PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Baksteen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hopkins
vs
Baksteen

169 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Baksteen!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins misses with a jab to the body
letting Baksteen counter with a right hand.
Hopkins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Baksteen misses with a double jab.

Baksteen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Baksteen lands an elbow inside.

It looks like James Hopkins has been cut.
Baksteen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Baksteen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baksteen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Paul Baksteen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baksteen jabs at Hopkins's body.

Hopkins takes the fight into the clinch.
Hopkins blocks an elbow strike from Baksteen.
Baksteen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hopkins pulls guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baksteen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopkins working a defensive guard here.
Baksteen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Baksteen controlling him for the moment.
Hopkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hopkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baksteen.
Hopkins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

We're going to have a standup here because James Hopkins wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Baksteen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hopkins trying to control but Baksteen is working from the bottom.
Hopkins is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Baksteen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baksteen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hopkins passes into half guard.
Hopkins winds up and cracks Baksteen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins tries to pass to full mount but Baksteen defends it.
Hopkins is keen to just control but Baksteen is a slippery customer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins stalling away here and it's allowed Baksteen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Hopkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Baksteen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baksteen seems keen to control Hopkins's posture.
Hopkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Baksteen has wrist control.
Hopkins controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hopkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hopkins working some strikes from top position.
Baksteen looking to control.
Hopkins trying to control but Baksteen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Baksteen scores with a hook to the body. Hopkins takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baksteen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baksteen looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.

Hopkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hopkins drags the fight down to the ground.
Hopkins trying to control the position.

Hopkins looking for a triangle here. Baksteen is fighting it but it looks tight! Hopkins pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Baksteen is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). James Hopkins!
Post fight, James Hopkins took to the microphone: 'I'm good, what can i say?'.