PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Hopp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morgan comes to the cage accompanied by Airplanes. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morgan
vs
Hopp

175 cm
26
174 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

173 cm
24
178 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dexter Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Hopp!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch but Hopp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hopp avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Morgan throws a head kick but Hopp moves out of range.
Hopp misses with a wild body shot.
Morgan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Hopp misses with a takedown attempt - Morgan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Morgan has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopp tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morgan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Morgan lands an uppercut.
Morgan leaning against his opponent.
Morgan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hopp leaning his opponent against the cage.
Morgan has Hopp pushed against the cage.
Morgan is looking to control Hopp's arms but Hopp gets an underhook and turns him. Now Morgan has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hopp blocks it with crossed arms.
Morgan lands an elbow that stopped Hopp in his tracks for a moment.
Hopp avoids the elbow strike from Morgan, against the cage.
Morgan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hopp goes for a takedown in the clinch but Morgan prevents it.
Dexter Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hopp.
Morgan misses with the head strike.
Morgan tries to stall but Hopp uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hopp is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Hopp has picked Morgan up - he's going for a ride! Hopp dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hopp wants to pass to mount but Morgan is defending the position.

Hopp is working for a kimura but Morgan is defending it quite comfortably.
Morgan tries to kick Hopp off but Hopp keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.
Morgan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Morgan.
Morgan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hopp drops back looking for a leg! Morgan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Morgan manages to kick Hopp off! Hopp jumps back into Morgan's guard.
Morgan trying to keep a closed guard but Hopp is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to stand but Hopp is controlling the position.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Hopp tries to pass.
Morgan trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopp's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hopp looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Morgan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hopp is desperately trying to improve his position but Morgan has a good base and remains in mount.
Morgan lands a big shot there that rocks Hopp but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hopp is desperately trying to improve his position but Morgan has a good base and remains in mount.
Hopp gets back to half guard.
Hopp is looking to improve his position.
Morgan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hopp works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Morgan wants to hold on but Hopp pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Hopp will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch but Hopp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hopp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morgan misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Morgan. Those never looked like landing.

Morgan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hopp is working for takedown but Morgan is calmly controlling the position for now.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Morgan.
Morgan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopp backwards.
Hopp is working for takedown but Morgan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dexter Morgan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hopp.
Morgan is trying to maintain a safe position but Hopp gets an underhook and turns Morgan into the cage.
Hopp can't get the takedown.
Morgan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Morgan prevents the takedown attempt.
Morgan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopp backwards.
Morgan stalling in the clinch but Hopp improves position.
Morgan lands a right hand.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Morgan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hopp goes for a takedown attempt but Morgan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Hopp is avoiding it.
Dexter Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopp is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan wants to clinch.
Morgan is looking to clinch.
Morgan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morgan connects with a looping right hand.
Morgan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan tries to clinch but Hopp is having none of it.
Morgan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morgan throws a right hand that Hopp ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopp also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morgan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hopp backs up against the cage.
Morgan throws a leg kick but Hopp sees it coming and moves out of range.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopp is just out of range.
Hopp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morgan throws a right and a left that Hopp avoids nicely.
Morgan misses with a wild combination.
Morgan wants to clinch up but Hopp keeps it at a distance.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopp is just out of range.
Morgan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan tries to clinch up but Hopp circles away and keeps his distance.
Hopp walks into a stiff left hand from Morgan.
Hopp changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morgan tries to avoid it but Hopp manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morgan to the ground. Morgan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopp showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morgan.

Hopp drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hopp wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.

Morgan has his feet on Hopp's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Morgan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hopp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hopp is defended easily by Morgan.
Hopp defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Nice sprawl there from Morgan as Hopp shoots in.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Hopp is avoiding it.
Dexter Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morgan tries to clinch up but Hopp circles away and keeps his distance.

Hopp fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Morgan, pushing him back against the cage.
Hopp tries to pull guard but Morgan holds him up against the cage and eventually Hopp drops back down to his feet.
Hopp is working for takedown but Morgan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hopp as Morgan tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Morgan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.

Morgan gets caught flat footed, as Hopp shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Morgan controls Hopp momentarily but Hopp frees himself.
Hopp wants to pass the guard but Morgan is keeping the position.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Hopp from controlling successfully.

Morgan is looking for a triangle but Hopp pushes his legs off easily.
Morgan controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopp prevents Morgan from getting back to his feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopp's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Morgan trying to control the position.
Hopp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morgan is keeping the position for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hopp trying to control but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Hopp tries to free his leg and advance position but Morgan is retaining full guard.
Hopp won't allow Morgan to sweep him here.
Hopp works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Morgan trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hopp is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Morgan is trying to control but can't.
Hopp throwing shots but Morgan is blocking nicely.
Hopp prevents Morgan from improving his position.
Morgan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hopp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hopp.
Hopp showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan wants to stand up but Hopp is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopp passes Morgan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hopp lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Morgan wants to improve his position but Hopp is controlling well.
Morgan is trying is best to control the position here.
Morgan tries to roll over but Hopp keeps him under control.
Hopp seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Morgan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Morgan wants to improve his position but Hopp is controlling well.

Hopp is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Morgan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hopp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morgan keeps working.
Morgan wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morgan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hopp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hopp's back!
Hopp manages to reverse the position and now he's in Morgan's guard. Nice work there by Hopp.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Hopp tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Hopp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hopp has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Hopp!