PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Skog (ranked 1720 p4p, 197 weight class) and Jimmy Hopkins (ranked 2657 p4p, 280 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Skog
vs
Hopkins

178 cm
33
178 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

177 cm
31
170 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Skog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins feints and then cracks Skog's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Skog down.
Hopkins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that is checked
and Skog counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Skog takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Skog on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hopkins. Hopkins obviously looking to wear him down.
The fighters circle momentarily. Skog darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Skog wants to slow Hopkins down by chopping away at his legs.
A punch combination from Skog misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hopkins.
Skog throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hopkins.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hopkins. That's going to slow Skog down.
Hopkins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Skog.
Skog defending well as Hopkins loads up on a big left hand.
An inside leg kick from Hopkins misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skog tries to land a front kick but Hopkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Skog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins connects with a leg kick. Skog looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Skog with a nice cross.
Skog misses with a hook
and Hopkins counters with a straight right hand.
Good leg kick by Skog there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Skog.
Hopkins walks into a left hand.
Skog dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hopkins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Skog.
Hopkins misses with a kick to the body.
Hopkins changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Skog tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Skog connects with a high kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skog throws a leg kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Skog throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hopkins misses with a leg kick.
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Skog.
Jimmy Hopkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins drives through and clinches with Skog against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
Skog is trying to pull guard but Hopkins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Skog misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hopkins scores with a hook to the body.
Hopkins lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Skog fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Skog's head.
Skog misses with some punches.
Hopkins misses with some punches.
Skog blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Skog lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Skog has Hopkins pressed against the cage.
Skog can't find room to land a body shot as Hopkins controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Skog.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Skog misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins gets underhooks to prevent Skog's takedown attempt.
Hopkins is trying to stall.
Hopkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Skog. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Skog's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut there from Hopkins.
Hopkins blocks a jab.
A little jabbing left from Hopkins on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Skog throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Skog looks to land a body kick but Hopkins moved away.
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Skog scores with a hook to the body. Hopkins takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Skog.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skog slips under a jab.
Hopkins scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopkins throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hopkins throws a body punch but Skog moves out of range.
Skog attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Skog shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hopkins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skog trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skog throws an elbow that misses. Hopkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Skog's guard. Nice move by Hopkins!

Skog pulls Hopkins in close to prevent any damage.
Hopkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hopkins preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jimmy Hopkins will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Skog throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Skog scores with a jab to the body.
Skog connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Skog.

Skog scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Skog works to advance to full mount. Hopkins defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Hopkins tries to hold on but Skog postures up.
Skog looking to finish with strikes here!
Hopkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hopkins avoids a series of strikes thrown by Skog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to hold on but Skog postures up.
Hopkins is squirming around, avoiding Skog's attempts to control the action.
Skog 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.
Skog is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hopkins can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Dan Skog overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Skog is landing with some decent strikes but Hopkins is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hopkins can't escape the position.
Skog scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skog pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hopkins tries to hold on but Skog pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skog looking to control but Hopkins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hopkins is trying desperately to improve position.
Skog throws some wild stikes that Hopkins manages to avoid easily.
Hopkins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Skog working Hopkins over with strikes 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!
Skog scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Skog scoring with strikes but Hopkins is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hopkins is looking to escape.
Skog scoring with strikes but Hopkins is staying in there.
Hopkins tries to reverse the position but Skog maintains control.
Skog sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Skog lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Skog lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hopkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Skog landing strikes from the mount.
Skog is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopkins can do to turn this around?
Hopkins is desperately trying to improve his position but Skog has a good base and remains in mount.
Skog wants to control the pace but Hopkins is squirming around nicely.
Hopkins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Skog dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Skog scores with a shot to the body.
Skog fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hopkins has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Skog misses the shot to the body.
Skog pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Skog has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a big shot that misses.
An inside leg kick from Hopkins misses.
Skog throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hopkins counters with a good low kick that Skog was not able to check.
A jab lands there for Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins tries to land a leg kick but Skog saw it coming and moves away.
Skog changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hopkins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hopkins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice defenses there by Skog.
Skog appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hopkins. That's going to slow Skog down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to land a leg kick but Skog is out of range.
Hopkins connects with a crisp jab.
Skog throws a hook but Hopkins blocks it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a looping right.
Skog throws a head kick that misses.
Hopkins throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Skog counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Skog works his way into full mount!
Hopkins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Skog throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Skog.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins tries to lock up and control but Skog gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Skog takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Skog trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hopkins is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog landing strikes, looking to finish!
Skog scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hopkins bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Skog manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hopkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Skog throwing strikes but missing.
Skog is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skog lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Skog looking to sit in guard and control but Hopkins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hopkins trying to control but Skog is working from the bottom.
Skog pulls Hopkins in close to prevent any damage.
Skog is looking to sweep but instead, Hopkins has passed into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Skog makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Skog.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Skog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dan Skog.
I think Skog has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dan Skog!