PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Carlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hopkins
vs
Carlsson

180 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
21
197 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Malcolm Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Carlsson!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carlsson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Carlsson.
Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carlsson.
Carlsson throws a lazy right hand but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Carlsson throws a right hand that Hopkins ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopkins also avoids with ease.

Hopkins gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hopkins prevents Carlsson from breaking the clinch.
Hopkins drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carlsson tries to break free but Hopkins pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlsson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hopkins is working for takedown but Carlsson is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsson is trying to break free.
Carlsson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hopkins looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carlsson misses with some punches.
Good body shot from Carlsson.
Carlsson tries to circle away but Hopkins has him pinned against the cage.
Hopkins tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hopkins goes for a takedown attempt but Carlsson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
John Carlsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlsson scores with a hook to the body. Hopkins takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Carlsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Carlsson throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Carlsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hopkins moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carlsson swinging wildly here.
The crowd cheers as Carlsson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hopkins doesn't seem phased though.
Carlsson throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Carlsson.
Hopkins moves out of range as Carlsson strikes.
Carlsson lands with a hook. Hopkins tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Carlsson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carlsson throws a right and a left that Hopkins avoids nicely.
Carlsson misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins needs to keep his hands up - Carlsson had a free shot at his head there.
Nice shot by Carlsson.
Carlsson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
John Carlsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A lazy left from Carlsson finds it's target.
Carlsson throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carlsson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A jab from Carlsson misses.
Carlsson misses with a double jab.
Carlsson throws a right hand that Hopkins ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopkins also avoids with ease.
Carlsson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Carlsson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hopkins to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Carlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopkins is one step ahead there.
Carlsson is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins stays in close to Carlsson's body and controls the position.

Hopkins 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.
Carlsson trying to keep a closed guard but Hopkins is proving a slippery customer.
Hopkins forces his way into half guard.
Carlsson is trying to maintain the position but Hopkins is very close to passing his half guard.
Carlsson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hopkins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Carlsson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carlsson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Carlsson misses with a straight right.

Hopkins clinches with his opponent.
Carlsson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Carlsson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carlsson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carlsson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Carlsson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins wants a takedown but no success here.
Hopkins is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carlsson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Carlsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

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.
Carlsson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hopkins at a distance.
Hopkins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Carlsson scores with a hook to the body. Hopkins takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Carlsson throws a lazy right hand but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hopkins takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nice defenses there by Hopkins.
Carlsson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Carlsson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hopkins's hands.
Carlsson works Hopkins's body with a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Carlsson.
Carlsson throws a right hand that Hopkins ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopkins also avoids with ease.
Carlsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Carlsson looks to land a left hand but Hopkins moved out of range nicely.

Hopkins has managed to clinch.
Carlsson tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Carlsson back against the cage.
Hopkins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Carlsson pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlsson throws a right hand that Hopkins ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopkins also avoids with ease.
Carlsson throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Carlsson misses with a few strikes there.
Hopkins wants to clinch.
Hopkins uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carlsson.
Hopkins slips a straight right by Carlsson.
Carlsson misses with the combination.
Carlsson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.
Carlsson 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.
Carlsson throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Hopkins is looking to clinch but Carlsson is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Carlsson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Carlsson circles away.
Carlsson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The fighters circling - Carlsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hopkins moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Carlsson misses the target.
A lazy left from Carlsson finds it's target.
A swing and a miss from Carlsson.

Hopkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carlsson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Carlsson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hopkins.
Hopkins happy to just control the position for now.
Hopkins tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carlsson is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Carlsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Carlsson misses with a looping right.
Carlsson misses with a wild body shot.
Carlsson swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Carlsson swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Carlsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Carlsson moves out of range.
Carlsson throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.

Hopkins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Carlsson trying to control but Hopkins postures up.
Carlsson is looking to improve his position.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura but Carlsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hopkins to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to pass to mount but Carlsson is defending the position.
Carlsson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carlsson.
Carlsson is trying to keep Hopkins in close.

Hopkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hopkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hopkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carlsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hopkins drops back looking for a leg! Carlsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carlsson manages to kick Hopkins off! Hopkins jumps back into Carlsson's guard.
Carlsson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hopkins looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carlsson can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Hopkins is fighting to break Carlsson's control of his arms but Carlsson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Hopkins 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Carlsson lands a body shot.
Hopkins slips under a jab from Carlsson.
Carlsson keeps the fight on the outside.
Hopkins slips a jab and a cross from Carlsson.
Carlsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters circling - Carlsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carlsson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Carlsson.
Hopkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Carlsson.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Carlsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins defending well as Carlsson loads up on a big left hand.
Carlsson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A punch combination from Carlsson misses.
Hopkins defending well as Carlsson loads up on a big left hand.
Carlsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hopkins moves away.
Carlsson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.
Carlsson lands with a shot to the body.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Carlsson.
Hopkins staying out of range there.
Carlsson looks to land a right hand but Hopkins moved out of range.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carlsson.
Carlsson misses with a looping left.

Carlsson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Carlsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Carlsson, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlsson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hopkins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hopkins passes Carlsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hopkins prevents Carlsson from improving his position.

Hopkins in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Carlsson tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Hopkins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Malcolm Hopkins!