PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II. Malcolm Hopkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopkins
vs
Harrison

180 cm
32
190 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

186 cm
30
195 lbs
19 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malcolm Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, William Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrison shoots and misses
and Hopkins counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Harrison fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the body.

Harrison drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Harrison working away.

Harrison goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hopkins rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Harrison's guard! Nice work there by Hopkins!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harrison is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hopkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrison is looking for a triangle but Hopkins pushes his legs off easily.
Harrison is trying to control the position but Hopkins postures up.
Harrison throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Harrison tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harrison is trying to keep Hopkins in close.
Hopkins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hopkins trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.

Harrison looking for a guillotine here but Hopkins defends easily.
Hopkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Harrison's guard.
Hopkins thows a huge punch but Harrison dodges it nicely.
Harrison is trying to maintain the position but Hopkins is very close to passing his half guard.
Harrison has hold of Hopkins's hands but Hopkins slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Harrison looking for submissions off his back.
Hopkins is keen to just control but Harrison is a slippery customer.
Harrison wants to get back to full guard.
Harrison keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harrison wants to control but Hopkins is keeping busy.
Hopkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Harrison's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to control but Harrison is keeping him busy.

Harrison looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hopkins is trying to control the action in half guard but Harrison is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hopkins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Harrison is defending well.

Hopkins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hopkins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hopkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Harrison is defending well.
Hopkins is working hard here to advance position.
Harrison keeping control of the position.
Harrison keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Harrison trying to control here.
Hopkins is pressing down on Harrison's thigh, looking to free his foot. Harrison is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Harrison looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Hopkins dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harrison fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hopkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Harrison.
Harrison bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Harrison is defended easily by Hopkins.
Harrison closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hopkins circles away.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison fails with the takedown
and Hopkins counters with a thumping low kick.
Harrison uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.

Harrison gets caught napping as Hopkins dives in and scores a takedown. Harrison manages to retain guard.
Hopkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harrison is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopkins passes into half guard.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura here.
Harrison trying to control but Hopkins postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hopkins lands a nice short elbow.
Malcolm Hopkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hopkins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Harrison looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to mount his opponent but Harrison defends it.

Harrison looking for submissions off his back.
Harrison is not content to let Hopkins control the position.

Harrison actively working from the bottom here.
Harrison has his hands clasped together around Hopkins's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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 is pressing down on Harrison's thigh, looking to free his foot. Harrison is holding on for now.
Harrison on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hopkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Harrison won't allow Hopkins to pass to mount.
Hopkins thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hopkins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Harrison knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Harrison is not content to let Hopkins control the position.
Still in half guard, Hopkins seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to get to full guard but Hopkins has control of the leg.
Hopkins wants to take a breather but Harrison is having none of it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Harrison controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Malcolm Hopkins wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Harrison with a poor takedown
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Harrison fails with a takedown attempt.
Harrison has his takedown stuffed
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Harrison is breathing heavily.
Hopkins is looking to slow Harrison down with leg kicks.
Harrison gets cracked there but stands up to it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrison swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Hopkins.
Hopkins works the jab nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Hopkins dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Harrison fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Harrison with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hopkins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hopkins throws a combination. Harrison tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
William Harrison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harrison moves away.
Harrison throws a push kick but Hopkins slaps the foot to one side.
Harrison changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopkins tries to avoid it but Harrison manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopkins to the ground. Hopkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Malcolm Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Hopkins connects with a body shot.
Hopkins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Harrison tries for a takedown but Hopkins circles away easily
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
William Harrison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harrison's waist but Harrison gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopkins off to one side.
Hopkins works the jab nicely.
Harrison with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hopkins counters with a nice leg kick.
Harrison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harrison is looking to clinch but Hopkins is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Harrison with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hopkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hopkins paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Harrison is rocked!
Hopkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Harrison is still on wobbly legs! Can Hopkins finish him?
Hopkins scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Harrison misses with a takedown
and Hopkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Harrison looks for a takedown but Hopkins sprawls well.
Harrison shoots in for a double leg but Hopkins sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Harrison seems to have recovered his senses.
Hopkins tests Harrison's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Harrison doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hopkins shoots in and bounces Harrison off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hopkins looking to pass the guard.
Hopkins passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hopkins lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hopkins working the ground and pound.

Hopkins is trying to get an arm triangle but Harrison is defending well.
Harrison sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harrison does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hopkins is really struggling to control Harrison but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hopkins 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.
Hopkins is pressing down on Harrison's thigh, looking to free his foot. Harrison is holding on for now.
Harrison wants to improve his position but Hopkins is controlling well.
Hopkins landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Harrison trying to control here.
Hopkins lands strikes from half guard.
Malcolm Hopkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harrison regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hopkins.
Harrison is trying to keep Hopkins in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to control from the top but Harrison keeps moving.
Harrison trying to control the position.
Hopkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harrison is keeping the position for now.
William Harrison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopkins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Harrison throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hopkins content to stall in guard here.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hopkins has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

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