PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Weston Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babis Valyras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babis Valyras has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hopkins
vs
Valyras

198 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Weston Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Babis Valyras!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valyras clinches.
Hopkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Valyras avoids the damage to the body.
Valyras wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valyras lands a body punch.
Hopkins lands an elbow that stopped Valyras in his tracks for a moment.

Valyras ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Valyras no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Valyras is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hopkins presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Hopkins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Valyras.
Hopkins lands an elbow inside that Valyras shrugs off.
Valyras tries to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling the position.
Hopkins has a couple of punches blocked by Valyras.
Hopkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Valyras shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Valyras tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.
Valyras stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Valyras has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Hopkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Hopkins as Valyras shoots in.

Valyras drives through and clinches with Hopkins against the cage.
Hopkins jumps guard but Valyras turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Weston Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Valyras is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hopkins is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Valyras to the mat. Valyras regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Valyras is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hopkins presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Hopkins tries to pull guard but Valyras forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hopkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Come on Valyras - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Valyras tries to pull guard but Hopkins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valyras is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hopkins to keep the fight standing.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valyras goes for a takedown attempt but Hopkins pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hopkins looks for a takedown but Valyras sprawls well.
Valyras is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hopkins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hopkins is looking to counter the offense by Valyras and move into the clinch.
Valyras tries for a takedown but Hopkins circles away easily
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valyras fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valyras misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hopkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valyras sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hopkins somewhat.
Valyras shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hopkins defends it nicely.
Valyras shoots in but Hopkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Valyras looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Valyras closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hopkins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Valyras to keep the fight standing.
Valyras prevents the takedown attempt.
Hopkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Valyras is looking to take this one to the mat.
Valyras content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hopkins is pressed up against the cage. Valyras has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hopkins down to the mat. Hopkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Valyras changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopkins tries to avoid it but Valyras manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopkins to the ground. Hopkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Valyras tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hopkins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Valyras somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valyras shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopkins but Hopkins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Valyras stuffs the takedown attempt from Hopkins. Hopkins gets slowly back to his feet.
Valyras goes for a double leg but Hopkins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hopkins continues to drive forward.
Valyras closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hopkins circles away.
Weston Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Babis Valyras.
Hopkins fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Valyras rushes Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valyras blocks the elbow strike.

Hopkins ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hopkins no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valyras won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.
Valyras looking to pass the guard.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Valyras passes into half guard.
Valyras wants to take a breather but Hopkins is having none of it.

Valyras is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hopkins wants to control but Valyras passes into side.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Valyras fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Valyras trying to control the position but Hopkins is working away.
Hopkins can't do much from the bottom here.
Valyras has control of an arm but Hopkins manages to advance to Valyras's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins controls the action.
Hopkins doesn't have the hooks in and Valyras manages to turn into his guard.
Valyras sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Valyras stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins trying to keep a closed guard but Valyras is proving a slippery customer.
Valyras in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valyras seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Valyras is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.
Valyras trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hopkins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valyras slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hopkins is trying to keep Valyras in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valyras pushing down on Hopkins's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babis Valyras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Valyras shoots for a takedown but Hopkins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Hopkins shoots in and bounces Valyras off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Valyras seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hopkins won't allow Valyras to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hopkins gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Hopkins. No joy for Valyras on that attempt.
Hopkins moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Valyras. No joy for Hopkins on that attempt.
Valyras shoots in looking for a takedown. Hopkins tries to sprawl out of it but Valyras keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hopkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Weston Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Babis Valyras.
Valyras takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hopkins shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Valyras's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Valyras manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Hopkins stops a takedown attempt from Valyras.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins has Valyras pressed against the cage, preventing Valyras from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Hopkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hopkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valyras's waist but Valyras gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopkins off to one side.
Valyras tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Valyras tries for a takedown but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valyras keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Despite the aggression on Valyras's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Valyras looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hopkins is fending him off so far but Valyras persists. Nope, Hopkins circles away and we're back to standing.

Valyras closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valyras is trying to pull guard but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.
Valyras is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Babis Valyras seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hopkins.
Valyras lands a shoulder strike.
Hopkins tries to pull guard but Valyras holds him up against the cage and eventually Hopkins drops back down to his feet.
Valyras has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hopkins after a bit of a struggle.
Hopkins prevents the takedown attempt.
Valyras stops a takedown attempt from Hopkins.
Hopkins working Valyras over with knees to the body.
Valyras slows down the pace here.
Hopkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to pull guard but Valyras holds him up against the cage and eventually Hopkins drops back down to his feet.

Valyras manages to break the clinch.

Valyras moves into range and clinches up with Hopkins.
Hopkins wants to take the fight to the mat but Valyras manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hopkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hopkins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins tries to pull guard but Valyras won't allow it.
Weston Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babis Valyras is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Valyras pulls Hopkins into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Babis Valyras.
I've got Valyras 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Babis Valyras!