PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Weed Hopper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopper
vs
Azhiev

175 cm
25
165 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

177 cm
26
166 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Rebel Pride Clothing. Everything in STOCK $5

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 - 8 - 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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anzor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopper shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Azhiev keeping moving, preventing Hopper from controlling successfully.

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

Azhiev is looking for a triangle but Hopper pushes his legs off easily.
Azhiev trying to control the position.
Hopper looking to pass the guard.
Azhiev wants to get back to his feet but Hopper is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hopper trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hopper postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Azhiev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hopper, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hopper being controlled here, momentarily.
Hopper wants to sweep here but Azhiev controlling him for the moment.

Hopper is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hopper keeping moving, preventing Azhiev from controlling successfully.
Azhiev being controlled here momentarily.

Hopper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Azhiev defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hopper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hopper is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Azhiev stopping the sweep attempt from Hopper.
Azhiev with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.
Azhiev wants to stand but Hopper is controlling his posture from full guard.
Azhiev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopper is keeping the position for now.
Hopper is pulling down on Azhiev's head. It's preventing any offense from Azhiev, at least for the moment.

Hopper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azhiev is aware though and is defending well.
Hopper looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopper, not yet.

Hopper throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopper throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Azhiev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hopper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Azhiev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hopper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Azhiev has managed to get both his arms back between Hopper's legs - danger averted.
Azhiev trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Azhiev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Azhiev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hopper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Azhiev has managed to get both his arms back between Hopper's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Weed 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.

Azhiev throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Azhiev throws a series of punches but Hopper avoids them all with ease.
Hopper leaves Azhiev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Hopper scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hopper trying to control from half guard but Azhiev is working away.

Hopper is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hopper wants to take a breather but Azhiev is having none of it.

Hopper is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Azhiev is just riding it out for now. Hopper eventually gives up the hold.

Hopper is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Azhiev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hopper.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hopper is working for a kimura but Azhiev is defending it quite comfortably.

Hopper is looking for a kimura here.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopper trying to control from Azhiev's half guard. Azhiev has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hopper trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azhiev trying to keep a closed guard but Hopper is proving a slippery customer.
Hopper trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azhiev wants to get back to his feet but Hopper is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopper advances to half guard.

Hopper is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hopper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azhiev can do to turn this around?
Hopper trying to control the action but Azhiev is working from the bottom.

Azhiev is defending against the submission attempts here by Hopper.
Hopper frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Azhiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopper looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Hopper is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Azhiev is surviving well by controlling Hopper's body position as best he can.
Hopper wants to control the pace but Azhiev is squirming around nicely.

Azhiev defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hopper.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopper controlling the pace for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hopper wants to finish this one by submission but Azhiev is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hopper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Weed Hopper dominated that second round.
That's time! Hopper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hopper shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Azhiev is trying to defend but Hopper finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Hopper is working for a kimura but Azhiev is defending it quite comfortably.
Hopper stops Azhiev from getting back to his feet.
Hopper tries to pass the half guard into mount. Azhiev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Hopper is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Azhiev defends it well.
Azhiev works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper wants to pass the guard but Azhiev is keeping the position.
Hopper passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Hopper tries for a kimura but Azhiev is defending well.
Weed Hopper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hopper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Azhiev keeps working.
Azhiev tries to bench press Hopper off him but Hopper keeps the position.

Hopper wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Azhiev, who protects the arm well.
Azhiev is looking to regain half guard here but Hopper keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopper staying calm.

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

Hopper wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Azhiev, who protects the arm well.
Hopper controlling the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hopper is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azhiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hopper wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Hopper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Azhiev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Azhiev can't do much from the bottom here.
Hopper trying to control the action but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Azhiev wants to control but Hopper postures up.

Hopper thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopper goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Azhiev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hopper but great work by Azhiev.
Hopper tries to bench press Azhiev off him but Azhiev keeps the position.
Weed Hopper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Who's going to make the next move?
Hopper manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Hopper is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Azhiev pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopper is looking to improve his position.
Anzor Azhiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hopper looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Weed Hopper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hopper has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Weed Hopper!
Weed Hopper thanked the fans post fight for their support.