PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Zanico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silas Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hopkins's choice of entrance music: She Ain't You by: Chris Brown. Silas Hopkins will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zanico
vs
Hopkins

173 cm
21
143 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
144 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Zanico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Silas Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zanico looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zanico has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Hopkins defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zanico.
Hopkins takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zanico trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zanico punching from mount but Hopkins doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Zanico throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Zanico goes for an armbar but Hopkins turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zanico is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hopkins shoots in looking for a takedown but Zanico manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hopkins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zanico has his takedown stuffed
and Hopkins counters with a leg kick.
Hopkins walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zanico checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zanico slips a jab and a cross from Hopkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to land a body kick

and Zanico counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hopkins!
Zanico is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hopkins can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Zanico looking to secure an arm triangle but Hopkins defends it well.
Hopkins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zanico. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hopkins regains half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zanico wants to work for an arm triangle but Hopkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Zanico is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Zanico is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zanico wants to work for an arm triangle but Hopkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zanico is looking to take a break and control but Hopkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zanico trying to pass the guard but Hopkins defending well.
Zanico throwing shots but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Zanico dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zanico blocks a head kick by Hopkins.
Zanico keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zanico fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hopkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Zanico circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zanico scores a takedown into full mount!

Zanico with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zanico looking to ground and pound but Hopkins is blocking nicely.
Zanico connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hopkins is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins blocking the ground and pound.
Hopkins is in a horrible position here. Zanico smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zanico punching from mount but Hopkins doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanico throws some wild stikes that Hopkins manages to avoid easily.
Zanico raining down shots from the mount!
Zanico unloads with some shots from mount but Hopkins bucks and avoids them well.
Zanico throwing strikes here but Hopkins is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hopkins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zanico.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins avoids a series of strikes thrown by Zanico.

Zanico has hold of Hopkins's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hopkins manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hopkins holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zanico tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanico lands a heavy elbow.
Zanico throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Zanico.

Zanico looking to secure an arm triangle but Hopkins defends it well.

Zanico goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hopkins is on top in guard.
Rafael Zanico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hopkins looking to sit in guard and control but Zanico gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zanico drops back looking for a leg! Hopkins is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hopkins manages to kick Zanico off! Zanico jumps back into Hopkins's guard.
Zanico forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Zanico dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zanico shoots for a double leg takedown but Hopkins sprawls well. He's pushed Zanico's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A jab from Hopkins does it's job there.
Hopkins wants to land a leg kick but Zanico is out of range.
Hopkins connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zanico momentarily.
Zanico will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that is checked

and Zanico counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zanico.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zanico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.
Hopkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zanico trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanico has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zanico looking to pass the guard.

Zanico drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hopkins manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zanico has Hopkins in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to stand but Zanico is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rafael Zanico is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zanico shoots in looking for a takedown but Hopkins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zanico's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Zanico. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanico shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopkins as he avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Hopkins there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zanico takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Zanico closes the distance and clinches up with Hopkins, looking for a takedown. Zanico pushes Hopkins against the cage but Hopkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hopkins misses with the combination.
Hopkins tries to clinch there but Zanico circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zanico.
Zanico swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the head.
Nice defenses there by Zanico.
Hopkins swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zanico.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zanico.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Silas Hopkins.
I think Zanico 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Zanico!