PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Hopkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Homo Erectus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hopkin
vs
Erectus

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

152 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Hopkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Homo Erectus!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erectus misses with a combination

and Hopkin counters with a single leg into guard. Erectus didn't expect that.
Erectus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Erectus is trying to keep Hopkin in close.
Hopkin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Erectus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Erectus wriggles free and stands up.
Hopkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Erectus circles away.
Erectus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Erectus lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hopkin takes a step back to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Erectus counters with a single leg into guard. Hopkin didn't expect that.
Erectus is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkin has wrist control.
Erectus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Erectus decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Erectus shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hopkin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Erectus is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Erectus drives through with a takedown into Hopkin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Erectus is looking to stand up but Hopkin won't let him.
Erectus looks gassed!
Hopkin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hopkin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkin avoids the attempt from Erectus to control.
Erectus is in a horrible position here. Hopkin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Erectus is in a horrible position here. Hopkin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hopkin controlling from the full mount.
Hopkin wants to control the pace but Erectus is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkin controlling the pace for now.
Erectus is looking to get to half guard.
Hopkin working the ground and pound effectively.
Hopkin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hopkin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Erectus tries to lock up and control but Hopkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hopkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Erectus?
Erectus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Hopkin works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hopkin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hopkin tries for a takedown but Erectus circles away easily
and Erectus counters with a nice leg kick.
Erectus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hopkin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Erectus won't be happy with that.
Erectus is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
James Hopkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Erectus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Erectus is trying to control the position but Hopkin postures up.
Hopkin preventing the sweep.
Hopkin forces his way into half guard.

Erectus looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkin wants to take a breather but Erectus is having none of it.
Erectus is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erectus trying to hold on to Hopkin's head to control him but Hopkin postures up.

Hopkin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Erectus gets a clinch.
Erectus is trying to maintain a safe position but Hopkin gets an underhook and turns Erectus into the cage.

Erectus successfully pulls guard.
Erectus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hopkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erectus keeping moving, preventing Hopkin from controlling successfully.
Hopkin wants to stand but Erectus has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Erectus keeping moving, preventing Hopkin from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Hopkin just wasn't active enough.
Erectus with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hopkin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Erectus circles away.
Hopkin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Erectus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hopkin is controlling Erectus's trapped leg to prevent Erectus from advancing to side control.

Erectus is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erectus is looking to take a break and control but Hopkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopkin is looking to get back to is feet but Erectus passes into side control.
Hopkin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hopkin tries to get out of the position.
Hopkin looking for a sweep but Erectus has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Erectus sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Hopkin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Erectus wants to take his opponent's back but Hopkin doesn't allow it.
Erectus looking to control but Hopkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Homo Erectus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hopkin shoots and misses

and Erectus counters with a takedown into side control.
Erectus trying to control the action but Hopkin is working from the bottom.

Erectus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hopkin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Erectus on the ground.
Erectus is working Hopkin over with some ground and pound from side control.
Erectus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hopkin is trying to get back to half guard.
Erectus working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erectus tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Erectus trying to control the position but Hopkin is working away.

Erectus working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hopkin is trying to buck Erectus off.

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.
Hopkin tries to bench press Erectus off him but Erectus keeps the position.
Hopkin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Erectus is trying to get an arm triangle but Hopkin is defending well.
Erectus working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Erectus has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hopkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Erectus.
Erectus fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hopkin misses with a takedown

and Erectus counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hopkin won't be happy with that.

Erectus decides to stand back up. Erectus steps back and let's Hopkin get back to his feet.
Hopkin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Erectus throws a sloppy head kick and Hopkin moves out of range easily.
Erectus stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hopkin.
Hopkin wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Erectus throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hopkin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Erectus is in Hopkin's guard.
Erectus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopkin has Erectus pulled in close to control his posture.
Erectus trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkin is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Homo Erectus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Erectus 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Homo Erectus!