PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rush Gab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Lopes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gab
vs
Lopes

185 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rush Gab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pedro Lopes!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopes takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Pedro Lopes has been cut.
Gab looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gab is looking to clinch but Lopes is avoiding it.

Gab drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gab's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gab has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gab won't allow Lopes to sweep him here.
Gab lands a couple of elbows.
Gab 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.
Lopes trying to strike off his back.
Gab with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gab throwing strikes but missing.
Lopes scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Lopes with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Gab can't handle though.
Lopes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lopes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lopes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gab's guard.
Lopes stops Gab from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gab is looking to stand up but Lopes isn't so interested in that idea.
Lopes working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopes is looking to work some ground and pound but Gab has wrist control.
Lopes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopes chips away with some ground and pound.
Lopes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gab works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lopes throws a strike but Gab rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gab stands up and waves to Lopes to follow him.
Rush Gab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gab is breathing heavily.
Gab shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lopes pinned against the cage. Lopes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopes avoids a kick to the body.
Lopes with a poor takedown
and Gab counters with a head kick.
Gab throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lopes's head.
Lopes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gab.

Lopes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gab knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lopes on the ground.
Lopes lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lopes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lopes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lopes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lopes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gab's head.
Gab on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gab tries to get out of the position.
Lopes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lopes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gab tries to kick Lopes off but Lopes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lopes avoids the head kick by Gab.

Lopes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lopes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gab is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lopes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lopes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lopes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gab works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gab wants to get back to his feet but Lopes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lopes fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rush Gab dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pedro Lopes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gab clinches.
Lopes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gab is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gab is trying to break the clinch but Lopes has him pressed against the cage.
Gab lands a knee to the body.
Gab is trying to break free.
Lopes can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gab breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gab gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lopes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopes slips a nice elbow through Gab's hands, connecting with Gab's forehead.
Gab keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lopes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gab knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lopes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gab is looking to escape.
Lopes throwing shots but Gab is blocking nicely.
Gab blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lopes.
Gab wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lopes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gab moves into the clinch.
Rush Gab has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Lopes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gab with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gab tries to circle away but Lopes has him pinned against the cage.
Lopes tries for a takedown but Gab manages to get underhooks.

Gab breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gab with a poor takedown

and Lopes counters with a shoot takedown. Gab fights it but they end up in guard.
Lopes is looking to work some ground and pound but Gab has wrist control.

Gab has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lopes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lopes landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gab preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lopes stops Gab from standing up.
Lopes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lopes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lopes steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Gab. That one must have hurt.
Lopes with a poor takedown

and Gab counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lopes is trying to drag Gab to the mat but Gab just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gab wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lopes has him pressed against the cage.
Gab tries to pull guard but Lopes won't allow it.

Gab manages to break the clinch.
Gab tries for a takedown but Lopes circles away easily

and Lopes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gab's guard now.
Lopes postures up and lands a big shot to Gab's brow.
Lopes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Lopes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pedro Lopes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lopes shoots in and bounces Gab off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pedro Lopes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopes postures up in Gab's guard and throws a big left but Gab blocks it.
Lopes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gab preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gab utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lopes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lopes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lopes throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopes throwing strikes from guard but Gab blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lopes steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Gab. That one must have hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gab with a poor takedown

and Lopes counters with a takedown into side control.
Gab defending against the ground and pound.
Gab taking a bit of punishment here - Lopes scoring with strikes.
Gab is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lopes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gab managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lopes.
Lopes throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lopes is trying to ground and pound but Gab uses the momentary lack of control by Lopes to regain half guard.
Gab keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gab is trying to stand up here but Lopes is controlling him well.
Lopes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gab shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gab tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopes is retaining full guard.
Gab working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopes's head.
Lopes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Lopes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gab.
Gab is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Lopes trying to strike off his back.
Lopes striking from his own guard.
Lopes is striking off his back. Gab thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Lopes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gab looks to land a combination but Lopes avoids it well.
Gab tries to clinch but Lopes moves out of range.
Gab tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lopes blocks a head kick by Gab.
Lopes has a takedown stuffed.

Gab has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lopes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gab avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lopes prevents Gab from breaking the clinch.
Lopes tries to score a body lock takedown but Gab shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rush Gab has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Lopes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gab landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Gab's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lopes has his takedown stuffed

and Gab counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lopes's guard now.
Lopes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gab cracks Lopes with a solid left hand.
Lopes lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gab!
Lopes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Lopes fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rush Gab.
I think Gab has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rush Gab!