PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rake Keeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Keeler
vs
Hopkins

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rake Keeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderlei Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Keeler wants to clinch up but Hopkins keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Keeler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopkins throws a head kick but Keeler moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Hopkins has Keeler up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins dodges an elbow strike from Keeler.
Hopkins can't break the clinch.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.
Keeler tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hopkins counters by clinching up.
Keeler pushes off an throws an elbow but Hopkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hopkins is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hopkins wants a takedown but no success here.
Keeler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Keeler tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.
Keeler tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.
Keeler misses with an elbow strike.
Keeler with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Keeler throws an elbow but misses.
Keeler blocks a body shot from Hopkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Keeler is pressed up against the cage. Hopkins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Keeler down to the mat. Keeler avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rake Keeler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a low kick.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Keeler avoids them all with ease.
Wanderlei Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins misses with the combination.
Hopkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Keeler swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Keeler tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hopkins counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Keeler's guard now.
Hopkins looks gassed!
Hopkins passes Keeler's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to control. Keeler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Keeler knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hopkins on the ground.

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura but Keeler is defending well.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Keeler is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Keeler is defending against the submission attempts here by Hopkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Hopkins dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Keeler tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hopkins counters by clinching up.
Keeler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hopkins's defenses.

It looks like Wanderlei Hopkins has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins dodges an elbow strike from Keeler.
Keeler pushes off an throws an elbow but Hopkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Hopkins pulls guard.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.

Hopkins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Keeler wants to stand but Hopkins is controlling his posture from full guard.

Keeler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Keeler wants to stand but Hopkins is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Keeler is proving a slippery customer.
Keeler tries to stand but Hopkins is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hopkins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keeler tries to avoid it but Hopkins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keeler to the ground. Keeler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keeler was well out of range. Poor timing from Hopkins.
A punch combination from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hopkins counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Keeler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keeler stuffs the takedown attempt from Hopkins. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Hopkins's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hopkins circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hopkins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Keeler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hopkins avoids the elbow strike from Keeler, against the cage.
Keeler tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.

Hopkins breaks the clinch.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Keeler is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hopkins!
Hopkins throws a hook but Keeler blocks it.
Hopkins lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hopkins.
Hopkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keeler tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hopkins counters with a three punch combo that has Keeler backing up. Keeler nods at Hopkins to acknowledge the strikes.
Keeler tries to clinch

and Hopkins counters by moving into the clinch.
Wanderlei Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keeler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Keeler just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hopkins's brow.
Keeler lands a damaging elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Keeler trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Keeler just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hopkins's brow.
Hopkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Keeler obliges.
Keeler lands a damaging elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Keeler landing knees to the body.
Hopkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Keeler throws a knee to the head but misses.
Keeler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hopkins avoids the elbow strike from Keeler, against the cage.
Keeler is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hopkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Keeler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keeler misses with a knee to the head.
Hopkins pressing his opponent against the cage.
Keeler misses with an elbow over the top.
Hopkins takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hopkins tries to work over Keeler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Keeler misses with an elbow over the top.
Keeler looking to stall.
Keeler creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hopkins looking for a takedown.
Keeler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hopkins is defending well for now.
Hopkins takes an elbow to the forehead.
Keeler lands an elbow inside.
Hopkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Keeler.
Keeler lands an elbow just above Hopkins 's eye.

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 looking to slow down the pace here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Keeler.
Hopkins blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Keeler.
Keeler misses with an elbow strike.
Hopkins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keeler with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Keeler throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Keeler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Keeler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hopkins.

Hopkins has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Keeler regains guard immediately.
Keeler keeping moving, preventing Hopkins from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Hopkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hopkins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Hopkins!