.
Kerschov advances position into side control!
Hopper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kerschov controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kerschov wants to control but Hopper is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kristaps Kerschov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kerschov 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kristaps Kerschov!