PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Winston Hyland (ranked 4741 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Hopkins (ranked 5426 p4p, 0 weight class). Winston Hyland has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hyland
vs
Hopkins

186 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Winston Hyland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hopkins.
Hopkins working the strikes but Hyland uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Hyland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hyland regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hopkins.
Hyland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hyland escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hopkins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins lands a couple of elbows.
Hopkins throws an elbow that misses. Hyland uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hopkins's guard. Nice move by Hyland!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyland is fighting to break Hopkins's control of his arms but Hopkins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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.

Hyland is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hyland drops back looking for a leg! Hopkins is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hopkins manages to kick Hyland off! Hyland jumps back into Hopkins's guard.
Hopkins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hyland. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hopkins looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hopkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hyland is one step ahead there.

Hyland drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hyland jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hyland drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hopkins dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins scoring with punches to the head and body.

Hyland is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hopkins postures up and lands a big shot to Hyland's brow.
Hopkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hopkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hyland's head.
Hopkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hyland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hopkins.
Hyland is breathing heavily.
Hopkins throwing strikes but missing.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hopkins is in close to Hyland's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hopkins working some strikes from top position.
Hopkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hopkins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hopkins chips away with some ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hopkins looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hyland with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Hopkins there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hopkins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hyland on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Hopkins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hyland enables Hopkins to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hyland manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hopkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins throws an elbow that misses. Hyland uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hopkins's guard. Nice move by Hyland!

Hyland is fighting to break Hopkins's control of his arms but Hopkins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Billy Hopkins has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hyland is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hyland drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hyland jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hopkins trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyland advances position into side control!
Hopkins holds on to Hyland's head and controls the position momentarily.
Hopkins can't do much from the bottom here.
Hopkins is looking for a sweep.

Hyland wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hopkins, who protects the arm well.

Hyland tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hyland has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hyland is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hopkins has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hyland is trying to get an arm triangle but Hopkins is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to control Hyland's posture but Hyland avoids it.
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.
Hopkins is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Hyland is staying active.
Hopkins holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

Hyland tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hyland has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hyland working away.

Hyland tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Hopkins's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Hopkins is right now.

Hyland wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hopkins, who protects the arm well.

Hyland is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hopkins has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Hopkins's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hopkins holds on to Hyland's head and controls the position momentarily.

Hyland is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hopkins has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hyland is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hopkins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hyland tries for a kimura but Hopkins is defending well.
Hyland working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Hyland dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hyland gets caught napping as Hopkins dives in and scores a takedown. Hyland manages to retain guard.
Hyland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hopkins trying to control but Hyland is working from the bottom.
Hopkins cracks Hyland with a solid left hand.
Hopkins is in close to Hyland's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Hyland is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hopkins is aware though and is defending well.
Hopkins chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hyland will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hopkins works over Hyland with some ground and pound from guard.
Hopkins throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Hyland gets caught napping as Hopkins dives in and scores a takedown. Hyland manages to retain guard.
Hopkins with a nice head shot there.
Hyland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hopkins trying to control but Hyland is working from the bottom.
Hopkins postures up and lands a big shot to Hyland's brow.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Hyland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hopkins chips away with some ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hopkins looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hyland!
Hopkins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hopkins lands some shots froms side control.
Hopkins lands some shots froms side control.
Hopkins working the ground and pound.
Hopkins lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyland is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hopkins connects with a decent elbow.
Hopkins lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hyland down.
Hopkins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hopkins is looking to take a break and control but Hyland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopkins is working Hyland over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hopkins lands an elbow.
Hopkins lands a nice forearm strike.
Hopkins landing strikes.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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.
Hopkins lands some shots froms side control.
Hopkins in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hopkins bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hopkins scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hyland on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hopkins looks up at the clock and then as Hyland takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hopkins smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hopkins landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hopkins working the ground and pound.
Hopkins landing strikes.
Hopkins scores with a couple of short elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Hopkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hopkins 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:29

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