PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Renilio Gracie Slaughter (ranked 9408 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Lopez (ranked 6467 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopez has chosen Vamos as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracie Slaughter
vs
Lopez

180 cm
26
167 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

181 cm
48
162 lbs
56 - 32 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Red Light Coffeeshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renilio Gracie Slaughter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 56 - 32 - 2, fighting out of New York, Miguel Lopez!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Columbo Gatti and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez dodges the punch combination from Gracie Slaughter.
Gracie Slaughter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Lopez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie Slaughter shoots in for a double leg but Lopez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A little jabbing left from Lopez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gracie Slaughter scores with a shot to the body.
Lopez swings for the body but Gracie Slaughter moves out of range.
Gracie Slaughter goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gracie Slaughter swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lopez wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie Slaughter bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lopez digs a good hook to Gracie Slaughter's body.
Lopez loads up on a big right hand but Gracie Slaughter slips the punch.
Lopez's coach down at Midnight MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lopez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie Slaughter shoots in for a takedown but Lopez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renilio Gracie Slaughter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie Slaughter throws a leg kick but Lopez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Gracie Slaughter.
Lopez misses with a hook.
Renilio Gracie Slaughter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Lopez blocks the leg kick.
Gracie Slaughter fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice shot lands for Lopez.
Gracie Slaughter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lopez's waist but Lopez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie Slaughter off to one side.
Lopez throws the left hand but Gracie Slaughter avoids the punch easily.
Gracie Slaughter looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lopez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie Slaughter stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie Slaughter connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lopez momentarily.
Gracie Slaughter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lopez circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie Slaughter throws a body kick that misses
enabling Lopez to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie Slaughter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lopez swings for the body but Gracie Slaughter moves out of range.
Gracie Slaughter takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie Slaughter misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez stuffs the takedown.
Gracie Slaughter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lopez throws a right and a left that Gracie Slaughter avoids nicely.
Gracie Slaughter misses with an uppercut. Lopez saw that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Gracie Slaughter.
Gracie Slaughter with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lopez to score with a decent uppercut.
Lopez lands an overhand right.
Gracie Slaughter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie Slaughter is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Gracie Slaughter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lopez.
Lopez misses with a looping left.
Gracie Slaughter with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lopez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez connects with a body shot.
Gracie Slaughter moves out of range of the strikes.
Lopez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gracie Slaughter under the eye.
Lopez misses with a looping right.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracie Slaughter counters with a stiff right hand.
Lopez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie Slaughter. Gracie Slaughter circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie Slaughter throws a lazy uppercut
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie Slaughter tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lopez defends well and Gracie Slaughter ends up having to push Lopez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gracie Slaughter fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lopez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gracie Slaughter lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie Slaughter dives in for a single leg takedown but Lopez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lopez with a nice cross.
Lopez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie Slaughter darts in looking for a takedown but Lopez gets double underhooks and turns Gracie Slaughter into the cage.
Lopez throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie Slaughter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Slaughter blocks a jab.
Lopez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie Slaughter manages to avoid it.
Lopez looks to land a combination but Gracie Slaughter avoids it well.
Gracie Slaughter looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie Slaughter connects with a single shot there.
Lopez throws a body shot but no joy.
Miguel Lopez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Lopez misses.
Lopez throws a right and a left that Gracie Slaughter avoids nicely.
Gracie Slaughter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lopez misses the shot to the body.
Gracie Slaughter drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lopez sprawls and moves away.
Gracie Slaughter takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lopez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie Slaughter throws out the jab.
Lopez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Lopez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lopez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lopez throws a hook but Gracie Slaughter avoids it easily.

Gracie Slaughter rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie Slaughter scores with a shoulder strike.
Lopez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lopez gets through Gracie Slaughter's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Gracie Slaughter lands a nice shot that snaps Lopez's head back.
Gracie Slaughter scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gracie Slaughter lands a jab to the head.
Lopez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lopez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopez misses with a hook. Gracie Slaughter ducked under it nicely.
Gracie Slaughter throws a body punch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie Slaughter lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lopez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lopez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Renilio Gracie Slaughter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie Slaughter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lopez lunges at Gracie Slaughter with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie Slaughter's hand.
Gracie Slaughter swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez looks to land a left hand but Gracie Slaughter moved out of range nicely.
Lopez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gracie Slaughter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lopez throws out the jab.
Lopez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gracie Slaughter dives in and grabs Lopez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lopez pushes down on Gracie Slaughter's head and hops out.
The crowd cheers as Gracie Slaughter lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lopez doesn't seem phased though.
Miguel Lopez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Gracie Slaughter.
Gracie Slaughter connects with the punch.
Gracie Slaughter takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gracie Slaughter shoots in and drives through. Lopez sprawls well.
Gracie Slaughter shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renilio Gracie Slaughter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie Slaughter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie Slaughter tries for a kimura but Lopez is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie Slaughter's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gracie Slaughter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie Slaughter prevents Lopez from improving his position.
Lopez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie Slaughter.
Gracie Slaughter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lopez is staying active underneath Gracie Slaughter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gracie Slaughter is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lopez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie Slaughter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Gracie Slaughter 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.
Lopez is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie Slaughter sits in half guard.

Gracie Slaughter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Lopez has one foot on Gracie Slaughter's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Gracie Slaughter clinches up against the cage.
Gracie Slaughter working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lopez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Slaughter misses with the head strike.
Gracie Slaughter lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Gracie Slaughter tries to score a body lock takedown but Lopez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gracie Slaughter jumps guard.
Lopez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gracie Slaughter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie Slaughter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lopez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie Slaughter is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renilio Gracie Slaughter will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie Slaughter misses the shot to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lopez! But no joy.
Gracie Slaughter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lopez.
Good standup being displayed there by Lopez as he connects with a hook.
A head kick misses from Gracie Slaughter.
It seemed like Lopez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gracie Slaughter misses with a leg kick
letting Lopez counter with a right hand.
Lopez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie Slaughter.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gracie Slaughter or perhaps it was just good defense by Lopez, which made it look bad.
Gracie Slaughter looks for a takedown but Lopez sprawls well.
Gracie Slaughter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lopez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie Slaughter stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lopez dodges the punch combination from Gracie Slaughter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopez lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gracie Slaughter tries to clinch up.
Gracie Slaughter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lopez moves away.
Gracie Slaughter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lopez throws out the jab.
Gracie Slaughter tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie Slaughter getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lopez slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie Slaughter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lopez is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gracie Slaughter with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renilio Gracie Slaughter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gracie Slaughter eats them both and turns towards Lopez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lopez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gracie Slaughter on the side of the head.
Lopez dodges the punch combination from Gracie Slaughter.
Lopez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice defenses there by Lopez.
The fighters circling - Lopez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie Slaughter.
Lopez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lopez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lopez lands a lovely overhand right.
Gracie Slaughter swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lopez cracks Gracie Slaughter with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Lopez. Those never looked like landing.
Lopez throws a right and a left that Gracie Slaughter avoids nicely.
Lopez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lopez throws a right hand that Gracie Slaughter ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie Slaughter also avoids with ease.
Gracie Slaughter takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gracie Slaughter fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lopez on the side of the head.
Gracie Slaughter looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lopez ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie Slaughter.
Gracie Slaughter is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lopez.
Gracie Slaughter slips under a jab from Lopez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie Slaughter drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Gracie Slaughter is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lopez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lopez regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie Slaughter is looking to take a break and control but Lopez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie Slaughter is really struggling to control Lopez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie Slaughter's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie Slaughter pulls his head out easily.

Gracie Slaughter is working for a kimura but Lopez is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to kick Gracie Slaughter off but Gracie Slaughter keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Gracie Slaughter is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lopez wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie Slaughter is trying to control the action in half guard but Lopez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gracie Slaughter seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lopez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Lopez!
Our winner, Miguel Lopez, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.