PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Moji Joaninho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Joaninho
vs
Hopkins

188 cm
22
182 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good elbows
Granite chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Moji Joaninho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joaninho connects with a crisp jab.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joaninho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Joaninho loads up on a big right hand but Hopkins slips the punch.
Hopkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joaninho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Hopkins clinches with his opponent.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.

Joaninho manages to break the clinch.
Joaninho misses with a wild body shot.
Hopkins wants to clinch up but Joaninho keeps it at a distance.
Hopkins tries to clinch there but Joaninho circles away.
Joaninho lands with a right hand.
Joaninho circles away from the clinch attempt
and Joaninho counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins rushes Joaninho and presses him up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hopkins.
Joaninho blocks an elbow strike from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.
Joaninho looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Joaninho avoids the elbow strike from Hopkins, against the cage.
Joaninho dodges an elbow strike from Hopkins.
Hopkins manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hopkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Joaninho leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.
Joaninho avoids a wild elbow strike from Hopkins.
Hopkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Joaninho leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joaninho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hopkins misses with a body punch.

Joaninho pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joaninho's waist but Joaninho gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopkins off to one side.
Joaninho throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Joaninho avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joaninho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Hopkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hopkins trying to control the position but instead, Joaninho has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hopkins into the cage.
Hopkins missing with knees to the body.
Joaninho has had enough of the clinch but Hopkins keeps him there for the moment.
Joaninho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joaninho blocks an elbow strike.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hopkins obliges.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hopkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Joaninho's brow.

Joaninho breaks from the clinch.
Hopkins tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Joaninho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joaninho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hopkins defending well as Joaninho loads up on a big left hand.
A punch combination from Joaninho misses.

Hopkins darts in and clinches Joaninho up against the cage.
Hopkins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Moji Joaninho has been cut.
Hopkins is pushing Joaninho up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hopkins receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hopkins leaning his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Anthony Hopkins.
Joaninho misses with a hook. Hopkins ducked under it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joaninho looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.

Hopkins rushes Joaninho and presses him up against the cage.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Hopkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Moji Joaninho's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Joaninho throws a big shot that misses.
Hopkins has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Joaninho finds it's way round the side to connect with Hopkins's head.
Joaninho throws a series of punches but Hopkins avoids them all with ease.
Joaninho circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hopkins moves into the clinch successfully.
Hopkins pushes off an throws an elbow but Joaninho leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Joaninho is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins is controlling him.
Joaninho working hard to break the clinch.
Hopkins throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Joaninho blocking some punches.
Hopkins looking to slow down the pace here.
Joaninho blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Joaninho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins misses with a double jab
and Joaninho counters with a stiff right hand.
Joaninho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joaninho is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Joaninho misses with a wild combination.
Joaninho bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hopkins's head.

Hopkins drives through and clinches with Joaninho against the cage.
Hopkins trying to control the position but instead, Joaninho has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hopkins into the cage.
Hopkins looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hopkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Joaninho avoids the damage to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hopkins throws an elbow but misses.
Hopkins trying to land knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hopkins pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hopkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Joaninho has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hopkins - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hopkins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws an elbow that misses.
Joaninho is trying to break free.
Hopkins stalling the fight.
Hopkins throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hopkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Joaninho avoids it.
Hopkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hopkins holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Joaninho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hopkins shoots for a double leg takedown but Joaninho sprawls well. He's pushed Hopkins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joaninho fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hopkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hopkins closes the distance but Joaninho moves to the side
and Joaninho counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joaninho works Hopkins's body with a nice hook.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Joaninho moves away
and Joaninho counters with a nice body shot.
Hopkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hopkins is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Joaninho pushes him off.
Joaninho throws a right hand that misses
and Joaninho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopkins's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Joaninho connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hopkins scrambles back to his feet.
Joaninho throws a hook to the side of Hopkins's head but Hopkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopkins closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joaninho counters with a straight right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hopkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Moji Joaninho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Moji Joaninho's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Hopkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopkins scores with a hook.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Joaninho throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Hopkins clinches.
Joaninho avoids the elbow strike from Hopkins, against the cage.
Anthony Hopkins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hopkins pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hopkins is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Joaninho managing to block the knees to the body from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries a knee to the head but Joaninho blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Joaninho's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Joaninho is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hopkins throws an elbow but misses.
Hopkins taking a breather.
Joaninho is trying to break the clinch but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage.
Hopkins lands an elbow just above Joaninho 's eye.

Joaninho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joaninho misses with a looping left.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Joaninho pushes him off.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Joaninho swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Moji Joaninho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Hopkins misses.
Moji Joaninho is winning the standup battle so far.
Joaninho swings widly with a right hand
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hopkins looks to clinch
and Joaninho counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Joaninho lands a jab-cross combination.
Hopkins tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joaninho just misses with a punch to the body.
Joaninho throws a nice looking combination but Hopkins bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hopkins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Joaninho throws a lazy uppercut

and Hopkins counters by clinching up.
Joaninho wants to break free but Hopkins has control.
Hopkins trying to stall but Joaninho improves his position.
Joaninho avoids a wild elbow strike from Hopkins.
Joaninho is trying to push Hopkins away but Hopkins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hopkins taking a breather.
Joaninho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joaninho blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Joaninho blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hopkins looking to slow down the pace here.
Joaninho blocks an elbow strike from Hopkins.

Joaninho breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hopkins wants to clinch up but Joaninho keeps it at a distance.
Joaninho throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopkins shoots for a double leg takedown but Joaninho sprawls well. He's pushed Hopkins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joaninho throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins is looking to clinch.
Joaninho misses with a left hand

and Hopkins moves into the clinch.
Hopkins lands an elbow inside that Joaninho shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joaninho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joaninho changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hopkins tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Joaninho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Joaninho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Joaninho fails to land with a series of punches.
Joaninho thows a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Joaninho swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joaninho misses with a wild combination.
Joaninho changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins walks into a stiff left hand from Joaninho.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins slips a jab and a cross from Joaninho.
Joaninho misses with a body shot.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Joaninho pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Moji Joaninho.
I think Joaninho 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moji Joaninho!
An out of breath and clearly excited Moji Joaninho thanked RMC - Rio Mma Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).