PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giuseppe Hopkins (ranked 99 p4p, 114 weight class) and Valentin Taneyev (ranked 17 p4p, 20 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hopkins
vs
Taneyev

190 cm
26
207
14 - 1 - 1

186 cm
26
209
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

Core Combat
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Giuseppe Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valentin Taneyev!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Taneyev.

Taneyev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hopkins pushes Taneyev back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hopkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taneyev backwards.
Hopkins scores with a nice hook to the head.

Taneyev manages to break the clinch.
Hopkins looks to land a combination but Taneyev avoids it well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taneyev! But no joy.
Valentin Taneyev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taneyev throws a right hand that Hopkins ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopkins also avoids with ease.

Taneyev instigates a clinch.
Hopkins landing some nice looking knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hopkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but Taneyev blocks with his arms.
Taneyev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taneyev's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Taneyev tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Taneyev back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taneyev has had enough of the clinch but Hopkins keeps him there for the moment.
Taneyev tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopkins avoids the damage to the body.
Hopkins lands a hook to the side of the head.

Taneyev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins cracks Taneyev with an open hand slap.

Taneyev instigates a clinch.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Taneyev fails to land.
Hopkins scores with a hook to the body.
Taneyev gets through Hopkins's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taneyev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hopkins blocking some punches.
Hopkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taneyev is defending well for now.
Hopkins is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hopkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Taneyev avoids the damage to the body.
A short body shot lands from Taneyev as the two fighters clinch.
Taneyev managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Taneyev blocks it.
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!
Taneyev blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hopkins.
Taneyev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Taneyev.
Taneyev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hopkins.
Taneyev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hopkins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taneyevs head.
Taneyev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taneyev.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
Taneyev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taneyev tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
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.
Taneyev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.

Taneyev manages to break the clinch.
Taneyev looks to land a combination but Hopkins avoids it well.

Taneyev clinches up with Hopkins and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Taneyev.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hopkins.
The referee is keeping an eye on Taneyev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Taneyev.
Hopkins blocking some punches.
Taneyev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Hopkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins lands with a left to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Taneyev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Hopkins.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hopkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Taneyev misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Taneyev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.

Hopkins manages to break the clinch.
Taneyev misses with a hook
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a jab.
A head kick by Taneyev misses
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taneyev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hopkins counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Taneyev moves into the clinch.
Hopkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taneyev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hopkins blocks a body shot from Taneyev.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hopkins.
Taneyev throws a punch but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Taneyev misses with some punches.
Taneyev misses with some punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taneyev tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Taneyev back against the cage.
Hopkins misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins lands a nice uppercut.
Taneyev working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Hopkins dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hopkins misses with a left hand
and Hopkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taneyev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hopkins manages to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taneyev throws a push kick but Hopkins slaps the foot to one side.
Taneyev thuds his shin into the meat of Hopkins's side.
Hopkins throws a hook to the side of Taneyev's head but Taneyev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taneyev lands with a good body shot.
Hopkins takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taneyev lands a front kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taneyev lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hopkins takes a step back to recover.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Taneyev sends Hopkins crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Taneyev is motioning to the referee to let Hopkins up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taneyev shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Hopkins takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Taneyev sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Hopkins bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Valentin Taneyev!
Valentin Taneyev decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.