PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Weed Hopper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iain Durrant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hopper
vs
Durrant

175 cm
25
165 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

170 cm
33
148 lbs
20 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Weed Hopper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iain Durrant!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durrant goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Weed Hopper has been cut.
Hopper misses with a takedown attempt
and Durrant counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Durrant jabs at Hopper's body.
Hopper shoots in looking for a takedown but Durrant manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hopper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Weed Hopper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopper fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Weed Hopper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durrant rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hopper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A swing and a miss from Durrant.

Hopper scores with a takedown into Durrant's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Hopper has gone for a leg lock! Durrant slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hopper's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Hopper escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Durrant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durrant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopper is keeping the position for now.
Durrant landing with the ground and pound.
Durrant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant postures up in Hopper's guard and throws a big left but Hopper blocks it.

Durrant 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Durrant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Durrant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Durrant throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hopper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hopper looking for a guillotine here but Durrant defends easily.

Hopper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Durrant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Durrant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Durrant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Durrant wants to control from the top but Hopper keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopper looking for a guillotine here but Durrant defends easily.

Hopper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Durrant defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hopper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Durrant can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Durrant working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopper's head.
Durrant wants to control from the top but Hopper keeps moving.
Durrant looking to pass the guard.

Hopper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrant trying to control but Hopper is working from the bottom.
Durrant is working Hopper over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Hopper is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

Durrant got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hopper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Durrant has managed to get both his arms back between Hopper's legs - danger averted.
Hopper is trying to control the position but Durrant postures up.
Durrant is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopper has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Durrant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hopper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Durrant is aware though and is defending well.
Hopper keeping moving, preventing Durrant from controlling successfully.

Durrant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Durrant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hopper working a defensive guard here.

Durrant drops back looking for a leg! Hopper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hopper manages to kick Durrant off! Durrant jumps back into Hopper's guard.
Hopper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Durrant's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Durrant is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Durrant looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Iain Durrant will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Weed Hopper's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hopper shoots in for a takedown but Durrant shows good takedown defense.
Durrant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hopper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Durrant as he jumps to the side.
Durrant defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hopper.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Weed Hopper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durrant misses with a few strikes there.
Durrant keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hopper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Durrant defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown by Hopper or perhaps it was just good defense by Durrant which made him look bad.
Durrant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Durrant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hopper.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Durrant.
Hopper on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant swinging wildly here.
Hopper displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Durrant throws out the jab.
No joy there for Durrant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Durrant jabs Hopper to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Durrant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Durrant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hopper shoots in looking for a takedown but Durrant manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hopper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hopper keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Durrant.
Iain Durrant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopper tries to score a power double leg takedown but Durrant sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hopper somewhat.
Durrant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Durrant is fending him off so far but Hopper persists. Nope, Durrant circles away and we're back to standing.
Hopper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Durrant defends it nicely.
Hopper shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Durrant sprawls well. Durrant wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hopper gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopper doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Durrant counters with a left and a right that stings Hopper.
Durrant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Durrant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopper will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Durrant throws a right hand that Hopper ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopper also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Durrant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hopper gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Durrant is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hopper pulls his head out easily.
Durrant is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopper is looking for a kimura here.
Durrant wants to improve his position but Hopper is controlling well.

Durrant actively working from the bottom here.

Hopper seems to be looking for submissions.
Durrant gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durrant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopper wants to control from the top but Durrant keeps moving.
Hopper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hopper is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Durrant 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iain Durrant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Weed Hopper's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Durrant rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hopper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Durrant misses with a few strikes there.
Durrant misses with a body shot.
Hopper dodges the punch combination from Durrant.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hopper.
Durrant manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hopper's best efforts.

Hopper is working for a submission of some sort.

Hopper is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Durrant. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant is not content to let Hopper control the position.

Hopper is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durrant defends it well.

Hopper is looking for a kimura but Durrant is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hopper to get the leverage.
Hopper wants to control but Durrant is keeping him busy.

Hopper is looking for a kimura but Durrant is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hopper to get the leverage.
Iain Durrant 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.
Durrant wants to control but Hopper is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hopper works his foot free and advances to mount.
Durrant is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hopper wants to control the pace but Durrant is squirming around nicely.
Hopper fails to move to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopper moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Durrant has worked his arm free - good work by Durrant!
Durrant can't do much from the bottom here.

Hopper is trying to get an arm triangle but Durrant is defending well.
Hopper working away.
Durrant is not content to let Hopper control the position.
Weed Hopper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopper misses with the ground and pound.
Durrant is trying to control Hopper's posture but Hopper avoids it.

Hopper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hopper looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Weed Hopper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Durrant 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Iain Durrant!