PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Quinn Hopkins (ranked 6028 p4p, 414 weight class) and Guillermo Rodriguez (ranked 5977 p4p, 407 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hopkins
vs
Rodriguez

173 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Quinn Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Guillermo Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Rodriguez is predictable there
enabling Hopkins to counter with a crisp jab.

Rodriguez clinches with his opponent.
Hopkins misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rodriguez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hopkins up against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rodriguez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hopkins darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez clinches.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hopkins's face.
Rodriguez scores a nice knee to the body.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to chop away at Hopkins's legs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rodriguez slowing the pace effectively.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodriguez drops his hands momentarily and Hopkins takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Guillermo Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez wants to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodriguez rushes Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rodriguez.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez crunches a lovely knee into Hopkins's ribcage.
Rodriguez lands a nice knee to the body.
Rodriguez misses with the head strike.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodriguez throws a front kick that sends Hopkins stumbling back into the cage.

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

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the body.
Rodriguez throws a punch but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez clinches up with Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch but Hopkins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
Hopkins avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A slow jab from Hopkins misses its intended target.

Hopkins gets tackled into the cage by Rodriguez. Rodriguez maintains the clinch.
Rodriguez landing knees to the body.
Rodriguez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Rodriguez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodriguez is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins has a couple of punches blocked by Rodriguez.
Hopkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez has Hopkins pushed against the cage.
Rodriguez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rodriguez tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Rodriguez back against the cage.
Rodriguez unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hopkins with a hook.
Rodriguez tries to land a front kick but Hopkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hopkins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hopkins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Rodriguez saw that one coming.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Hopkins in a clinch.
Hopkins misses with some punches.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins can't find room to land a body shot as Rodriguez controls the action.
Hopkins working aggressively here.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins keeps the fight on the outside.
Hopkins is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hopkins walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rodriguez.
Hopkins avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rodriguez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hopkins misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hopkins cracks Rodriguez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hopkins as Rodriguez tries to tie him up.
Rodriguez tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Rodriguez back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

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

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.
Rodriguez crunches a lovely knee into Hopkins's ribcage.
Rodriguez lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins takes a knee right on the jaw!

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hopkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Rodriguez controls his hands.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rodriguez closes the distance and pushes Hopkins back into the cage.
Rodriguez with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez crunches a lovely knee into Hopkins's ribcage.
Guillermo Rodriguez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hopkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head.

Hopkins is rocked!
Rodriguez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hopkins lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Oh Hopkins is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rodriguez working aggressively here.
Rodriguez lands a nice knee to the body.
Hopkins seems to have got his legs back now.
Hopkins blocking some punches.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the body.
Rodriguez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Rodriguez avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
Rodriguez scores with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hopkins being controlled against the cage.
Rodriguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez effectively controlling the action here.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rodriguez thinking.
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hopkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guillermo Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rodriguez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.
Rodriguez scores a nice knee to the body.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Hopkins moves away
and Hopkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Hopkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rodriguez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A big left from Hopkins misses.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Hopkins against the cage.
Hopkins letting Rodriguez take a breather here.
Rodriguez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rodriguez continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Rodriguez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rodriguez stalling in the clinch.
Hopkins misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hopkins.
Quinn Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Rodriguez blocks it.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Rodriguez avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
Hopkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins managing to block the knees to the body from Rodriguez.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rodriguez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rodriguez's elbow.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Hopkins gets tackled into the cage by Rodriguez. Rodriguez maintains the clinch.
Rodriguez slows down the pace here.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Hopkins moves away
and Hopkins counters with a left and a right that stings Rodriguez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a body punch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Rodriguez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rodriguez wants to clinch
and Hopkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hopkins cracks Rodriguez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rodriguez prevents a body shot from Hopkins.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rodriguez tries to work over Hopkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rodriguez stalling in the clinch but Hopkins improves position.
Rodriguez stalling in the clinch but Hopkins improves position.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rodriguez's elbow.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but Hopkins blocks with his arms.
Rodriguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rodriguez scores with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez working Hopkins over with knees to the body.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodriguez misses with a body punch.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rodriguez's elbow.
Rodriguez scores with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rodriguez misses with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rodriguez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rodriguez crunches a lovely knee into Hopkins's ribcage.
Guillermo Rodriguez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guillermo Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guillermo Rodriguez!