PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bai Caleman (ranked 5892 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hopkins (ranked 8815 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Hopkins is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Caleman
vs
Hopkins

181 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bai Caleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins drives through with a takedown into Caleman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hopkins cracks Caleman with a solid left hand.
Hopkins's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Caleman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopkins's guard.

Hopkins is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Caleman stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins has control of Caleman's left arm, preventing Caleman from doing any damage.
Caleman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hopkins managing to control the position.
Hopkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Caleman's guard.

Hopkins won't allow Caleman to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Caleman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Caleman landing with the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Caleman is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caleman stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins has control of Caleman's left arm, preventing Caleman from doing any damage.
Caleman lands a couple of elbows.
Hopkins is pulling down on Caleman's head. It's preventing any offense from Caleman, at least for the moment.
Hopkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Caleman preventing the sweep.
Hopkins has momentary wrist control but Caleman slips an elbow through the middle.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hopkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hopkins pulls Caleman in close to prevent any damage.
Caleman throws a big elbow that misses.
Caleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caleman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hopkins can do anything to dispel that myth.
Caleman won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.
Caleman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Caleman is breathing heavily.
Hopkins has his hands clasped together around Caleman's back. He's all about the action.
Hopkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Caleman.
Hopkins wants to get back to full guard.
Caleman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Caleman prevents Hopkins from improving his position.
Hopkins keeping hold of Caleman's head, controlling as best he can.
Caleman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is looking to improve his position.
Hopkins is positioning himself well to prevent Caleman advancing to mount.
Hopkins is staying active underneath Caleman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hopkins holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Caleman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Caleman prevents Hopkins from improving his position.

That's four 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.
Caleman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hopkins's head.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Caleman has control of the leg.
Hopkins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hopkins keeps trying to improve his position.
Hopkins preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hopkins is looking for a sweep. Caleman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hopkins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Caleman won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.
Hopkins is controlling Caleman's posture.
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 Bai Caleman will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Caleman connects with a right hand. Hopkins shakes it off.
Caleman swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Matt Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Caleman is looking to clinch.
Caleman cracks Hopkins with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Matt Hopkins has been cut.
Caleman thuds his right hand into Hopkins's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hopkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caleman.
Caleman throws out a powerful jab.
Caleman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Caleman throws a predictable looking body shot

and Hopkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hopkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Caleman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hopkins is in close to Caleman's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins content to stall in guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Caleman is on top in guard.

Hopkins is pulling down on Caleman's head. It's preventing any offense from Caleman, at least for the moment.
Caleman wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Hopkins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Caleman passes Hopkins's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to roll over but Caleman keeps him under control.
Hopkins keeping hold of Caleman's head, controlling as best he can.
Hopkins is continuing to stall.
Caleman prevents Hopkins from improving his position.
Hopkins is concentrating on defense, preventing Caleman from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caleman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hopkins is positioning himself well to prevent Caleman advancing to mount.
Let's hope that Hopkins has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hopkins is looking to improve his position.

Caleman escapes and gets back to his feet.
Hopkins throws a big shot that misses.
Caleman is looking for a counter combo.

Hopkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Caleman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Caleman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hopkins's best efforts.
Matt Hopkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopkins working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is thwarting Caleman's attempts to control the position.
Hopkins keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Caleman moves into full guard.
Hopkins connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Caleman is on top in guard.

Hopkins controlling Caleman's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Caleman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
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 Bai Caleman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Hopkins's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Caleman staying out of range there.
Caleman lands with a nice body punch.
Hopkins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Caleman lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hopkins throws a jab when Caleman was well out of range.
Hopkins takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hopkins looks to throw the jab but Caleman is out of range.
Caleman swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hopkins throws a shot from downtown. Caleman moves away and avoids it.
Caleman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Caleman swinging wildly here.
Caleman is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hopkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Caleman wants to sweep here but Hopkins controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Caleman is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins controlling Caleman's posture.
Caleman throws a big elbow that misses.
Caleman throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins pulls Caleman in close to prevent any damage.
Hopkins wants to stand but Caleman is controlling the position.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Caleman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Caleman from controlling successfully.
Caleman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopkins can do to turn this around?
Hopkins is pulling down on Caleman's head to control his posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins has control of Caleman's left arm, preventing Caleman from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A cross from Caleman lands.
Caleman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Caleman throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Caleman takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caleman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bai Caleman is winning the standup battle so far.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Caleman moves away.
Caleman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Caleman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hopkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hopkins is keen to just control but Caleman is a slippery customer.
Hopkins is taking a breather. Caleman 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.
Caleman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Caleman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Hopkins wants to sweep here but Caleman controlling him for the moment.
Hopkins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Caleman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Caleman wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Caleman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caleman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Caleman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopkins is pulling down on Caleman's head to control his posture.
Caleman wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Caleman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Caleman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Caleman stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.
Caleman wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bai Caleman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Caleman, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bai Caleman!