PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tory Hopkins (ranked 1043 p4p, 1613 weight class) and Scott Thomas (ranked 159 p4p, 240 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Last Time That I Checc'd by Nipsey Hussle & YG. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hopkins
vs
Thomas

186 cm
22
200
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
210
5 - 2 - 1

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tory Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Scott Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Hopkins. Beautiful body shot.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins misses with a left hand
and Thomas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A cross from Hopkins lands.
Hopkins lands with a good body shot.
Thomas slips a straight right by Hopkins.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tory Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hopkins has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hopkins on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hopkins tries to get out of the position.
Thomas throws a strike but Hopkins avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hopkins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Hopkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hopkins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thomas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopkins's head.
Thomas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thomas postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
Thomas connects with a couple of short punches.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopkins is keeping the position for now.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Thomas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tory Hopkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hopkins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Thomas has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Thomas and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Thomas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hopkins misses with a jab, cross combination.
A low kick from Hopkins is predictable there
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hopkins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thomas's sensitive parts.
Thomas is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hopkins rather than just go for the knockout.
The fighters circling - Hopkins throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hopkins moves forwards but Thomas connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hopkins finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A left and a right from Thomas both land. Nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hopkins.
Nice shot by Thomas.
Hopkins tries a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
Good exchange - Thomas coming out on top.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Scott Thomas will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Jab by Thomas.
Thomas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hopkins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thomas lands a nice looking body shot.
Scott Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A shot to the liver by Hopkins. Beautiful body shot.
Thomas moves out of range as Hopkins strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hopkins.
Hopkins was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hopkins misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Hopkins half committed to a counter leg kick.
Hopkins bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hopkins with a nice calf kick.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Hopkins ducks down to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hopkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.

Hopkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hopkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
A hook to the body from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hopkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thomas.
Thomas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hopkins's elbow.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thomas digs a right hand underneath Hopkins's ribcage. Hopkins let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Thomas.
A hook to the body from Thomas.
Thomas is looking for a takedown.
Hopkins lands with a left to the head.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hopkins misses with some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins lands with a light punch inside.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins lands with a short shot to the head.
Thomas is leaning against Hopkins and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hopkins throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hopkins lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Hopkins fails to land.
Thomas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hopkins's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.
Thomas working aggressively here.
Thomas lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thomas tries to work over Hopkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hopkins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
Hopkins lands with a short shot to the head.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Thomas.

Thomas gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hopkins regains guard.
Hopkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.
Hopkins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopkins misses the shot to the body.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Hopkins moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Hopkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Thomas looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hopkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tory Hopkins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hopkins looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hopkins moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Thomas tests Hopkins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hopkins fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thomas on the side of the head.
Hopkins with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas feints the counter takedown.
Thomas misses with a shot to the body
and Hopkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Hopkins does it's job there.
Thomas thuds a left hand into Hopkins's body.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hopkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Thomas checks the leg kick.
Thomas feints the counter takedown.
Hopkins connects with a single shot there.
Hopkins misses with a lunging right hand
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas stuns Hopkins with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a body kick that misses.
Thomas stuns Hopkins with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Thomas misses with a straight right.
Thomas swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopkins tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Thomas manages to circle out of the way.
Hopkins misses with a lunging right hand

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Thomas working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hopkins keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Hopkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.
Thomas postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses. Hopkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thomas's guard. Nice move by Hopkins!

Thomas trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Hopkins controlling him for the moment.
Thomas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hopkins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tory Hopkins.
I think Hopkins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tory Hopkins!
Our winner, Tory Hopkins, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.