PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luca Fuschini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Lopez
vs
Fuschini

178 cm
23
170 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

178 cm
32
180 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jorge Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Luca Fuschini!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuschini swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lopez counters with a nice body shot.
The fighters circling - Fuschini throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lopez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lopez wants it to stay on the feet.
Lopez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Fuschini.

Lopez gets caught napping as Fuschini dives in and scores a takedown. Lopez manages to retain guard.

Lopez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fuschini throwing strikes from guard but Lopez blocks nicely.
Lopez wants to stand and escape but Fuschini is having none of it.
Lopez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Lopez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fuschini can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fuschini advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lopez is trying to stand back up but Fuschini is controlling him
Lopez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fuschini working the head and body with strikes.
Well, if Fuschini is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Fuschini wants to pass the guard but Lopez is defending well.
Fuschini is thwarting Lopez's attempts to control the position.
Fuschini missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lopez tries to get to full guard but Fuschini has control of the leg.
Fuschini working over Lopez with some ground and pound. Lopez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fuschini scores with a couple of nice shots.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fuschini connects with a nice short shot to Lopez's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fuschini pulls his head out easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fuschini drops an elbow to the side of Lopez's head.
Lopez tries to roll over but Fuschini keeps him under control.

Fuschini 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.

Fuschini is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lopez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fuschini working Lopez over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuschini lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fuschini scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lopez taking some punishment here, with Fuschini in his half guard.
Fuschini working over Lopez with some ground and pound. Lopez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fuschini pulls his head out easily.
Fuschini not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fuschini wants to take a breather but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez wants to control the action here but instead Fuschini manages to pass to full mount!
Fuschini has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
BOOM! Fuschini connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fuschini landing strikes from the mount.
Fuschini controlling his opponent.
Lopez manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is defending against the submission attempts here by Fuschini.
Fuschini lands strikes from half guard.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fuschini pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lopez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lopez has his foot on Fuschini's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fuschini works his way back into a safe position though.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Fuschini from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fuschini with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fuschini lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fuschini is pushing down on Lopez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lopez is fighting to maintain full guard but Fuschini has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Fuschini dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fuschini shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Fuschini.
Nice strikes from Fuschini there.
Fuschini throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fuschini scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fuschini trying to pass the guard but Lopez defending well.

Fuschini is working for a submission of some sort.
Lopez is looking to improve his position.
Lopez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuschini scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Lopez is defending against the submission attempts here by Fuschini.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Fuschini is controlling well.

Lopez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lopez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fuschini connects with a nice short shot to Lopez's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fuschini lands a nice short elbow.
Fuschini seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lopez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez gets back to full guard.

Fuschini drops back looking for a leg! Lopez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lopez manages to kick Fuschini off! Fuschini jumps back into Lopez's guard.

Lopez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fuschini gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.
Fuschini stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lopez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lopez 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuschini with a nice head shot there.
Lopez keeping full guard, as Fuschini tries to pass.
Fuschini stands and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fuschini cracks Lopez with a big elbow.
You can see the frustration on Lopez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lopez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fuschini is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Luca Fuschini has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fuschini works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lopez struggling a bit here.
Fuschini cracks Lopez with a big right hand but Lopez just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Fuschini connects with a decent elbow.
Fuschini lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lopez down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fuschini working the head with strikes.
Fuschini scoring with punches and elbows.
Lopez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fuschini off and has taken his back!
Lopez is not going to allow Fuschini to sit and survive in this position.

Lopez is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Fuschini defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fuschini looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lopez patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Fuschini rolls, trying to escape but Lopez keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Fuschini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lopez gets the takedown into side control.
Fuschini is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fuschini has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lopez is working away from the top position though.
Fuschini makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fuschini.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuschini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lopez drops back looking for a leg! Fuschini is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fuschini manages to kick Lopez off! Lopez jumps back into Fuschini's guard.
Fuschini is adopting a defensive guard.
Fuschini is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fuschini looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fuschini is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fuschini lands with a punch from half guard.
Fuschini is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lopez is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lopez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuschini trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuschini looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Fuschini got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lopez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fuschini has managed to get both his arms back between Lopez's legs - danger averted.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez wants to sweep here but Fuschini controlling him for the moment.
Fuschini landing with the ground and pound.
Fuschini throwing strikes from guard but Lopez blocks nicely.
Fuschini trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuschini landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuschini landing some decent shots from guard.

Fuschini avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fuschini stands up over Lopez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lopez has momentary wrist control but Fuschini slips an elbow through the middle.
Fuschini has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Lopez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fuschini sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lopez's guard.
Jorge Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fuschini working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fuschini winds up and cracks Lopez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fuschini tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lopez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Luca Fuschini is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuschini controlling the pace.
Lopez punching from the bottom.
Fuschini looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.
Fuschini sitting and controlling from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fuschini uses his free foot to push down on Lopez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lopez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luca Fuschini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fuschini winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luca Fuschini!