PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tarek Bouazzizi (ranked 8165 p4p, 439 weight class) and Quinn Hopkins (ranked 7814 p4p, 428 weight class). Tarek Bouazzizi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Quinn Hopkins's chin.

Bouazzizi
vs
Hopkins

174 cm
19
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarek Bouazzizi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Quinn Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bouazzizi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopkins as he avoids it easily.
Hopkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bouazzizi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hopkins's waist but Hopkins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bouazzizi off to one side.
Hopkins looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bouazzizi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hopkins, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarek Bouazzizi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopkins scores with a hook to the body. Bouazzizi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bouazzizi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bouazzizi has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Bouazzizi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bouazzizi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hopkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bouazzizi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hopkins, pushing him back against the cage.
Bouazzizi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bouazzizi's elbow.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bouazzizi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hopkins prevents it.
Bouazzizi stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bouazzizi.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hopkins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bouazzizi blocks an uppercut.
Bouazzizi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Bouazzizi avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
Bouazzizi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Bouazzizi blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bouazzizi.
Bouazzizi tries for a takedown. No joy.

Bouazzizi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bouazzizi misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bouazzizi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hopkins with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hopkins swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bouazzizi.

It looks like Tarek Bouazzizi has been cut.
Bouazzizi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Jab by Hopkins.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bouazzizi forces Hopkins back against the cage and clinches.
Bouazzizi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bouazzizi's elbow.
Bouazzizi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hopkins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut.
Bouazzizi darts in looking for a takedown but Hopkins gets double underhooks and turns Bouazzizi into the cage.
Bouazzizi shoots in but Hopkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bouazzizi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hopkins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hopkins lands a body shot.
Hopkins connects with a body shot.
Bouazzizi is breathing heavily.
Hopkins lands with a right hand.
Bouazzizi tries to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a stiff right hand.
Bouazzizi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hopkins lands with a good body shot.
Hopkins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Hopkins gets caught napping as Bouazzizi dives in and scores a takedown. Hopkins manages to retain guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bouazzizi pushing down on Hopkins's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bouazzizi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bouazzizi.
Bouazzizi 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.
Bouazzizi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hopkins is trying to maintain the position but Bouazzizi is very close to passing his half guard.
Bouazzizi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Bouazzizi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinn Hopkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tarek Bouazzizi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bouazzizi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hopkins defends it nicely.
Bouazzizi throws a lazy uppercut
and Hopkins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bouazzizi dives in and grabs Hopkins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hopkins pushes down on Bouazzizi's head and hops out.

Bouazzizi clinches up with Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage.
Bouazzizi fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarek Bouazzizi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bouazzizi blocks an uppercut.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bouazzizi effectively controlling the action here.

Bouazzizi jumps into guard, dragging Hopkins to the mat.
Bouazzizi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bouazzizi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hopkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bouazzizi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopkins is one step ahead there.
Bouazzizi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bouazzizi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopkins's guard.

Bouazzizi tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopkins is retaining full guard.
Bouazzizi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hopkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Bouazzizi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bouazzizi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hopkins for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bouazzizi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins connects with a body shot that sends Bouazzizi's belly button to the back.
Bouazzizi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hopkins.
Bouazzizi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopkins but Hopkins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hopkins throws a hook but Bouazzizi avoids it easily.
Nice shot by Hopkins.
Bouazzizi with a poor takedown
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a really nice looking cross but Bouazzizi seems unphased.
Hopkins scores with a jab.

Bouazzizi is rocked!

Tarek Bouazzizi's cut is getting worse.

Bouazzizi moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bouazzizi.

Bouazzizi pulls Hopkins into guard.
Bouazzizi is pulling down on Hopkins's head to control his posture.

Bouazzizi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bouazzizi jumps guard but Hopkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bouazzizi prevents a body shot from Hopkins.

Bouazzizi manages to break the clinch.
Bouazzizi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinn Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tarek Bouazzizi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hopkins lands a lovely overhand right.
Oh Bouazzizi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hopkins misses with a looping left.
Bouazzizi seems to have got his legs back now.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the head.
Bouazzizi looks up at the clock. Bad move! Hopkins lands a right hand from hell, dropping Bouazzizi. Hopkins pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Quinn Hopkins!
Quinn Hopkins decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.