PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Allan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ulf Ragnard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hopkins
vs
Ragnard

165 cm
24
141 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

167 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Allan Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ulf Ragnard!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ragnard.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ragnard.
Ragnard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hopkins as he jumps to the side.
Allan Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulf Ragnard.
Ragnard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ragnard misses with a takedown attempt - Hopkins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ragnard shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hopkins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ragnard cracks Hopkins with a solid left hand.
Ragnard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Ragnard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hopkins manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ragnard has Hopkins in his guard.

Hopkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hopkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragnard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ragnard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ragnard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Ragnard keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to stand but Ragnard is controlling from the bottom.
Hopkins stopping the sweep attempt from Ragnard.

Hopkins stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ragnard dives in and grabs Hopkins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hopkins pushes down on Ragnard's head and hops out.

Ragnard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ragnard looks winded!
Ragnard in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnard throwing strikes but Hopkins manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Ragnard pushes Hopkins away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hopkins gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hopkins wants to control but Ragnard is keeping him busy.
Ragnard can't do much from the bottom here.
Ragnard is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Hopkins working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ragnard wants to control but Hopkins postures up.
Ragnard tries to buck Hopkins off but Hopkins is having none of it.
Ragnard wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hopkins has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulf Ragnard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ragnard fails with the takedown
and Hopkins counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Ragnard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hopkins dives in and grabs Ragnard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ragnard pushes down on Hopkins's head and hops out.
Hopkins feints and then cracks Ragnard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ragnard down.
Hopkins lands a two punch combo.
Ragnard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ragnard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ragnard cracks Hopkins with a big elbow.
Hopkins tries to bench press Ragnard off him but Ragnard keeps the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ragnard landing strikes.
Ragnard tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ragnard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ragnard is breathing heavily.
Hopkins is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hopkins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ragnard.
Ragnard wants to free his trapped foot but Hopkins is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ragnard working the head and body with strikes.
Hopkins is trying to control but can't.
Ragnard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Ragnard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hopkins is just riding it out for now. Ragnard eventually gives up the hold.
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.
Ragnard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hopkins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Hopkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ragnard decides to return to a standing position.
Hopkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ragnard swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Allan Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ragnard fails with a takedown attempt.
Hopkins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ragnard avoids it really well and circles away.
Allan Hopkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ragnard.
Ragnard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hopkins is fending him off so far but Ragnard persists. Nope, Hopkins circles away and we're back to standing.
Ragnard wants to clinch.
Hopkins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ragnard tries to avoid it but Hopkins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ragnard to the ground. Ragnard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopkins fails with the takedown.
Hopkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ragnard sprawls well. Ragnard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hopkins enables Ragnard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hopkins manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ragnard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ragnard throws an elbow that misses. Hopkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ragnard's guard. Nice move by Hopkins!

Ragnard looking for a guillotine here but Hopkins defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ragnard wants to sweep here but Hopkins controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulf Ragnard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ragnard stuffs the takedown.
Hopkins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ragnard.
Ragnard misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hopkins tries to clinch there but Ragnard circles away.
Ragnard misses with a takedown attempt - Hopkins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ragnard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Allan Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulf Ragnard.
Hopkins shoots in but Ragnard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Ragnard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopkins avoids it really well and circles away.
Allan Hopkins is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins clinches up with Ragnard and pushes him back against the cage.
Ragnard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ragnard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ragnard throws an elbow that misses. Hopkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ragnard's guard. Nice move by Hopkins!
Hopkins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ragnard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hopkins has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hopkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hopkins passes Ragnard's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ragnard has a hand on Hopkins's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hopkins takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ragnard manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Ragnard, under a barage of strikes from Hopkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnard is refusing to be controlled, as Hopkins sits in half guard.
Hopkins seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Ragnard trying to control here.
Hopkins not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins stops Ragnard from getting back to his feet.
Ulf Ragnard has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Hopkins stands up and beckons Ragnard to join him on the feet.

Hopkins clinches up against the cage.
Ragnard working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ragnard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hopkins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ragnard just stands there and leans against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Allan Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ragnard 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ulf Ragnard!