PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Johnson (ranked 112 p4p, 127 weight class) and Giuseppe Hopkins (ranked 21 p4p, 24 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is On The Run Jompson Brothers. A fine choice. This should be fireworks!

Johnson
vs
Hopkins

188 cm
25
206
15 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
207
16 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

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 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Giuseppe Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Hopkins.
Johnson misses the jab.
Hopkins moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Manny Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hopkins avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a body punch
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hopkins counters by clinching up.
I was talking to Johnson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hopkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hopkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson feints a jab promting Hopkins to slip. Johnson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hopkins slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Hopkins avoids them all with ease.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hopkins.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.
Jab, jab by Johnson - just one landing.
Johnson lands a head shot.
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
Hopkins lands a head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson 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.
Hopkins tries to land a front kick but Johnson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Johnson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hopkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Johnson throws a leg kick which misses Hopkins's front leg but catches the back leg as Hopkins tries to avoid it.
Johnson lands a leg kick that knocks Hopkins off balance momentarily.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hopkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Hopkins ducks down to avoid it.
Hopkins looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Johnson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hopkins checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Johnson takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
Hopkins takes one to the chin there.
Hopkins throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hopkins gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
Hopkins walks into a left hand.
Hopkins checks a low kick from Johnson.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Hopkins slips under a jab from Johnson.
Johnson scores with a nice strike.
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hopkins. Hopkins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnson swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Johnson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hopkins is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson sizes up Hopkins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.
Johnson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Johnson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
Hopkins slips under a jab.
Hopkins looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Johnson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson connects with a crisp jab.
Johnson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hopkins.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson throws a jab when Hopkins was well out of range.
Hopkins missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hopkins slips a jab from Johnson.
Hopkins closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A lazy left from Hopkins finds it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hopkins gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Johnson connects with a body shot that sends Hopkins's belly button to the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopkins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Johnson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Johnson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hopkins has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hopkins has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Johnson lands a nice hook to Hopkins's body. Hopkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson blocks the body kick.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson cracks Hopkins with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hopkins lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Hopkins was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson tests Hopkins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hopkins counters with a big head kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson misses the body punch
enabling Hopkins to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson misses with a shot to the body
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hopkins throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson lands a jab to Hopkins's midsection.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopkins dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Hopkins takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids a kick to the body.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Hopkins checks it.
Hopkins slips a straight right by Johnson.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hopkins! But no joy.
Johnson thumps Hopkins with a low kick.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Hopkins counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Johnson jabs Hopkins right on the nose. Hopkins blinks but takes it well.
Hopkins's jab looks to have found its range, popping Johnson under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hopkins throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Johnson swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Hopkins counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Hopkins looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hopkins throws a wild body kick that Johnson sees coming a mile off.
Johnson throws a hook but Hopkins avoids it easily.
Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and Hopkins counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Johnson throws a low kick, looking for Hopkins's leg but Hopkins calmly moves out of range.
Manny Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson misses with a right hand
and Hopkins counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Johnson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Hopkins saw that one coming.
Hopkins counters with a body kick.
Johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hopkins. That did some damage!
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Hopkins looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hopkins throws a hook but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Hopkins's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Hopkins counters with a body kick.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Hopkins takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hopkins has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hopkins checks it well.
Johnson catches Hopkins with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Hopkins takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hopkins has time to react.
Johnson misses with a hook. Hopkins ducked under it nicely.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hopkins takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Johnson slips a jab from Hopkins.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Hopkins is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Hopkins slips a straight right by Johnson.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Johnson throws a sloppy body shot
and Hopkins counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Hopkins avoids them all with ease.
A little jabbing left from Hopkins on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hopkins misses the shot to the body.
Hopkins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick from Hopkins.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hopkins.
Hopkins looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hopkins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson throws a low kick but Hopkins avoids it.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Hopkins slips the punch.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Hopkins's shoulder, as Hopkins tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson lands with a cross.
Johnson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hopkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Johnson lands with a hook. Hopkins tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Hopkins responds with a good body kick, but Johnson manages to step out the way in time.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hopkins scores with a nice head shot.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the head.
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!
Hopkins checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Johnson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Giuseppe Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson scores with a body shot.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hopkins misses with a body kick.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Hopkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson is looking for a counter combo.
The crowd cheers as Hopkins lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Johnson!
Manny Johnson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.