PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopkins
vs
Harrison

180 cm
30
190 lbs
19 - 17 - 0

186 cm
29
195 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Malcolm Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, William Harrison!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins lands a head kick. Harrison smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like William Harrison has been cut.
Harrison tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hopkins swivels and escapes.
Hopkins with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hopkins misses with a hook.
Harrison closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hopkins circles away.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Harrison has time to react.
Hopkins lands with a hook. Harrison tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Harrison fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison moves out of range as Hopkins strikes.
Harrison has a takedown stuffed.
Harrison changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopkins tries to avoid it but Harrison manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopkins to the ground. Hopkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopkins scores with a leg kick.
Harrison fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hopkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hopkins lands with a punch from half guard.
Harrison moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harrison controls Hopkins momentarily but Hopkins frees himself.
Harrison preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopkins with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hopkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hopkins won't allow Harrison to sweep him here.
Hopkins 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.
Hopkins trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.
Hopkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harrison is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins looking to pass the guard.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Harrison keeps moving.
Hopkins passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Harrison gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura but Harrison is defending well.
Harrison is trying to maintain the position but Hopkins is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hopkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harrison controls Hopkins momentarily but Hopkins frees himself.

Hopkins drops back looking for a leg! Harrison is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Harrison manages to kick Hopkins off! Hopkins jumps back into Harrison's guard.
Harrison will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Hopkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hopkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Harrison keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Hopkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harrison swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopkins is working hard here to advance position.
Harrison throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Harrison keeping full guard, as Hopkins tries to pass.
Hopkins slips nicely into half guard.
Hopkins thows a huge punch but Harrison dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrison manages to get to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Harrison is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Hopkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on William Harrison's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Harrison fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins avoids it really well and circles away.
Hopkins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Harrisons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hopkins throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hopkins lands with an overhand left.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the head.
Nice shot by Hopkins.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Harrison is defended easily by Hopkins.
Harrison doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hopkins digs a good hook to Harrison's body.
Harrison doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hopkins counters with a nice low kick that buckles Harrison's knee momentarily.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison misses with a wild body shot.
Harrison takes one to the chin there.
A cross from Hopkins lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hopkins forces his way into half guard.
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. Hopkins connects with a nice short shot to Harrison's temple.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Harrison is defending well.
Malcolm Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura but Harrison is defending well.

Hopkins is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throwing shots but Harrison is blocking nicely.

Hopkins is working for a kimura but Harrison is defending it quite comfortably.

Harrison actively working from the bottom here.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Harrison defends it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura but Harrison is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.
Hopkins wants to take a breather but Harrison is having none of it.
Harrison tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Hopkins is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Harrison tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins working the head and body with strikes.
Harrison is looking to improve his position.

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Harrison has managed to free his arm - good work.
Harrison is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hopkins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hopkins's back!
Harrison struggling to keep hold of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins turns into Harrison and is now in his guard.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Harrison keeps moving.
Hopkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harrison swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Hopkins dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on William Harrison's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Harrison tries for a takedown but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Harrison shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hopkins napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Harrison lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hopkins down.
Hopkins tries to buck Harrison off but Harrison is having none of it.
Harrison trying to control the position but Hopkins is working away.
Harrison creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hopkins is looking to regain half guard here but Harrison keeps moving and retains side control.

Harrison is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hopkins has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hopkins tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hopkins keeps working.
Hopkins wants to control but Harrison postures up.
Hopkins trying to remain calm as Harrison controls from the top position.
Harrison fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hopkins is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Harrison wants to control but Hopkins is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison working Hopkins over with strikes.
Hopkins is looking to get back to full guard here but Harrison has managed to pass to side control instead.
Hopkins prevents Harrison from improving position.
The strikes coming from Harrison are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Harrison is looking to take a break and control but Hopkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopkins is looking to reverse the position.
Hopkins is not content to let Harrison control the position.
Hopkins tries to buck Harrison off but Harrison is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hopkins keeps working.
Hopkins manages to work his way to half guard, despite Harrison's best efforts.
Harrison wants to take a breather but Hopkins is having none of it.
Harrison controlling the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. William Harrison hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Harrison ducks right into an uppercut from Hopkins.
Malcolm Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harrison will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harrison closes the distance and clinches up with Hopkins, looking for a takedown. Harrison pushes Hopkins against the cage but Hopkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harrison has a takedown stuffed.
Hopkins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Hopkins counter with a right hand.
Hopkins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harrison with a poor takedown
and Hopkins counters with a left and a right that stings Harrison.
Hopkins lands with an uppercut that bounces Harrison off the cage and back into range.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
Hopkins looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
William Harrison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harrison tries to move into range but Hopkins moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!
Hopkins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harrison's sensitive parts.
A punch lands to the side of Harrison 's head but he takes it in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins sizes up Harrison with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jab by Hopkins.
Hopkins lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hopkins lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to William Harrison.
Well Hopkins 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:28

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