PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Sheilds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Hopp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopp has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sheilds
vs
Hopp

184 cm
22
187 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

173 cm
26
178 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kevin Sheilds!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Hopp!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheilds throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hopp looks gassed!
Hopp checks a leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sheilds.
Sheilds looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kevin Sheilds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopp checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hopp tries for a takedown but Sheilds circles away easily

and Sheilds counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hopp!
Sheilds misses with a head shot.
Sheilds will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sheilds punching from mount but Hopp doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hopp is looking to improve his position but Sheilds isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopp takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sheilds scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hopp?
Sheilds wants to control the pace but Hopp is squirming around nicely.
Sheilds sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Sheilds looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheilds lands a heavy elbow.
Hopp is looking to improve his position but Sheilds isn't that keen on the idea.
Sheilds throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Hopp that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sheilds looking to finish with strikes here!
Sheilds looking to ground and pound but Hopp is blocking nicely.
Sheilds throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sheilds scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hopp tries to lock up and control but Sheilds gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sheilds pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hopp is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sheilds cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sheilds throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hopp because Sheilds loaded up on that one.
Sheilds throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sheilds tries to control but Hopp wriggling away.
Hopp keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sheilds controlling the position easily from mount.

Sheilds is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hopp to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hopp shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopp tries to lock up and control but Sheilds gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sheilds landing strikes, looking to finish!

Sheilds working for a guillotine from mount but Hopp is in no mood to give up.
Sheilds tries to control but Hopp wriggling away.
Hopp is working to get back to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hopp is bucking up trying to escape but Sheilds cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hopp avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sheilds.
Hopp is trying to escape the mount.
Sheilds cracks Hopp with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sheilds knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hopp on the ground.
Sheilds lands a big elbow.
Sheilds raining down shots from the mount!
Hopp in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds tries to control but Hopp wriggling away.
Hopp working to try and regain half guard.
Sheilds cracks Hopp with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sheilds throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sheilds raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sheilds misses with a head shot.

Sheilds jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hopp manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Hopp is trying to improve his position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Sheilds working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hopp avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sheilds.
Sheilds sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hopp is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's eight 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.

Sheilds is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hopp knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sheilds wants to control but Hopp is keeping him busy.
Hopp is looking to reverse the position.
Hopp is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hopp is trying to get back to full guard.
Sheilds missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds controlling the pace.
Sheilds throwing shots but Hopp is blocking nicely.
Sheilds thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hopp's head.
Sheilds wants to free his trapped foot but Hopp is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Sheilds is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sheilds thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Sheilds dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sheilds lands a lovely overhand right.
Michael Hopp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Sheilds misses the target.
Sheilds swinging wildly here.

Sheilds drives through with a takedown into Hopp's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kevin Sheilds overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hopp is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sheilds pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopp is keeping the position for now.
Sheilds postures up in Hopp's guard and throws a big left but Hopp blocks it.
Hopp is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheilds trying to control but Hopp is working from the bottom.
Sheilds with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hopp keeping full guard, as Sheilds tries to pass.
Sheilds is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hopp utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheilds postures up and lands a big shot to Hopp's brow.
Sheilds working some strikes from top position.
Sheilds throwing strikes from guard but Hopp blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hopp is trying to keep Sheilds in close.
Sheilds throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopp utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sheilds throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hopp works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hopp keeping full guard, as Sheilds tries to pass.
Sheilds has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sheilds throwing strikes from guard but Hopp blocks nicely.
Sheilds trying to control but Hopp is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopp is trying to keep Sheilds in close.
Hopp keeping moving, preventing Sheilds from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sheilds lands a really nice looking cross but Hopp seems unphased.
A lazy left from Sheilds finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sheilds lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sheilds turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sheilds scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sheilds tries to clinch there but Hopp circles away.
Hopp on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sheilds lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hopp has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hopp and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sheilds looks for the body kick but Hopp saw that one coming.
Hopp stuffs the takedown attempt from Sheilds. Sheilds gets slowly back to his feet.
Hopp has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sheilds.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sheilds throws a low kick but Hopp avoids it.
Sheilds shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopp as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Sheilds. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sheilds throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sheilds tests Hopp's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sheilds tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hopp swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sheilds looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sheilds throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sheilds shoots in for a takedown but Hopp shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sheilds connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sheilds is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sheilds tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hopp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sheilds.
Hopp checks the leg kick.

Sheilds shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Sheilds working for a guillotine from mount but Hopp is in no mood to give up.
Sheilds throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hopp because Sheilds loaded up on that one.
Hopp is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sheilds with shots to the head and body - Hopp looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sheilds working the ground and pound effectively.
Sheilds scoring with strikes but Hopp is staying in there.
Hopp working to try and regain half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds with the ground and pound from mount.
Sheilds punching from mount but Hopp doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sheilds thowing shots but they're missing.
Hopp can't escape the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hopp is in a horrible position here. Sheilds smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hopp is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hopp is squirming around, avoiding Sheilds's attempts to control the action.
Sheilds prevents Hopp from getting the reversal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheilds is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hopp can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sheilds trying to control but Hopp is having none of it.
Sheilds punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Sheilds dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sheilds lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sheilds just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Sheilds finds it's way through Hopp's defenses.
Sheilds bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hopp's head backwards.
A jab from Sheilds does it's job there.
Sheilds fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hopp fails with the takedown

and Sheilds counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hopp's guard now.
Hopp keeping moving, preventing Sheilds from controlling successfully.
Hopp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sheilds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopp wants to sweep but no luck.
Hopp trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sheilds preventing the sweep.
Hopp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hopp keeping moving, preventing Sheilds from controlling successfully.
Sheilds chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hopp working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sheilds.

Sheilds got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hopp has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sheilds has managed to get both his arms back between Hopp's legs - danger averted.
Sheilds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hopp looking to control.
Hopp looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopp, not yet.
Sheilds in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sheilds throwing strikes but missing.

Sheilds drops back looking for a leg! Hopp is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hopp manages to kick Sheilds off! Sheilds jumps back into Hopp's guard.
Hopp is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sheilds drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sheilds jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hopp is looking for a triangle but Sheilds pushes his legs off easily.

Sheilds is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sheilds accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sheilds is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopp can do to turn this around?
Hopp trying to keep a closed guard but Sheilds is proving a slippery customer.

Sheilds drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sheilds jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sheilds thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hopp is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sheilds defends well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Sheilds is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hopp has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sheilds can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hopp trying to control the position.

Hopp has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sheilds can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's six 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.
Sheilds stands and throws Hopp's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sheilds wants to control but Hopp is keeping him busy.
Sheilds passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hopp!
Hopp is squirming around, avoiding Sheilds's attempts to control the action.
Sheilds landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hopp keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sheilds misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sheilds tries to control but Hopp wriggling away.
Sheilds cracks Hopp with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hopp is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hopp is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sheilds cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Hopp tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sheilds throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hopp is working to get back to half guard.
Sheilds looking to finish Hopp with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hopp!
Hopp is in a horrible position here. Sheilds smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hopp is trying desperately to improve position.
Sheilds landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds prevents Hopp from getting the reversal.
Sheilds lands a big elbow.
Sheilds trying to control but Hopp is having none of it.
Hopp tries to lock up and control but Sheilds gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sheilds looking to ground and pound but Hopp is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheilds lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sheilds looking to ground and pound but Hopp is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Sheilds showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sheilds has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight for Kevin Sheilds!
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight for Kevin Sheilds!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Kevin Sheilds!

Kevin Sheilds wins by unanimous decision!
Kevin Sheilds is the new middleweight champion!