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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Hale (ranked 441 p4p, 962 weight class) and Jesse-James Hopson (ranked 37 p4p, 94 weight class). Hale comes to the cage accompanied by Lone Wolf - Tenggar Cavalry. Hopson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Home among the gumtrees.. Jesse-James Hopson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.
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| 170 cm
27
146
8 - 2 - 0 |
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182 cm
21
145
6 - 1 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Very strong |
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Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, George Hale!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jesse-James Hopson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hale getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hopson looks to land a left hand but Hale moved out of range nicely.
Hopson dips to his left and cracks Hale with an uppercut!
Hale definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hale throws a jab when Hopson was well out of range.
A big left from Hopson misses.
A swing and a miss from Hopson.
Hale throws a body punch but Hopson moves out of range.
Hopson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hale blocks a jab.
Hale was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hale throws a shot from downtown. Hopson moves away and avoids it.
Hale throws a hook to the side of Hopson's head but Hopson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hale throws a jab but it's blocked by Hopson.
Hale scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hopson doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hopson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hale.
Nice defenses there by Hale.
Hale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hale throws a series of punches but Hopson moves out of range.
Hale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopson.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale throws a lazy right hand but Hopson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hopson with the counter takedown but Hale avoids it easily.
Hale loads up on a big right hand but Hopson slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Hopson.
Hale misses with a hook.
Hale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopson.
It looked like Hale wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hopson scores with a punch to the head.
Hopson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopson avoids the body shot from Hale.
Hale just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Hale misses.
Hale lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hopson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hale misses with an uppercut
and Hopson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hopson slips a nice elbow through Hale's hands, connecting with Hale's forehead.
Hale gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hale being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopson throws a strike but Hale rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hopson pulls Hale in close to his closed guard and prevents Hale from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hopson keeping moving, preventing Hale from controlling successfully.
Hale trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hopson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hopson stopping the sweep attempt from Hale.
Hale is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hopson is stalling in the full guard.
Hopson trying to control but Hale is working from the bottom.
Hopson chips away with some ground and pound.
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.
Hopson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hopson throws a big elbow that misses.
Hopson scoring with some ground and pound.
Hopson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hopson preventing the sweep.
Hopson postures up in Hale's guard and throws a big left but Hale blocks it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hopson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hale displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A big right from Hopson misses.
Hopson throws a jab but it's blocked by Hale.
Hopson's coach down at Combat Wombat Burrow was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hopson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hopson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hale misses with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that George Hale will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Good exchange - Hopson coming out on top.
Hopson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hopson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hopson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hale looks to throw the jab but Hopson is out of range.
Hale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopson.
Hale throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hale throws a hook but Hopson blocks it.
Hopson throws a jab but it's blocked by Hale.
Hopson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hale.
Hopson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hopson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hopson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hopson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopson misses with a hook. Hale ducked under it nicely.
Hale missing with a left hand there. Hopson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hale looks to throw the jab but Hopson is out of range.
Hale misses with a wild body shot.
Hale ducks under a wild hook from Hopson.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopson throws a hook but Hale blocks it.
Hale is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hopson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hale misses with a double jab
and Hopson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hale blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hopson.
Hopson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hale with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopson with the ground and pound but Hale uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hopson connects with a couple of short punches.
Hopson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopson throwing strikes but missing.
Hopson drops back looking for a leg! Hale is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hale manages to kick Hopson off! Hopson jumps back into Hale's guard.
Hopson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hopson is in close to Hale's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hopson is looking to work some ground and pound but Hale has wrist control.
Hopson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hale working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hopson.
Hopson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Hopson misses.
Hopson throws a big shot that misses.
George Hale is winning the standup battle so far.
Hopson looks for a takedown but Hale sprawls well.
Hale misses with a looping right.
Hopson cracks Hale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hopson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hale.
Hale pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hale throws a jab but it's blocked by Hopson.
Hale misses with a hook.
Hale throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hopson misses with a lunging right hand
and Hale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hopson with a jab.
Hopson catches Hale with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hale takes a swing at Hopson's ribcage but misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopson fails with the takedown.
Hale is looking to counter punch.
Hale throws a big shot that misses.
Hopson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hale.
Hale slips a jab from Hopson.
A little feinted left hand from Hale on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hale looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopson is just out of range.
Hale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopson.
It looked like Hale wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hopson ducks under a wild hook from Hale.
Hale throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hale.
Hale was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopson.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopson misses the target.
Hale throws a shot from downtown. Hopson moves away and avoids it.
Hopson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hale is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hale moves out of range of the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jesse-James Hopson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hale's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Hale slips under a jab.
Jab from Hale.
Hale blocks a jab.
Hopson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hopson slips a jab and a cross from Hale.
Hale needs to keep his hands up - Hopson had a free shot at his head there.
Hopson looks to land a right hand but Hale moved out of range.
Hale throwing a counter right hand but Hopson manages to avoid it.
Hopson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hale thuds a left hand into Hopson's body.
Hale swings for the body but Hopson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hopson.
Hopson moves out of range as Hale strikes.
Hopson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hale throwing a counter right hand but Hopson manages to avoid it.
Hopson ducks under a wild hook from Hale.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Hale misses.
Hopson feints the counter takedown.
Hopson blocks a jab.
Hopson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hale defends it well.
Hopson throws a lazy right hand but Hale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hale misses with a body shot.
Hale misses with an uppercut. Hopson saw that one coming.
Hopson slips a jab from Hale.
Hopson swings widly with a right hand
and Hale counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hale throws a hook to the side of Hopson's head but Hopson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Hopson.
Hale being controlled for a moment.
Hale knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hopson on the ground.
Hopson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopson cracks Hale with a big right hand but Hale just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hale on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hale tries to get out of the position.
Hopson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hale knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hopson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hale is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hopson controls the position from side control.
Hale takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Hopson is working Hale over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hale is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hopson connects with a decent elbow.
Hopson working the body and head with strikes.
Hopson scoring with punches from side control.
Hopson looks up at the clock and then as Hale takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hopson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hopson is looking to take a break and control but Hale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hopson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Hopson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hopson cracks Hale with a big right hand but Hale just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hopson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopson staying calm.
Hopson lands a few punches from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jesse-James Hopson really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Hale throws the left hand but Hopson avoids the punch easily.
Jab by Hopson.
Hopson slips a jab from Hale.
And Hopson tries to counter it with a takedown but Hale pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hale blocks a jab.
Hopson slips a jab from Hale.
Hale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopson manages to avoid it.
Hopson slips under a jab.
And Hopson tries to counter it with a takedown but Hale pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hale throws an overhand right that lands on Hopson's shoulder, as Hopson tries to avoid the shot.
Hopson feints the counter takedown.
Hopson misses with a straight left.
Hale connects with a body shot that sends Hopson's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopson throws a poor cross that misses
and Hale connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hopson misses with an uppercut. Hale saw that one coming.
Hopson misses with a straight right.
Hopson avoids the body shot from Hale.
Hopson feints the counter takedown.
Hale looking to land some kicks to the body here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopson misses with a straight right.
Hale was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopson throws a hook to the side of Hale's head but Hale sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hale throws a jab when Hopson was well out of range.
Hopson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hopson lands strikes from half guard.
Hopson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hale is looking to improve his position.
Hopson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hale has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hale holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Jesse-James Hopson has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hale keeps working.
Hopson content to control rather than advance.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Hopson.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hopson is working away from the top position though.
Hopson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hopson controlling the pace.
Hopson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hopson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hopson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hopson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hale walks into a left hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale slips under a jab from Hopson.
An attempted straight right counter from Hale misses the target.
A combination from Hale does no damage.
Hopson dips to his left and cracks Hale with an uppercut!
A big right from Hopson misses.
Hale on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hale takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hopson lands with an uppercut that bounces Hale off the cage and back into range.
Hale misses with a hook. Hopson ducked under it nicely.
Hale throws a hook but Hopson avoids it easily.
Hale looks to land a combination but Hopson avoids it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hale throws a jab but it's blocked by Hopson.
Hale misses with a few strikes there.
Hopson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hale throws out the jab.
Hale looks to land a left hand but Hopson moved out of range nicely.
Hale slips a straight right by Hopson.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jesse-James Hopson dominated that fourth round.
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. This is the final round!
Hopson slips a straight right by Hale.
Hale tries to bum rush Hopson with a series of wild strikes but Hopson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hale throws a body punch but Hopson moves out of range.
Hale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopson.
Hale is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hale takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hopson avoids the body shot from Hale.
Hopson with the counter takedown but Hale avoids it easily.
Hale throws out a loose jab but Hopson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jab from Hale.
Hale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A lazy left from Hopson finds it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale loads up on a big right hand but Hopson slips the punch.
Hale connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hopson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hale to the ground. Hopson is now in Hale's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hopson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hopson throws a strike but Hale rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hopson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopson has his hands on Hale's head, controlling the position.
George Hale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jesse-James Hopson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopson has wrist control.
Hopson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Hopson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopson is one step ahead there.
Hopson content to stall in guard here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
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.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hopson throws an overhand right that lands on Hale's shoulder, as Hale tries to avoid the shot.
Hale moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hopson misses with an uppercut. Hale saw that one coming.
Hopson swings widly with a right hand
and Hale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hopson moves away from the strike by Hale.
Hopson feints the counter takedown.
Hopson dips to his left and cracks Hale with an uppercut!
Good shot there by Hale.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Hale misses.
Hopson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hale.
Hopson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
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 George Hale.
I think Hopson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 45:50
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 47:48
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 47:48
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse-James Hopson!
Jesse-James Hopson is the new featherweight champion!
A relieved looking Jesse-James Hopson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated George Hale had this to say: 'Thank you to my opponent and all the fans, my coaches and sponsors.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
45% |
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