PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Heartman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wanderlei Hopkins is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Heartman
vs
Hopkins

178 cm
23
211 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

205 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Tianada's Nutrition Superstore

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Heartman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderlei Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins tries to keep at a distance but Heartman has taken the fight into the clinch.
Heartman crunches a lovely knee into Hopkins's ribcage.
Hopkins looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heartman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Heartman is working for takedown but Hopkins is calmly controlling the position for now.
Heartman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Heartman lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Wanderlei Hopkins has been cut.
Heartman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hopkins's defenses.
Hopkins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Heartman.
Hopkins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Heartman smiles and moves away.

Heartman gets a clinch.
Heartman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hopkins's defenses.
Heartman tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Heartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heartman blocks a body shot from Hopkins.
Heartman tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heartman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hopkins avoids it.
Heartman swings wildly with an uppercut but Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heartman lands a nice elbow.

That has opened up Wanderlei Hopkins's cut even more.
Hopkins has had enough of the clinch but Heartman keeps him there for the moment.
Heartman working aggressively here.
Hopkins takes an elbow to the temple.
Hopkins is trying to break the clinch but Heartman is controlling him.
Heartman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins wants to get back to striking at distance but Heartman won't allow it.

Heartman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Heartman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hopkins avoiding damage as Heartman throws knees to the body.
Hopkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Heartman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins keeps the fight on the outside.
Nick Heartman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Heartman has Hopkins up against the cage in a clinch.
Hopkins blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to force a seperation but Heartman has the dominant position.
Heartman blocking some punches.
Heartman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hopkins trying to control the position but instead, Heartman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hopkins into the cage.

Heartman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Heartman tries to clinch but Hopkins is having none of it.
Heartman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Heartman dodges the punch combination from Hopkins.
Hopkins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Heartman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopkins but Hopkins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Heartman is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Hopkins is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Heartman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hopkins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hopkins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Heartman circles away quickly and effectively.
Heartman swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Heartman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Heartman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heartman doesn't manage to clinch there - Hopkins circles away.
Heartman throws a head kick that misses
and Hopkins counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Heartman is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Heartman throws a wild body kick that Hopkins sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Heartman darts in trying to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Heartman is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Heartman sprawls well. Heartman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet.
Heartman throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Heartman misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heartman tries to clinch but Hopkins moves away
letting Hopkins counter with a right hand.
Heartman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hopkins counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Heartman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Hopkins's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hopkins lands a high kick!
Heartman closes the distance but Hopkins moves to the side
and Hopkins counters with a three punch combo that has Heartman backing up. Heartman nods at Hopkins to acknowledge the strikes.
Heartman misses with a body shot.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Heartman moves out of range.
Heartman throws a head kick but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Heartman's waist but Heartman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopkins off to one side.
Heartman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heartman is looking to clinch.
Heartman is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.
Heartman tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Heartman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Heartman has closed the distance and engaged Hopkins in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hopkins - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Heartman is struggling to control the position.
Hopkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Heartman lands an elbow that stopped Hopkins in his tracks for a moment.
Heartman is pushing Hopkins up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Heartman throws an elbow but it misses.
Heartman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Heartman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

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.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Heartman manages to get underhooks.
Hopkins wants to break free but Heartman has control.
Hopkins managing to block the knees to the body from Heartman.
Hopkins can't find room to land a body shot as Heartman controls the action.
Heartman stalling against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Heartman.
Hopkins wants to get back to striking at distance but Heartman won't allow it.
Heartman has a couple of punches blocked by Hopkins.
Heartman has Hopkins pressed against the cage, preventing Hopkins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hopkins tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nick Heartman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Hopkins.
Hopkins fails to pull guard.
Heartman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The cut above Wanderlei Hopkins's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Hopkins can't get the takedown.
Heartman keeps control of Hopkins as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Heartman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heartman tries to score a body lock takedown but Hopkins shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the ribs.

Hopkins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Heartman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hopkins counters with a left and a right that stings Heartman.
Nick Heartman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Heartman sprawls well. Heartman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet.

Heartman takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Heartman breaks the clinch.
Hopkins swings for the body but Heartman moves out of range.
Heartman darts in trying to clinch
and Hopkins counters with a one-two to the body.
Heartman takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Heartman wants to clinch.
Heartman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hopkins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Heartman is looking to clinch.
Heartman attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Heartman wants to clinch but Hopkins slips to the side
and Hopkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Heartman darts in and clinches Hopkins up against the cage.
Heartman misses with a knee to the head.
Hopkins tries to stall but Heartman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Heartman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hopkins avoiding damage as Heartman throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heartman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Heartman creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Heartman throws an elbow but misses.
Nick Heartman has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Heartman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heartman avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heartman has Hopkins pushed against the cage.
Hopkins changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Heartman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Heartman throws a head kick but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Heartman circles away quickly and effectively.
Heartman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Nick Heartman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Hopkins.

Heartman forces Hopkins back against the cage and clinches.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Heartman manages to get underhooks.
Heartman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Heartman jumps guard and drags Hopkins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heartman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopkins is controlling him.
Heartman is controlling Hopkins's posture.
Hopkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Heartman is retaining full guard.
Hopkins stops Heartman from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Heartman keeps moving.
Hopkins works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to control the action in half guard but Heartman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Heartman trying to hold on to Hopkins's head to control him but Hopkins postures up.

Heartman is defending against the submission attempts here by Hopkins.
Heartman trying to control but Hopkins postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hopkins is working for a kimura but Heartman is defending it quite comfortably.
Heartman is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hopkins is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Heartman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Heartman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Heartman tries to get out of the position.

Hopkins is working for a kimura but Heartman is defending it quite comfortably.
Heartman is trying to stand back up but Hopkins is controlling him

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 Nick Heartman.
I think Heartman 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nick Heartman!