PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thales Laydown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Klem Hopper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laydown comes to the cage accompanied by "The Lost Vikings". 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.

Laydown
vs
Hopper

160 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thales Laydown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Klem Hopper!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laydown tries to clinch but Hopper is having none of it.

Laydown closes the distance and clinches.
Laydown gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hopper.
Laydown changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hopper fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Laydown scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hopper scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Laydown manages to mount him!
Laydown trying to control but Hopper is having none of it.
Laydown avoids the attempt from Hopper to control.
Hopper is trying to escape the mount.

Laydown moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hopper has worked his arm free - good work by Hopper!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopper regains half guard.
Laydown is breathing heavily.
Hopper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Laydown preventing the sweep.
Hopper looking to control.
Laydown keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hopper's head.
Hopper lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Laydown postures up.
Hopper will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Laydown wanted to stand there but Hopper had control of the position.

That's two 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.
Hopper wants to sweep here but Laydown controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopper lands a left and a right that sends Laydown crashing to the canvas! Hopper dives into mount looking to finish!

Laydown is rocked!

It looks like Thales Laydown has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Laydown looks a forlorn figure.
Oh Laydown is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hopper lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Laydown hang on?
Laydown trying desperately to get to his feet.
Hopper lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Laydown tries to lock up and control but Hopper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Laydown is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Laydown gets back to half guard.
Hopper is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Laydown seems to have got his legs back now.
Laydown might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hopper postures up in Laydown's guard and throws a big left but Laydown blocks it.
Laydown doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laydown pushes Hopper off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Laydown is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Klem Hopper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hopper misses with a few strikes there.

Laydown looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hopper!
Laydown looking to control but Hopper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hopper in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Laydown tries to control but Hopper wriggling away.
Hopper is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hopper is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hopper regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopper pushes Laydown off looking to stand but Laydown dives back in and keeps control.
Laydown seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hopper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hopper is pressing down on Laydown's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Laydown wants to pass the guard but Hopper is keeping the position.
Laydown stops Hopper from standing up.
Hopper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laydown is one step ahead there.
Hopper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hopper looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Laydown with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopper trying to control from half guard but Laydown is working away.
Hopper working Laydown over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klem Hopper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thales Laydown's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Laydown on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hopper moves out of range of the body kick.
Hopper lands with a nice body punch.
Laydown is looking to clinch.
Laydown wants to clinch up but Hopper keeps it at a distance.
Laydown tries to clinch but Hopper is having none of it.
Hopper changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Hopper there.
Laydown with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hopper to score with a decent uppercut.
Laydown fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hopper lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Laydown at a distance.
Laydown avoids a punch combination nicely.
Laydown on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopper throws a series of punches but Laydown moves out of range.

Laydown closes the distance and clinches.
Hopper scores with a hook to the body.
Hopper is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Laydown slows down the pace here.
Hopper managing to block the knees to the body from Laydown.
Laydown stalling in the clinch but Hopper improves position.
Laydown lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopper successfully pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hopper is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hopper throws a strike but Laydown rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hopper looking for a sweep. Not yet Hopper, not yet.
Laydown stands up over Hopper, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Hopper manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hopper looks to land a combination but Laydown avoids it well.
Hopper lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Laydown shoots in but no luck this time.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hopper!
Hopper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hopper misses with a few strikes there.
Hopper throws a nice looking combination but Laydown bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Laydown closes the distance and clinches.

Hopper breaks the clinch.
Hopper lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hopper misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laydown tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hopper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laydown shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hopper swings for the body but Laydown moves out of range.
Hopper tries to bum rush Laydown with a series of wild strikes but Laydown uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Laydown looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hopper thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hopper lands a jab to the nose.
Laydown takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Hopper misses with a body shot.
Hopper is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Laydown rather than just go for the knockout.
Laydown slips a jab and a cross from Hopper.
Hopper thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laydown looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopper scores with a body shot.
Hopper moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Klem Hopper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A shot to de liver by Hopper. Beautiful body shot.
Hopper cracks Laydown with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Laydown shoots in and bounces Hopper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hopper keeping moving, preventing Laydown from controlling successfully.
Laydown with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laydown stands up from Hopper's guard - Laydown perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hopper lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hopper.

Laydown gets the takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Laydown are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Laydown blocks the strikes from Hopper.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hopper can do anything to dispel that myth.
Laydown landing a few strikes.
Laydown takes a little break here. Hopper wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hopper is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Laydown is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Laydown pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hopper tries to reverse the position but Laydown maintains control.
Laydown wants to control the pace but Hopper is squirming around nicely.
Laydown is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hopper can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laydown with shots to the head and body - Hopper looks very uncomfortable down there.
Laydown trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Laydown in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hopper is working to get back to half guard.
Laydown avoids the attempt from Hopper to control.
Laydown landing shots from mount.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hopper can't escape the position.
Thales Laydown overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klem Hopper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thales Laydown's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hopper thuds a left hand into Laydown's body.
Hopper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laydown.
Hopper keeps the fight on the outside.
Hopper misses with an uppercut. Laydown saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laydown looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Hopper misses.
Hopper swats away the attempt to clinch by Laydown.
Hopper looks to land a combination. Laydown sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hopper throws a nice looking combination but Laydown bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Laydown is looking to clinch.
Hopper throws a right and a left that Laydown avoids nicely.
Laydown is looking to clinch but Hopper is avoiding it.
Hopper takes a swing at Laydown's ribcage but misses.
Laydown looks for a takedown but Hopper sprawls well.
Hopper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laydown fails to land with a series of punches.
Hopper fails with the takedown.
A head kick from Laydown lands but Hopper takes it in his stride.
Hopper scores with a body shot.
Laydown fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thales Laydown is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopper misses with a combination
and Laydown cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laydown drives through with a takedown into guard.
Laydown content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hopper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laydown is one step ahead there.
Laydown wants to stand but Hopper is controlling his posture from full guard.
Laydown stopping the sweep attempt from Hopper.
Hopper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laydown's guard.
Hopper throwing strikes but missing.
Hopper pushing down on Laydown's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Laydown tries to get to full guard but Hopper has control of the leg.
Hopper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Hopper looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hopper throwing shots but Laydown is blocking nicely.
Hopper thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Laydown to regain full guard.
Hopper looking to pass the guard.
Laydown avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laydown is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hopper cracks Laydown with a solid left hand.
Laydown trying to keep a closed guard but Hopper is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Laydown dodges the punch combination from Hopper.

Laydown clinches.
Laydown stalling.
Laydown with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Laydown breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laydown looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hopper keeps the fight on the outside.
Laydown doesn't manage to clinch there - Hopper circles away.

Laydown clinches up against the cage.
Hopper gets underhooks to prevent Laydown's takedown attempt.

Hopper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laydown has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hopper swings for the body but Laydown moves out of range.
Laydown misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laydown takes one on the button.
Laydown shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thales Laydown. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hopper lands with a big right hook that stumbles Laydown - he's out on his feet here! Hopper follows up with another monster hook that separates Laydown from consciousness! Laydown falls, almost in slow motion to the canvas! Hopper stands and admires his work as the crowd go wild.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Klem Hopper!