PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny 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.

Stone
vs
Hopkins

191 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 New York, Jason Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Lou da Vinci and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hopkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stone misses with a wild combination.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stone is looking to stand up but Hopkins isn't so interested in that idea.

Hopkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hopkins throwing strikes from guard but Stone blocks nicely.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hopkins passes into half guard.
Hopkins throwing shots but Stone is blocking nicely.
Hopkins drops an elbow to the side of Stone's head.
Hopkins throwing shots but Stone is blocking nicely.
Stone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hopkins landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hopkins looks gassed!
Hopkins throwing shots but Stone is blocking nicely.
Stone tries to kick Hopkins off but Hopkins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stone flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hopkins landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hopkins throwing shots but Stone is blocking nicely.
Hopkins winds up and cracks Stone with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hopkins bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stone gets back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stone is trying to stand up here but Hopkins is controlling him well.
Hopkins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stone throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone gets back to full guard.
Stone thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopkins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stone is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopkins is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stone has his feet on Hopkins's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Stone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins landing with the ground and pound.
Hopkins prevents Stone from getting back to his feet.
Hopkins lands a couple of digs.
Stone is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopkins is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stone's head.
Hopkins is in close to Stone's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Stone has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hopkins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stone gets caught flat footed, as Hopkins shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hopkins won't allow Stone to get back to his feet.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hopkins scoring with some ground and pound.
Stone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hopkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stone wants to stand up but Hopkins is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stone fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Hopkins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hopkins lands in his opponent's guard.
Hopkins lands a couple of digs.
Hopkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Stone is retaining full guard.
Hopkins is working Stone over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stone looking for a sweep. Not yet Stone, not yet.
Stone is working hard here to advance position.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hopkins shoots in and bounces Stone off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hopkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hopkins dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stone throws a one two combo.
Stone swinging wildly here.
Hopkins shoots in and drives through. Stone sprawls well.
Stone throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stone scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Hopkins closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stone did well to prevent Hopkins getting side control.
Stone tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.
Stone controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Stone flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hopkins working over Stone with some ground and pound. Stone looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stone wants to improve his position but Hopkins is controlling well.
Johnny Hopkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nice strikes from Hopkins there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stone tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is trying to stand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hopkins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stone sprawls well initially but Hopkins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Hopkins.
Hopkins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hopkins drops an elbow to the side of Stone's head.
Stone is trying to stand back up but Hopkins is controlling him
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hopkins connects with a nice short shot to Stone's temple.
Hopkins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hopkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stone's head.

Stone pushes Hopkins off and gets back to his feet.
Hopkins fails to land the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stone as he avoids it easily.
Jason Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Hopkins.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hopkins is defended easily by Stone.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stone is defended easily by Hopkins.
A punch combination from Stone misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stone looking to control.
Hopkins lands a couple of digs.
Stone is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hopkins working some strikes from top position.
Hopkins is working Stone over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hopkins distracts Stone with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hopkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stone lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hopkins circles away quickly and effectively.
Stone misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopkins shoots for a takedown but Stone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hopkins shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hopkins tries to bench press Stone off him but Stone keeps the position.

Stone decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hopkins to his feet.
Stone throws a right and a left that both miss.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Stone is bucking up trying to escape but Hopkins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hopkins scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Stone?
Hopkins with shots to the head and body - Stone looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hopkins lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hopkins scoring with strikes but Stone is staying in there.
Hopkins with the ground and pound from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hopkins connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hopkins lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Stone wants to hold on but Hopkins pushes him away.
Hopkins lands a big shot there that rocks Stone but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Stone is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stone's face.
Stone tries to reverse the position but Hopkins maintains control.
Hopkins cracks Stone with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hopkins with good strikes from the mount here!
Stone is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hopkins lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stone hang on?
Stone slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hopkins is nestled in close to Stone, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stone is trying to stand back up but Hopkins is controlling him
Hopkins lands with a punch from half guard.
Stone tries to kick Hopkins off but Hopkins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hopkins prevents Stone from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stone throws a series of punches but Hopkins avoids them all with ease.

Hopkins scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Stone makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Hopkins feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hopkins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stone's head.
Stone wants to stand up but Hopkins is controlling him.
Hopkins landing some decent shots from guard.
Hopkins with a nice head shot there.
Hopkins lands a couple of digs.
Hopkins landing some decent shots from guard.
Hopkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hopkins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stone sprawls well initially but Hopkins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hopkins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins slips a nice elbow through Stone's hands, connecting with Stone's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hopkins lands a nice short elbow.
Hopkins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hopkins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hopkins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stone wants to get back to full guard.
Hopkins landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Stone tries to sprawl out of it but Hopkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stone displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hopkins.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hopkins working the head and body with strikes.
Jason Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hopkins is working away from the top position though.
Hopkins works his way into side control.
Hopkins in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hopkins in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hopkins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hopkins working the head and body with strikes.
Hopkins prevents Stone from escaping the position.
Hopkins working the head with strikes.
Hopkins works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hopkins works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stone looks for a takedown but Hopkins sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Jason Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Hopkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hopkins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hopkins landing some decent shots from guard.
Hopkins is in close to Stone's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Stone is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Stone is pressed up against the cage. Hopkins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stone down to the mat. Stone avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hopkins pinned against the cage. Hopkins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stone throws a nice looking combination but Hopkins bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hopkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stone misses with a double jab.
Stone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hopkins drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hopkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hopkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stone is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hopkins working some strikes from top position.
Hopkins chips away with some ground and pound.
Hopkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hopkins landing with the ground and pound.

Stone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hopkins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hopkins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hopkins landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

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