PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giuseppe Hopkins (ranked 652 p4p, 98 weight class) and Denis Mamaev (ranked 1116 p4p, 150 weight class). Mamaev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 30 Seconds To Mars - Hurricane kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopkins
vs
Mamaev

190 cm
20
207 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

200 cm
20
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Groove Gear

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Giuseppe Hopkins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Mamaev!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mamaev misses with a double jab.
Mamaev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mamaev has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hopkins is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Mamaev just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins tries to clinch up but Mamaev circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Hopkins backing away here, and Mamaev unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Mamaev pushes him off.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Mamaev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hopkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mamaev manages to avoid it.
Mamaev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopkins.
Hopkins lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hopkins misses with a hook. Mamaev ducked under it nicely.
Giuseppe Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mamaev doesn't seem bothered though.
Mamaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hopkins circles away quickly and effectively.
Mamaev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hopkins misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Hopkins as he connects with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Mamaev.
Mamaev tries to score with a low kick but Hopkins moves his leg out of the way.
Hopkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hopkins fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hopkins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mamaev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A countering left hand to the body from Mamaev misses.
Hopkins throws a leg kick but Mamaev checks it.
Mamaev doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mamaev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopkins.
Decent striking displayed by Hopkins there.
Mamaev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hopkins throws a right hand that misses
and Mamaev counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins lands with a nice body punch.
Hopkins's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mamaev under the eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good leg kick by Mamaev there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Mamaev.
Hopkins misses with a body shot
and Mamaev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mamaev misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mamaev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mamaev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mamaev throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the head.
Mamaev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hopkins thuds his right hand into Mamaev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hopkins lands a jab to the head.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Mamaev saw that one coming.
Mamaev is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hopkins with a body shot.
Hopkins misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mamaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hopkins throws a jab when Mamaev was well out of range.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Mamaev misses.
Hopkins throws a looping overhand right but Mamaev ducks down to avoid it.
Hopkins misses with a straight right.
Hopkins connects with a crisp jab.
Mamaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hopkins.
Hopkins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mamaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Mamaev misses.
Hopkins catches Mamaev with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hopkins misses with a jab to the body
and Mamaev counters with a right hand to the body.
Mamaev throws a front kick that sends Hopkins stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheers as Hopkins lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mamaev doesn't seem phased though.
Mamaev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins throws the left hand but Mamaev avoids the punch easily.
Hopkins lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hopkins clobbers Mamaev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mamaev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mamaev moves away.
Mamaev misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.
Mamaev throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopkins throws a hook to the side of Mamaev's head but Mamaev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Mamaev.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Mamaev takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Hopkins checks a leg kick.
Hopkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mamaev now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hopkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mamaev.
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 Giuseppe Hopkins will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mamaev lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mamaev ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
Mamaev counters with a body kick.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Mamaev misses the shot to the body.
Mamaev throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mamaev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hopkins stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hopkins misses with a right hand
and Mamaev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mamaev tests Hopkins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mamaev checks a leg kick.
Mamaev was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hopkins closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mamaev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mamaev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mamaev just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamaev pushes Hopkins away with a front kick.
Mamaev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mamaev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mamaev works Hopkins's body with a nice hook.
Mamaev slips under a jab.
Mamaev thumps Hopkins with a low kick.
Mamaev keeps the fight on the outside.
Hopkins getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mamaev misses with a wild body shot.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Mamaev.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Mamaev saw that one coming.
Mamaev now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hopkins misses with a hook to the body
and Mamaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mamaev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hopkins finds it's way round the side to connect with Mamaev's head.
Mamaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamaev throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mamaev throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a hook. Mamaev ducked under it nicely.
Hopkins tries to clinch there but Mamaev circles away.
Mamaev doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hopkins jabs at Mamaev's body.
Mamaev is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hopkins rather than just go for the knockout.
Hopkins tries to clinch up but Mamaev circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopkins defending well as Mamaev loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Hopkins. That snapped Mamaev's head back.
Hopkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mamaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
Mamaev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hopkins motions for Mamaev to come forward. Hopkins throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mamaev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Mamaev.
Hopkins misses with a right hand
and Mamaev counters with a nice body shot.
Mamaev swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Mamaev throws a body punch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Mamaev misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hopkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hopkins is looking to score with low kicks.
Mamaev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hopkins throws a poor cross that misses
and Mamaev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hopkins swings for the body but Mamaev moves out of range.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mamaev scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mamaev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mamaev throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Hopkins throwing a counter right hand but Mamaev manages to avoid it.
Hopkins misses with a right hand
and Mamaev counters with a nice body shot.
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!
A chopping leg kick lands by Mamaev.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Mamaev is just out of range.
Hopkins blocks the body kick.
Mamaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Mamaev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mamaev moves away from the strike by Hopkins.
Hopkins has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mamaev.
Mamaev just misses with a punch to the body.
Mamaev's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hopkins connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mamaev scrambles back to his feet.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the body.
Mamaev tried to score with a low kick but Hopkins checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Mamaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mamaev. Mamaev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mamaev looks to land a left hand but Hopkins moved out of range nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.
Mamaev throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Hopkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamaev avoids it.
Hopkins lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
Mamaev avoiding damage as Hopkins throws knees to the body.
Hopkins has a couple of punches blocked by Mamaev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mamaev is trying to push Hopkins away but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mamaev throws a punch but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to throw a body punch but Mamaev avoids it by throwing Hopkins back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Hopkins fails to land.
Mamaev takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamaev avoids it.
Hopkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamaev.
Hopkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamaev.
Mamaev is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling him.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Mamaev trying to control the position but instead, Hopkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mamaev into the cage.
Hopkins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mamaev backwards.
Hopkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Mamaev controls his hands.
Mamaev trying to control the position but instead, Hopkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mamaev into the cage.
Hopkins looking to throw knees to the head but Mamaev is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mamaev slowing the pace effectively.
Mamaev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mamaev tries to circle away but Hopkins has him pinned against the cage.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.
Mamaev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mamaev lands a shot to the body.
Mamaev trying to control the position but instead, Hopkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mamaev into the cage.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Hopkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Mamaev avoids the damage to the body.
Hopkins lands a good knee to the midsection. Mamaev won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamaev.
Hopkins has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Mamaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Denis Mamaev has been cut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hopkins.
Mamaev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A knee to the head by Hopkins.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamaev avoids it.
Mamaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Hopkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mamaev backwards.
Hopkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamaev is defending well for now.
Mamaev scores with a shot to the side of Hopkins's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mamaev digs a right hand underneath Hopkins's ribcage. Hopkins let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hopkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
Hopkins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamaev avoids it.
Mamaev blocks an uppercut.
Giuseppe Hopkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but Mamaev blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Mamaev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mamaev managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.
Mamaev avoiding damage as Hopkins throws knees to the body.

Mamaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Hopkins clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Denis Mamaev's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hopkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hopkins connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mamaev staying out of range there.
Mamaev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hopkins throws an off balance right hand
and Mamaev counters with a good low kick that Hopkins was not able to check.
Nice straight punches there by Hopkins. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hopkins.
Hopkins uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mamaev.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mamaev moves away.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut
and Mamaev counters with a left to the body.
Mamaev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hopkins was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mamaev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins tried to counter with a leg kick but Mamaev avoided it.
Hopkins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mamaev in his tracks.
A swing and a miss from Hopkins.
Mamaev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hopkins misses the body punch
and Mamaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hopkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mamaev.
Hopkins backing away here, and Mamaev unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mamaev misses with a body kick.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mamaev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hopkins takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hopkins throws a lazy right hand but Mamaev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mamaev works Hopkins's body with a nice hook.
Mamaev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mamaev. That's going to slow Hopkins down.
Mamaev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopkins lands a nice shot to the body.

Mamaev tries to keep at a distance but Hopkins has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Mamaev.
Hopkins landing knees to the body.
Mamaev tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Mamaev back against the cage.
Mamaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamaev avoids it.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Mamaev.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamaev.
Hopkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamaev.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but Mamaev blocks it.
Mamaev stalling in the clinch.
Mamaev blocks an uppercut.
Hopkins lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamaev wants to break free but Hopkins has control.
Hopkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mamaev blocks it with crossed arms.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but Mamaev blocks with his arms.
Mamaev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
I was talking to Hopkins's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hopkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamaev is defending well for now.
Hopkins misses with some punches.
Mamaev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mamaev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamaev avoids it.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Mamaev effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mamaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hopkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamaev is defending well for now.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Mamaev's head.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mamaevs head.
Mamaev struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.
Mamaev struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mamaev misses with a punch to the body.

Mamaev breaks the clinch.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Mamaev.
Mamaev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopkins seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Hopkins forces Mamaev back against the cage and clinches.
Mamaev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Hopkins had his way with Denis Mamaev in that round.
The cut man is working on Denis Mamaev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hopkins misses the jab.
Mamaev doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that misses.
A nice side step and Mamaev releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hopkins keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hopkins misses with a body punch
and Mamaev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hopkins tries to clinch up.
Hopkins is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hopkins blocks a jab.
Mamaev blocks a jab.
Mamaev thinks about the counter body kick.
Nice jab there from Hopkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mamaev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hopkins finds it's way round the side to connect with Mamaev's head.
Hopkins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mamaev.
Mamaev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hopkins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hopkins throws a body punch but Mamaev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mamaev counters with a leg kick.
Hopkins throws a series of strikes that have Mamaev backpedaling.
Mamaev walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mamaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hopkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Mamaev.
An attempted straight right counter from Hopkins misses the target.
Mamaev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mamaev swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Mamaev swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to clinch up.
Mamaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Hopkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mamaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopkins.
A thudding body kick lands there by Hopkins!
Mamaev moves out of range of the strikes.
Denis Mamaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mamaev under the eye.
Hopkins works Mamaev's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins misses the shot to the body.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Mamaev moves out of range.
Hopkins misses with a hook
and Mamaev counters with a stiff right hand.

Hopkins clinches up against the cage.
Mamaev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mamaev.
A head punch on the inside from Hopkins fails to land.
Hopkins prevents a body shot from Mamaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mamaev wants to stall.
Mamaev is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Hopkins has denied him.
Hopkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamaev is defending well for now.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Mamaev.
Mamaev avoiding damage as Hopkins throws knees to the body.
Hopkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamaev is defending well for now.
Mamaev can't find room to land a body shot as Hopkins controls the action.
Mamaev managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.
Mamaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mamaev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hopkinss head.
Hopkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Mamaev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mamaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mamaev managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mamaev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hopkins up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Mamaev as the two fighters clinch.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mamaev is trying to break free.
Mamaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mamaev stalling against the cage.
Hopkins working aggressively here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hopkins obliges.
Hopkins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mamaev backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giuseppe Hopkins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hopkins 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 49:46
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 49:46
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giuseppe Hopkins!
Giuseppe Hopkins retains his light heavyweight title!
After the fight, Giuseppe Hopkins was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.