PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nelson Hopper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Santos De Arroyo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hopper
vs
Santos De Arroyo

155 cm
28
149 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

179 cm
28
156 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Nelson Hopper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hector Santos De Arroyo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Santos De Arroyo, as that shot connected.
Santos De Arroyo fails to land with a series of punches.

Hopper shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hopper was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hopper looking to finish Santos De Arroyo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Santos De Arroyo!
Santos De Arroyo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Poor strikes thrown by Hopper there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Santos De Arroyo can't escape the position.
Hopper throwing strikes here but Santos De Arroyo is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hopper with a couple of short strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopper breaks from Santos De Arroyo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Santos De Arroyo has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Hopper's lack of action.
Hopper trying to control the action but Santos De Arroyo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper working over Santos De Arroyo with some ground and pound. Santos De Arroyo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hopper is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Santos De Arroyo wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos De Arroyo moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopper trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos De Arroyo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopper has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hopper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Santos De Arroyo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hopper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hopper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Arroyo looking to control.
Hopper distracts Santos De Arroyo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hopper passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos De Arroyo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hopper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santos De Arroyo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hopper wants to pass the guard but Santos De Arroyo is defending well.
Santos De Arroyo manages to get to full guard.

Hopper drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santos De Arroyo dives on top into guard.
Hopper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Arroyo pushes down on Hopper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Santos De Arroyo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hopper keeps working.
Hopper is trying to get back to full guard.
Hopper is trying to control but can't.
Santos De Arroyo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hopper is not content to let Santos De Arroyo control the position.
Hopper looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Arroyo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hopper is trying to get back to full guard.
Hopper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Santos De Arroyo.
Santos De Arroyo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Well, if Santos De Arroyo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hopper wants to control but Santos De Arroyo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Santos De Arroyo connects with a nice short shot to Hopper's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santos De Arroyo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Santos De Arroyo trying to control the action but Hopper is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelson Hopper 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.

Santos De Arroyo gets caught napping as Hopper dives in and scores a takedown. Santos De Arroyo manages to retain guard.
Hopper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santos De Arroyo keeping moving, preventing Hopper from controlling successfully.
Hopper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopper passes Santos De Arroyo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Santos De Arroyo misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hopper lands with a punch from half guard.
Santos De Arroyo tries to roll over but Hopper keeps him under control.
Hopper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Santos De Arroyo's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper blocks the strikes from Santos De Arroyo.
Hopper wants to take a breather but Santos De Arroyo is having none of it.
Hopper is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hopper throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hopper lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Santos De Arroyo regains half guard.
Hopper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hopper not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Arroyo is pressing down on Hopper's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Santos De Arroyo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos De Arroyo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopper trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos De Arroyo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson Hopper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hopper wants to pass the guard but Santos De Arroyo is keeping the position.

Santos De Arroyo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopper defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopper works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hopper throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Santos De Arroyo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hopper.
Santos De Arroyo is looking to improve his position.
Hopper works his way into full mount!

Hopper goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Santos De Arroyo is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santos De Arroyo is aware though and is defending well.

Hopper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hopper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Santos De Arroyo is controlling him.
Santos De Arroyo wants to control from the top but Hopper keeps moving.
Santos De Arroyo is standing up over Hopper. Hopper looks to escape but Santos De Arroyo dives into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopper regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopper is not content to let Santos De Arroyo control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelson Hopper dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos De Arroyo lands a slapping body shot.
Santos De Arroyo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santos De Arroyo misses with a straight left.
Santos De Arroyo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopper.
Santos De Arroyo lands with a straight right. Hopper didn't see that one coming.
Santos De Arroyo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hopper sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Santos De Arroyo thows a body shot but no joy.

Hopper shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santos De Arroyo's guard.

Santos De Arroyo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hopper scoring with some ground and pound.
Santos De Arroyo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopper is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Santos De Arroyo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Santos De Arroyo has escaped and now he's on top!
Santos De Arroyo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hopper wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santos De Arroyo.
Santos De Arroyo won't allow Hopper to sweep him here.
Hopper controls Santos De Arroyo momentarily but Santos De Arroyo frees himself.
Santos De Arroyo won't allow Hopper to sweep him here.
Santos De Arroyo content to stall in guard here.
Santos De Arroyo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hopper takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Arroyo looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopper is just out of range.
Santos De Arroyo throws a looping overhand right but Hopper ducks down to avoid it.
Santos De Arroyo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Hopper gets a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santos De Arroyo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Santos De Arroyo is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Hopper frees his head nicely. Oh but Santos De Arroyo has switched to an armbar! Hopper is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Hector Santos De Arroyo!
During a confident post fight interview, Hector Santos De Arroyo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.