PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Hopkins (ranked 2344 p4p, 264 weight class) and Altintop Palonesess (ranked 2418 p4p, 272 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hopkins
vs
Palonesess

172 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
29
153 lbs
11 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Altintop Palonesess!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Palonesess napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Hopkins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hopkins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A lull in the action here as Hopkins stalls from top position.
The strikes coming from Hopkins are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hopkins working the ground and pound but Palonesess is defending the strikes.
An elbow from Hopkins crashes against the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins working the head with strikes.
Palonesess is looking to reverse the position.

Hopkins tries for a kimura but Palonesess is defending well.
Hopkins controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control the position but Palonesess is working away.
Palonesess is being controlled here.
Palonesess is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hopkins off and has taken his back!
Palonesess controlling well, preventing Hopkins from escaping the position.
Will Palonesess go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Hopkins trying to control the position but Palonesess manages to sink in the hooks.
Hopkins's coaches at Pablo's Boxing Academy have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Palonesess working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins breaks Palonesess's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess trying to control the position.
Hopkins throws a big elbow that misses.
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 preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Palonesess trying to control the position.
Hopkins chips away with some ground and pound.
Hopkins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Palonesess's head.
Hopkins won't allow Palonesess to sweep him here.
Hopkins with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess being controlled here, momentarily.
Hopkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Palonesess is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hopkins works over Palonesess with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Palonesess has momentary wrist control but Hopkins slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hopkins forces his way into half guard.
Hopkins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Palonesess works his way to full guard. Good work.
Palonesess wants to sweep here but Hopkins controlling him for the moment.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Palonesess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hopkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Palonesess's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Hopkins dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hopkins shoots in and bounces Palonesess off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Palonesess keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.
Palonesess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hopkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hopkins preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palonesess controls Hopkins momentarily but Hopkins frees himself.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Palonesess keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Palonesess is keeping the position.
Hopkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hopkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Palonesess sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hopkins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Palonesess is fending him off so far but Hopkins persists. Nope, Palonesess circles away and we're back to standing.
Hopkins blocks a head kick by Palonesess.
Hopkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Palonesess, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Palonesess has a takedown stuffed.
Hopkins keeps the fight on the outside.
Palonesess shoots for a double leg takedown but Hopkins sprawls well. He's pushed Palonesess's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Billy Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Altintop Palonesess.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Palonesess.
Hopkins feinted with a counter takedown.

Hopkins gets a double leg takedown into Palonesess's guard.

Palonesess kicks Hopkins off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altintop Palonesess is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopkins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Palonesess is fending him off so far but Hopkins persists. Nope, Palonesess circles away and we're back to standing.

Hopkins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Palonesess tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hopkins is in Palonesess's guard.
Hopkins is standing up over Palonesess. Palonesess looks to escape but Hopkins dives into side control.

Palonesess is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hopkins connects with a decent elbow.
Hopkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Palonesess keeps working.
Hopkins creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Palonesess sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hopkins staying calm.
Palonesess is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is controlling the pace.
Palonesess avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hopkins.
Hopkins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Palonesess defending well though.
Hopkins not doing much here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hopkins lands a nice short elbow.
Hopkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Palonesess can do to turn this around?
Hopkins working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hopkins trying to control the pace.
Palonesess wants to improve his position but Hopkins is controlling well.
Hopkins is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins throwing shots but Palonesess is blocking nicely.
Hopkins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hopkins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Hopkins dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Palonesess stalks Hopkins and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hopkins's face. Hopkins staggers backwards, shaken.
Palonesess scores with a nice strike.
Palonesess lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hopkins backs up against the cage.

Hopkins drives through with a takedown into guard.

Palonesess throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hopkins uses it to pass to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palonesess is trying to control Hopkins's posture but Hopkins avoids it.
Palonesess takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Palonesess tries to control but Hopkins manages to take his back.
Hopkins missing with strikes from the back.
Hopkins connects with a big shot to the side of Palonesess's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins tightening his grip on Palonesess, looking for the choke.
Palonesess trying to control the hands but Hopkins won't let him.

Hopkins looking for the RNC.

Hopkins is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Palonesess knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Palonesess for a finish.

Hopkins is persistently looking for the submission but Palonesess is defending it well.
Billy Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is working the ground and pound. Can Palonesess escape?
Palonesess trying to get back to his feet but Hopkins is in full control for now.
Palonesess takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Hopkins cracks Palonesess with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Palonesess from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Hopkins has Palonesess flattened out and is raining down punches.
What can Palonesess do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Hopkins missing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palonesess is trying to get back to his feet but Hopkins has full control of the position and if anything, Palonesess has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Hopkins misses with an elbow to the head.
Hopkins cracks Palonesess with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Palonesess from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Billy Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hopkins missing with punches from the back.
Palonesess is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hopkins scores with punches and elbows.

Hopkins is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Palonesess is defending well though. Hopkins let's go of the attempt for now.
Hopkins biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Palonesess defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Hopkins. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Hopkins is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Palonesess is trying to get back to his feet but Hopkins has full control of the position and if anything, Palonesess has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Altintop Palonesess has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hopkins lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Hopkins!
Billy Hopkins thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Altintop Palonesess was interviewed post fight and said 'Shit happends!!! '.