PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hessu Hopo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopo's entrance music is Bodies. A fine choice. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hopo
vs
Hart

200 cm
33
275 lbs
19 - 13 - 1

190 cm
33
255 lbs
23 - 6 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -
Revolution Fatigues

Revolution Fatigues
Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Hessu Hopo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Chad Hart!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hart looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hopo is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hopo tries to roll over but Hart keeps him under control.
Hart trying to control the action but Hopo is working from the bottom.
Hopo is trying to get back to full guard.
Hopo trying to control here.
Hopo is trying to get back to full guard.

Hart seems to be working for a kimura but Hopo defends the submission attempt.

Hopo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hart pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hart trying to control the action but Hopo is working from the bottom.
Hart is looking to pass Hopo's guard but actually Hopo recovers to full guard.
Hopo controls Hart momentarily but Hart frees himself.
Hopo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopo lands a big shot there that rocks Hart but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Poor strikes thrown by Hopo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hart working to try and regain half guard.
Hart is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hopo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hart?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hart can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hart is looking to improve his position but Hopo isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hopo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hopo unloading with bombs!
Hopo punching from mount but Hart doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hart manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Hart, under a barage of strikes from Hopo.
Hart wants to get back to full guard.
Hopo trying to advance position but Hart counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hart manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hart lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hart pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hopo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
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 Hessu Hopo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hart throws a lazy right hand but Hopo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hart misses with a wild body shot.
Hart fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hopo lands with a good body shot.
Hart swings for the body but Hopo moves out of range.

Hopo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hart taking some punishment here, with Hopo in his half guard.
Hopo moves into full mount! Hart won't be happy about that!
Hart regains half guard.
Nice strikes from Hopo there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart is looking for a sweep. Hopo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hopo is working for a kimura but Hart is defending it quite comfortably.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hopo in particular looking to stall.
Hopo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hopo 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.

Hart actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart is trying to maintain the position but Hopo is very close to passing his half guard.
Hopo tries to pass to full mount but Hart defends it.
Hopo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hart is looking to improve his position.
Hopo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hart with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hart works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopo throwing strikes but missing.
Hopo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hopo is controlling him.
Hart not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hopo wants to pass the guard but Hart is keeping the position.
Hopo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hart wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
Hessu Hopo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hart had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hopo defends it easily.

Hopo has gone for a leg lock! Hart slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hopo's guard.

Hopo looking for a guillotine here but Hart defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hopo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hart gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hopo drops his hands momentarily and Hart takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Hart checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The fighters circling - Hart throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Hart drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hopo manages to get back to half guard.
Hart is trying to control the action in half guard but Hopo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hopo is holding on to half guard well.
Hopo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hart's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hart's back!
Hopo is working the ground and pound. Can Hart escape?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart turns into Hopo and is now in his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hart drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hopo dives on top into guard.
Hart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hopo's guard.
Hopo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Hart got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hopo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hart has managed to get both his arms back between Hopo's legs - danger averted.
Hart throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hopo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hart must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hopo working a defensive guard here.
Hopo is really struggling to control Hart but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hart advances position into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hart lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hart remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hart tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopo can't do much from the bottom here.
Hart wants to control but Hopo is keeping him busy.
Hopo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hart wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Hart are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hopo can't do much from the bottom here.
Hopo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hart's best efforts.
Hopo is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hart is working away from the top position though.
Hart wants to free his trapped foot but Hopo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hart trying to control the action but Hopo is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopo trying to hold on to Hart's head to control him but Hart postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Chad Hart just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hart lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hart.
Hopo punishes Hart's body with a nice straight punch.
Hart fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopo avoids it really well and circles away.
Hart shoots in looking for a takedown. Hopo tries to sprawl out of it but Hart keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hopo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hart takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hopo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hopo thows a body shot but no joy.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Hart throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hopo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hart tries to avoid it but Hopo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hart to the ground. Hart escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hart. Hopo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hart waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hopo.

Hopo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hart to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hopo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hart wants to control but Hopo is having none of it.
Hopo breaks from Hart's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hart wants to control but Hopo is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart is trying desperately to improve position.
Hopo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hopo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hopo is landing with some decent strikes but Hart is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hart holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hopo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hopo throws some wild stikes that Hart manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopo landing strikes from the mount.
Hart taking shots to the head.
Hopo lands a big elbow.
Hart is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hopo content just to control the position here.
Hart is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo unloading with bombs!
Hopo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hopo lands a nice shot to the head.
Hart is desperately trying to improve his position but Hopo has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hessu Hopo had his way with Chad Hart in that round.
That's time! Hopo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hart throws a hook but Hopo blocks it.
Hart throws a body kick the misses
and Hopo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hopo lands a jab.
Chad Hart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hart shoots in but Hopo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hopo shoots in looking for a takedown. Hart tries to sprawl out of it but Hopo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hopo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hart checks it well.
Hopo slips a straight right by Hart.
Hart swings for the body but Hopo moves out of range.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Jab from Hopo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hart rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hopo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hart shoots in for a takedown but Hopo shows good takedown defense.
Hessu Hopo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Hart.

Hopo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hart to the ground. Hopo is now in Hart's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hopo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Hopo from controlling successfully.
Hart wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopo advances to half guard.

Hopo seems to be working for a kimura but Hart defends the submission attempt.
Hopo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Chad Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopo with shots to the head and body - Hart looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hopo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hart?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hopo landing strikes from the mount and Hart is in trouble!
Hart tries to hold on but Hopo postures up.
Hopo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hart hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopo throws some wild stikes that Hart manages to avoid easily.
Hopo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hart's face.
Hart is looking to get to half guard.
Hart tries to hold on but Hopo pushes him away.
Hopo with shots to the head and body - Hart looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hopo lands a heavy elbow.
Hart takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Hopo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hart is now in Hopo's guard. A big mistake from Hopo there, giving up the dominant position!
Hart with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hart engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hart trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hopo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hart connects with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hessu Hopo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hopo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 50:46
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hessu Hopo!
An out of breath Hessu Hopo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.