PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuraba Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Gimme Shelter as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hopkins
vs
Gracie

185 cm
23
180 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
34
182 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sakuraba Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins shoots in and gets a takedown into Gracie's guard.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hopkins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Hopkins there.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hopkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Hopkins is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie is not content to let Hopkins control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopkins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hopkins working Gracie over with strikes.
Hopkins seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Hopkins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hopkins is working away from the top position though.
Hopkins wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for subs from the bottom but Hopkins mounts him!
Hopkins wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hopkins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Hopkins sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins trying to control the pace.
Hopkins prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Hopkins is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Hopkins is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hopkins is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie won't allow Hopkins to pass to mount.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie trying to hold on to Hopkins's head to control him but Hopkins postures up.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hopkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Hopkins dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hopkins takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Hopkins pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Hopkins.
Hopkins just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Hopkins creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hopkins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.

Hopkins closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie is not content to let Hopkins control the position.
Hopkins cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Hopkins's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hopkins lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hopkins lands some shots froms side control.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hopkins off and has taken his back!

Gracie looking to break Hopkins's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hopkins remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hopkins just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Gracie patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Hopkins is controlling his hands well.
Hopkins can't escape the position.
Hopkins trying to survive by controlling the hands.

Gracie has got his arm under Hopkins's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Hopkins has spun round into Gracie's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
Hopkins passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hopkins passes into side control.
Hopkins cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hopkins lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hopkins takes a little break here. Gracie wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Hopkins looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hopkins passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Hopkins lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hopkins scoring with strikes but Gracie is staying in there.
Hopkins connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Hopkins looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Anthony Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Hopkins lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Gracie wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Hopkins celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Hopkins!