PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penncil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dwayne Hopkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopkins
vs
Penncil

182 cm
25
184 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

173 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ace of Spades Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Dwayne Hopkins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, BJ Penncil!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins moves out of range of the body kick.
Hopkins misses with a two punch combination.
Hopkins scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hopkins looks to land a combination but Penncil avoids it well.
Penncil takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Penncil scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Penncil wants to control but Hopkins is keeping him busy.

Penncil is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hopkins is refusing to be controlled, as Penncil sits in half guard.

Penncil is looking for a kimura here.
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 wants to control but Penncil is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Penncil looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hopkins is not content to let Penncil control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins is looking to control Penncil's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopkins avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penncil is trying to control the action in half guard but Hopkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hopkins is looking to control Penncil's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopkins avoid being mounted?

Hopkins is defending against the submission attempts here by Penncil.
Hopkins slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hopkins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Penncil is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penncil tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopkins is retaining full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hopkins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Penncil trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hopkins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Penncil is proving a slippery customer.
Penncil passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins is refusing to be controlled, as Penncil sits in half guard.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penncil is working away from the top position though.
Penncil is pressing down on Hopkins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hopkins is holding on for now.

Penncil is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hopkins defends it well.
Hopkins wants to control but Penncil is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penncil is looking to take a break and control but Hopkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopkins trying to hold on to Penncil's head to control him but Penncil postures up.
Penncil trying to pass the guard but Hopkins defending well.

Penncil is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hopkins has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to stand.

Hopkins is defending against the submission attempts here by Penncil.

Penncil looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Penncil 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penncil stops Hopkins from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Penncil is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Penncil is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hopkins defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penncil dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hopkins lands with a nice combination. Penncil backs away looking to recover.
Penncil takes one to the side of the head.

Penncil shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hopkins's guard.
Penncil trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hopkins has his foot on Penncil's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Penncil works his way back into a safe position though.
Hopkins keeping moving, preventing Penncil from controlling successfully.
BJ Penncil has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins can't keep his opponent in guard - Penncil advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Penncil works his way into side control.

Penncil is trying to get an arm triangle but Hopkins is defending well.

Penncil is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hopkins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Penncil tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penncil has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penncil is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hopkins is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Penncil trying to control the action but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Hopkins is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Penncil tries to move to mount but Hopkins blocks the move with his legs.
Hopkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Penncil controlling from side mount.
Hopkins struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hopkins is looking to reverse the position.

Penncil is trying to get an arm triangle but Hopkins is defending well.

Penncil is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hopkins has escaped the position, nice work there.

Penncil is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hopkins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hopkins tries to buck Penncil off but Penncil is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penncil tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hopkins's legs.
Hopkins is trying to control Penncil's posture but Penncil avoids it.

Penncil has hold of Hopkins's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Hopkins tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Penncil cranks the arm and Hopkins screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Hopkins, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). BJ Penncil!
BJ Penncil is the new middleweight champion!