PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kami Iakopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francesco Luongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iakopa comes to the cage accompanied by Ziggy Marley - Beach in Hawaii. Luongo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Alexisonfire - The Northern. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Iakopa
vs
Luongo

185 cm
23
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

185 cm
21
170 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Kami Iakopa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francesco Luongo!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iakopa misses with the combination.
Luongo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kami Iakopa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Iakopa throws a series of punches but Luongo moves out of range.
Iakopa throws a right and a left that Luongo avoids nicely.
Iakopa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luongo manages to avoid it.
Luongo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Iakopa.
Iakopa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Francesco Luongo has been cut.
Iakopa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Luongo.

Luongo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Luongo trying to control the action but Iakopa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luongo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Iakopa tries to bench press Luongo off him but Luongo keeps the position.
Luongo trying to control the position but Iakopa is working away.
Iakopa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Iakopa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Luongo on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Luongo tries for a kimura but Iakopa is defending well.
Iakopa is not content to let Luongo control the position.

Luongo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Iakopa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Luongo's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luongo trying to control from half guard but Iakopa is working away.
Iakopa is looking for a sweep. Luongo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Iakopa trying to get back to full guard but Luongo takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luongo content just to control the position here.

Luongo looking for a guillotine from mount but Iakopa is having none of it.

Luongo wants to finish this one by submission but Iakopa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Luongo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Luongo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Iakopa turns into him and now he's in Luongo's guard.

Luongo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Iakopa wants to control from the top but Luongo keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Luongo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francesco Luongo's cut.
That's time! Iakopa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Iakopa throws a right hand that Luongo ducks under and follows up with a left that Luongo also avoids with ease.
Luongo has a takedown stuffed.
Iakopa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luongo.
Luongo slips a jab and a cross from Iakopa.
Luongo dodges the punch combination from Iakopa.
Iakopa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luongo has a takedown stuffed.
Luongo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Iakopa.
Kami Iakopa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luongo slips a jab and a cross from Iakopa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Luongo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Luongo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Luongo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luongo trying to control the position but Iakopa is working away.
Iakopa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Iakopa is looking for a sweep. Luongo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Luongo not doing much here.

Iakopa actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Luongo seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Luongo seems to be looking for submissions.
Luongo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iakopa is looking to improve his position.
Iakopa is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Luongo jumps into side control!

Luongo is working to tighten is grip on Iakopa's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Iakopa has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Luongo is really squeezing tight and eventually Iakopa passes out! Luongo breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Francesco Luongo!
Francesco Luongo is the new welterweight champion!