PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tory Hopkins (ranked 848 p4p, 779 weight class) and Craig Watkins (ranked 127 p4p, 118 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Last Time That I Checc'd by Nipsey Hussle & YG. Tory Hopkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopkins
vs
Watkins

186 cm
23
200
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
185
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 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 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Watkins.
Hopkins was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Watkins tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hopkins counters with a left to the body.
We've been told by Hopkins's head coaches at Primal Concrete Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hopkins misses with a jab to the body
letting Watkins counter with a right hand.
Hopkins missing with a left hand there. Watkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Watkins is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hopkins with a body shot.
Watkins wants to clinch.
Watkins closes the distance but Hopkins moves to the side
enabling Hopkins to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Watkins misses.
It looked like Hopkins wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Watkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Watkins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
Watkins lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watkins takes the fight into the clinch.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.
Watkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Watkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Watkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A body shot lands from Hopkins.
Watkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hopkins throws an elbow but it misses.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Hopkins controls the action.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watkins lands with an uppercut that bounces Hopkins off the cage and back into range.
Watkins moves to clinch but Hopkins breaks away
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins digs a good hook to Watkins's body.
A jab from Watkins does it's job there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins wants to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watkins misses with a two punch combination.
Hopkins throws a big counter combination but Watkins scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the jaw.
Watkins is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
Watkins is looking to clinch.
Watkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopkins.
Hopkins backing away here, and Watkins unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Watkins is looking to clinch.
Hopkins looks to throw the jab but Watkins is out of range.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hopkins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watkins avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
A quick step to the side and Hopkins tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Watkins 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.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hopkins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hopkins seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Watkins tries to clinch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watkins tries to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Watkins tries to land a front kick but Hopkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It appears Hopkins was looking to counter with a kick there.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins misses with a body shot.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
Watkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Hopkins tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.
Watkins darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Watkins tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Hopkins counter with a right hand.
Watkins is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.

Watkins drives through and clinches with Hopkins against the cage.
Watkins lands an uppercut.
Hopkins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short left from Hopkins.
Watkins blocks an uppercut.
Hopkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watkins tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Watkins is rocked!
Watkins blocks an uppercut.
Watkins is still on wobbly legs! Can Hopkins finish him?
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins seems to have recovered his senses.
Hopkins lands a right hand.
Watkins blocks a body shot from Hopkins.
Hopkins lands a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tory Hopkins dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Watkins wants to clinch up but Hopkins keeps it at a distance.
Watkins throws a hook but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins misses with a leg kick.
Hopkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Hopkins.
No joy there for Watkins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Watkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Hopkins circles away.
Hopkins attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Watkins takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.
Watkins misses with a double jab.
It looked like Hopkins was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Watkins.
Hopkins lands a leg kick that knocks Watkins off balance momentarily.
Tory Hopkins is winning the standup battle so far.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
Hopkins scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins wants to clinch up but Hopkins keeps it at a distance.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Watkins 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.
Watkins tries to clinch up.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.
Watkins lands a high kick!

Watkins rushes Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hopkins lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hopkins lands a damaging elbow.
Watkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hopkins lands a left hand.
Hopkins throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watkins.
Tory Hopkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Watkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Watkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins misses with an elbow over the top.
Watkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watkins lands with a left to the head.
Watkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hopkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Watkins backwards.
Hopkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Watkins can do to turn this around?
Watkins lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Watkins.
Watkins lands a right hand.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Watkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hopkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Watkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hopkinss head.
Watkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Watkins as the two fighters clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hopkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Watkins's brow.
Hopkins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Watkins cracks Hopkins with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watkins blocks an elbow strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Watkins.
Hopkins takes a shot to the head.
Watkins scores with a shot to the side of Hopkins's head.
Watkins blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Watkins.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Watkins tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Watkins back against the cage.
Watkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hopkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Watkins's brow.
Watkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Watkins.
Watkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins throws an elbow that misses.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.
Watkins lands with a right to the head.
Watkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Watkins lands with a light punch inside.
Watkins dodges an elbow strike from Hopkins.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins wants to clinch.
Hopkins quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Watkins is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.
Hopkins stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Watkins.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Watkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Watkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Hopkins circles away.
Hopkins throws a body punch but Watkins moves out of range.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Watkins takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Watkins is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
Hopkins bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Craig Watkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hopkins tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Watkins is able to avoid easily.
Watkins lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hopkins backs up against the cage.
Watkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hopkins sizes up Watkins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hopkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Watkins.
Hopkins misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Watkins 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.
Watkins tries to clinch up but Hopkins circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Hopkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Watkins wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hopkins is looking to chop away at Watkins's legs.
Watkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Watkins scores with a hook.
Hopkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watkins.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
Watkins swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hopkins counters with a good low kick that Watkins was not able to check.
The fight stays on the outside here - Watkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Watkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Hopkins misses its target.
Watkins is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hopkins is looking to counter punch.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hopkins counters with a nice body shot.
Watkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hopkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Watkins.
Hopkins tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Craig Watkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hopkins is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Watkins misses with a kick to the body.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.
Watkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Watkins moves away from the strike by Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a body shot.

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but Watkins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Watkins blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands with a light punch inside.
Watkins lands with a short shot to the head.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Watkins.
Watkins lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Watkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hopkins blocking some punches.
Watkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Hopkins.
Watkins tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watkins lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hopkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Watkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Watkins as the two fighters clinch.
Watkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watkins blocking some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Watkins.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Watkins.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Watkins.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Watkins.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Craig Watkins.
I think Watkins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!