PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yancy Malaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: "The Red" by Chevelle. Ryan Hopkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Malaki
vs
Hopkins

182 cm
39
150 lbs
27 - 14 - 3

180 cm
33
165 lbs
19 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yancy Malaki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins throws a sloppy head kick and Malaki moves out of range easily.
Malaki lands a lovely overhand right.
Malaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Hopkins moves into range and clinches up with Malaki.
Malaki lands a nice uppercut.
Malaki lands a left hand.
A shot in the inside from Hopkins.
Malaki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Malaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Malaki.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hopkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Malaki manages to break the clinch.
Malaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopkins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hopkins throws a solid leg kick but Malaki takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hopkins.
Hopkins takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki feints and then cracks Hopkins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hopkins down.
Malaki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hopkins lands with a nice combination. Malaki backs away looking to recover.
Malaki throws a lazy right hand but Hopkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hopkins connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hopkins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Ryan Hopkins has been cut.
Hopkins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Malaki.
Hopkins wants to counter with a clinch but Malaki pushes him away.
Yancy Malaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malaki lands with a right hand.
The fighters circling - Malaki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malaki loads up on a big right hand but Hopkins slips the punch.
Hopkins flicks out a counter leg kick but Malaki steps away.
Malaki misses the shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab from Malaki.
That kick from Hopkins tenderised Malaki's leg. Malaki is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Malaki sizes up Hopkins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Malaki throws a right hand that misses
enabling Hopkins to counter with a crisp jab.
Hopkins misses with a straight left.
Malaki connects with an inside leg kick.
Malaki connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hopkins has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins wants to counter the offense by Malaki and move into the clinch position.
Malaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Malaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Malaki throws a low kick but Hopkins moves out of range easily.

Hopkins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Malaki sprawls well initially but Hopkins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hopkins wants to control but Malaki is keeping him busy.
Malaki tries to roll over but Hopkins keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins thows a huge punch but Malaki dodges it nicely.

Hopkins is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hopkins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malaki defending well though.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hopkins lands a nice short elbow.
Hopkins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Malaki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hopkins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hopkins prevents Malaki from improving his position.

Hopkins is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yancy Malaki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryan Hopkins's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Malaki lands an overhand right.
Hopkins throws an overhand right that lands on Malaki's shoulder, as Malaki tries to avoid the shot.
Malaki was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Malaki throws a head kick that misses
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Malaki bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hopkins's head backwards.
Hopkins shoots in and drives through. Malaki sprawls well.
A lazy left from Hopkins finds it's target.
Malaki throws a chopping leg kick but Hopkins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Malaki throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big left from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malaki slips under a jab from Hopkins.
The fighters circling - Hopkins throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a low kick but Malaki avoids it.
Hopkins throws a leg kick
letting Malaki counter with a right hand.
Malaki cracks Hopkins with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hopkins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Malaki counter with a right hand.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Malaki.
Hopkins avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Malaki swings for the body but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins avoids the head kick by Malaki.
Malaki throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yancy Malaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Malaki looks to land a right hand but Hopkins moved out of range.
Hopkins is trying to counter with his kicks.
Malaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopkins.
Malaki throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Hopkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki avoids the head kick by Hopkins.
Hopkins scores with a jab.
Hopkins misses with a takedown attempt
and Malaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Yancy Malaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Hopkins.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malaki misses with a wild body shot.
Hopkins looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Malaki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yancy Malaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins takes one on the button.

Malaki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hopkins to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hopkins trying to control but Malaki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looking to sit in guard and control but Malaki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hopkins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hopkins 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.
Malaki being controlled here momentarily.
Hopkins controls Malaki momentarily but Malaki frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Malaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hopkins thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yancy Malaki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Hopkins's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Malaki throws a leg kick but Hopkins moved away.
Hopkins tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hopkins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Malaki connects with a body shot.
Malaki works the jab nicely.
Malaki scores with a body shot.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hopkins throws a head kick that Malaki semi-blocks.
Malaki connects with a looping right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaki misses with a wild body shot.
It seemed like Hopkins was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Some wild striking there from Malaki.
Hopkins appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Malaki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Malaki.
Hopkins takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malaki. Hopkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hopkins throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Malaki is rocked!
Nice defenses there by Hopkins.
Malaki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hopkins takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Malaki throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Despite the aggression on Hopkins's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Malaki scores with a nice body kick.
Malaki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hopkins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malaki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hopkins.
Malaki sizes up Hopkins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
That kick from Malaki tenderised Hopkins's leg. Hopkins is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hopkins looks to land a combination. Malaki sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hopkins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
It looks like Malaki has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
A big right from Hopkins misses.
Malaki lands a nice hook to Hopkins's body. Hopkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hopkins's corner calls for a 1-2. Hopkins obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Malaki.

Hopkins clinches up against the cage.

Hopkins jumps guard.
Hopkins doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Malaki preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins looking to control.
Malaki content to stall in guard here.
Hopkins lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hopkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Malaki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Malaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopkins is one step ahead there.
Hopkins cracks Malaki with a solid left hand.
Malaki trying to control the position.
Hopkins works over Malaki with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yancy Malaki clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Hopkins'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.

Hopkins is looking to clinch but Malaki is avoiding it.
Hopkins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Malaki avoids it really well and circles away.
Hopkins staying out of range there.
Hopkins throws a half hearted mid kick.
Malaki throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hopkins avoids it.
Hopkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hopkins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice jab there from Malaki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaki throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.
Hopkins's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hopkins throws a series of punches but Malaki moves out of range.
Hopkins on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Malaki catches Hopkins with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki throws a sloppy body shot
and Malaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopkins throws a jab when Malaki was well out of range.
Hopkins has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Malaki.
Hopkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Malaki.
Malaki missing with a left hand there. Hopkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hopkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malaki keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hopkins closes the distance looking to clinch
and Malaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki throws a front kick aimed at Hopkins's knee but Hopkins avoids it well.
A low kick from Malaki is predictable there
and Hopkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hopkins clobbers Malaki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Malaki scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hopkins fails with the takedown.
Hopkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Malaki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Malaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hopkins throws a lazy uppercut
and Malaki counters with a good low kick that Hopkins was not able to check.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
Malaki thows a leg kick but Hopkins checks it
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Malaki pushes him off.
Malaki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hopkins looks to land a combination but Malaki avoids it well.
Hopkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopkins is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Nice shot by Malaki.
Malaki lands a lovely overhand right.
Malaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Hopkins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Malaki lands with a shot to the body.
A big left from Hopkins misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins ducks right into an uppercut from Malaki.
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!
Malaki throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Hopkins throws out a counter right but Malaki avoids it with no problem.
Malaki moves forwards but Hopkins connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Malaki lands a left and a right that send Hopkins crashing to the mat, dazed. Malaki thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Hopkins is rocked!
Hopkins takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hopkins is still on wobbly legs! Can Malaki finish him?
Malaki lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Hopkins falls backwards - clearly groggy! Malaki dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yancy Malaki!
Yancy Malaki retains his lightweight title!
Yancy Malaki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.