PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Slaughter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins comes to the cage accompanied by Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hopkins
vs
Slaughter

180 cm
32
190 lbs
22 - 19 - 0

185 cm
33
200 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 22 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malcolm Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Slaughter!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Some bone on bone action there as Slaughter checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hopkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Malcolm Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Slaughter was well out of range. Poor timing from Hopkins.
Slaughter slips under a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Slaughter is trying to trip Hopkins. He has hold of a leg but Hopkins is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Slaughter persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Slaughter wanted to stand there but Hopkins had control of the position.
Slaughter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hopkins wants to hit a switch here but Slaughter passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hopkins there!
Hopkins is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Slaughter tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Hopkins tries to reverse the position but Slaughter maintains control.
Hopkins bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Slaughter doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hopkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hopkins postures up.
Slaughter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hopkins.
Hopkins works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hopkins wants to take a breather but Slaughter is having none of it.
Slaughter trying to hold on to Hopkins's head to control him but Hopkins postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control from half guard but Slaughter is working away.
Slaughter trying to control but Hopkins postures up.
Hopkins thows a huge punch but Slaughter dodges it nicely.
Slaughter tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hopkins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Slaughter trying to control but Hopkins postures up.
Hopkins is pressing down on Slaughter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Slaughter is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Slaughter is just riding it out for now. Hopkins eventually gives up the hold.
Slaughter tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.

Hopkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Slaughter is just riding it out for now. Hopkins eventually gives up the hold.
Hopkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hopkins is working for a kimura but Slaughter is defending it quite comfortably.
Hopkins is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slaughter blocking the ground and pound.
Slaughter tries to hold on but Hopkins postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slaughter working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Hopkins dominated that round.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Slaughter tries to clinch but Hopkins is having none of it.
Slaughter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopkins but Hopkins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Slaughter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hopkins is fending him off so far but Slaughter persists. Nope, Hopkins circles away and we're back to standing.
Slaughter lands a really nice looking cross but Hopkins seems unphased.
Slaughter shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins shows good takedown defense.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Slaughter.
Hopkins scores with a jab. Slaughter acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Slaughter looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hopkins!
Hopkins is not content to let Slaughter control the position.
Hopkins wants to control but Slaughter postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter controlling the position from side mount.
Slaughter laying and praying for a moment but Hopkins takes advantage and regains half guard.
Hopkins moves into full guard.
Hopkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hopkins is on top in guard.
Hopkins wants to get up but he can't break Slaughter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Slaughter keeps moving.
Hopkins passes Slaughter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Slaughter on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Slaughter is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hopkins lands a nice short elbow.
Hopkins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Slaughter has hold of Hopkins's hands but Hopkins slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
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!
Slaughter on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Slaughter gets full guard.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Malcolm Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hopkins passes Slaughter's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Hopkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Slaughter is just riding it out for now. Hopkins eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins winds up and cracks Slaughter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Slaughter tries to kick Hopkins off but Hopkins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Slaughter trying to control here.
Hopkins slips a nice elbow through Slaughter's hands, connecting with Slaughter's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter tries to get to full guard but Hopkins has control of the leg.
Slaughter misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Hopkins is working for a kimura but Slaughter is defending it quite comfortably.
Slaughter trying to control but Hopkins postures up.
Hopkins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Slaughter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ground and pound from Hopkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Hopkins dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Slaughter looks for a takedown but Hopkins sprawls well.
Hopkins with a hook.
Slaughter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stalling in the clinch from Slaughter.
Slaughter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Slaughter's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Slaughter tries to pull guard but Hopkins holds him up against the cage and eventually Slaughter drops back down to his feet.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Slaughter.
Slaughter tries to break free but Hopkins pushes him back against the cage.
Hopkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins breaks the clinch.
Slaughter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Slaughter.
Slaughter wants to clinch up but Hopkins keeps it at a distance.
Hopkins comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hopkins getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Slaughter is defended easily by Hopkins.

Hopkins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Slaughter's guard.
Hopkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Slaughter's head.
Hopkins postures up in Slaughter's guard and throws a big left but Slaughter blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter wants to sweep but no luck.
Slaughter keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Hopkins stands and throws Slaughter's legs to the side, diving into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hopkins working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Slaughter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hopkins wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hopkins lands some shots froms side control.
Hopkins advances to mount.
Hopkins breaks from Slaughter's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Slaughter wants to get back to his feet.
Hopkins winds up and cracks Slaughter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins trying to control the action but Slaughter is working from the bottom.
Hopkins passes to side control.
Slaughter is not content to let Hopkins control the position.
Malcolm Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hopkins in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter is trying to get back to half guard.
Slaughter regains half guard there - taking advantage of Hopkins's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Hopkins seems to be working for a kimura but Slaughter defends the submission attempt.
Slaughter pushes Hopkins off looking to stand but Hopkins dives back in and keeps control.
Josh Slaughter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slaughter tries to get to full guard but Hopkins has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hopkins, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

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