PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Lopez (ranked 3734 p4p, 3998 weight class) and Tom Morales (ranked 437 p4p, 456 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Lopez
vs
Morales

220 cm
18
180
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
175
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Morales!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morales pushes Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Lopez looking for a takedown.

Lopez has hold of one of Morales's legs. Morales is fighting the takedown attempt but Lopez gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Morales controlling Lopez's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morales escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morales throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morales pushes Lopez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lopez tries a head kick but it misses.

Morales rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.
Lopez is pressed up against the cage. Morales has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lopez down to the mat. Lopez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Morales pushes Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Morales.

Morales manages to pull guard.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Morales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morales has control of Lopez's left arm, preventing Lopez from doing any damage.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Morales is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez being controlled here momentarily.
Lopez trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.
Morales has his hands on Lopez's head, controlling the position.

Lopez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Morales moves into the clinch.

Morales gets control of Lopez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Morales will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.
Lopez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Lopez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lopez preventing the sweep.
Lopez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Morales wants to sweep here but Lopez controlling him for the moment.
Morales is looking to sweep but instead, Lopez has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morales is refusing to be controlled, as Lopez sits in half guard.
Morales really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lopez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morales is looking to escape.
Lopez prevents Morales from improving his position.
Lopez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Morales wants to get back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morales is staying active underneath Lopez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Morales dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lopez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Morales smiles and moves away.

Morales rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.

Morales manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lopez being controlled here momentarily.
Let's hope that Morales has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lopez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Morales has a closed guard, preventing Lopez from standing up.
Morales tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lopez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Morales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lopez is one step ahead there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lopez tries to clinch but Morales moves away
and Morales makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lopez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morales shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lopez sprawls well. Lopez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morales gets slowly back to his feet.
Juan Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lopez tries for a takedown but Morales circles away easily

and Morales counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morales is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Morales has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lopez uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.

Morales is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Morales is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lopez is aware though and is defending well.

Lopez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lopez has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morales leaves Lopez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Morales throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Lopez has his takedown stuffed

and Morales counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Morales works his way into side control.
Morales tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Morales.

Morales tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Morales has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Morales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lopez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Morales has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morales throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.
Morales throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Lopez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morales swivels and escapes.

Morales clinches up against the cage.

Lopez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Morales is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lopez to the mat. Lopez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morales is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Morales scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Morales preventing the sweep.
Lopez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morales is defended easily by Lopez.
Lopez half committed to a counter leg kick.

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.
Lopez dives in and grabs Morales's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morales pushes down on Lopez's head and hops out.
Morales throws a fast counter high kick but Lopez manages to duck under it in time.
Morales avoids the head kick by Lopez.
Lopez fails with the takedown
letting Morales counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morales moves into range and clinches up with Lopez.
Morales is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Morales decides to pull guard.
Morales is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tom Morales has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morales lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.
Morales is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Morales is continuing to stall.
Morales chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Morales won't allow Lopez to sweep him here.
Morales must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Morales stands and steps away. Lopez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Morales.
Morales with a nice calf kick.
Morales shoots in looking for a takedown but Lopez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Morales's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Morales closes the distance and pushes Lopez back into the cage.
Juan Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Morales is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lopez trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Morales comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morales has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Morales!