PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nate Lopez (ranked 1759 p4p, 226 weight class) and Thor Hammer (ranked 866 p4p, 121 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lopez
vs
Hammer

183 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
185 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Green Machine Nutritional Supplements

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nate Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Thor Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer scores with a jab.
Lopez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hammer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lopez throws a right hand that misses
and Hammer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lopez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hammer.
Lopez lands a right hook to the body.

Lopez moves into the clinch.
Lopez prevents Hammer from breaking the clinch.
Lopez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right from Lopez.

Hammer breaks from the clinch.
Lopez throws a jab when Hammer was well out of range.
It seemed like Hammer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hammer ducks under a wild hook from Lopez.
Lopez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hammer at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Hammer misses the target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hammer 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.
Thor Hammer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lopez throws a hook but Hammer blocks it.
A swing and a miss from Lopez.
Lopez lands a nice shot that snaps Hammer's head back.
Lopez tries to clinch
and Hammer counters with a nice uppercut.
Hammer throws a body punch but Lopez moves out of range.
A big right from Hammer misses.
Hammer slips a straight right by Lopez.
Lopez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A jab from Lopez finds it's way through Hammer's defenses.
Hammer throws a chopping leg kick but Lopez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lopez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez with a poor takedown
and Hammer counters with a nice uppercut.
Lopez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lopez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hammer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lopez.
Hammer throws a looping overhand right but Lopez ducks down to avoid it.
Lopez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lopez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Top Dawg in the buildup to the fight.
Hammer lands with an uppercut that bounces Lopez off the cage and back into range.
A low kick from Hammer misses
and Lopez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hammer sprawls well. Hammer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammer throws out a loose jab but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lopez stuns Hammer with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Hammer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hammer was well out of range. Poor timing from Lopez.
Lopez looks to clinch
enabling Hammer to counter with a crisp jab.
Hammer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lopez.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hammer! But no joy.
Lopez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hammer missing with a left hand there. Lopez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lopez lands a jab.
Hammer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lopez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hammer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hammer lands a glancing blow to the side of Lopez's head.
The fighters circling - Lopez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lopez scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammer smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lopez wants to clinch but Hammer slips to the side
and Hammer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hammer scores with a jab to the head.

Lopez is rocked!
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Hammer.
Oh Lopez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nate Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hammer throws a leg kick but Lopez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lopez seems to have got his legs back now.
Lopez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lopez misses with a right hand
and Hammer counters with a right hand to the body.

Lopez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hammer is staying active underneath Lopez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nate Lopez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hammer takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
Lopez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hammer avoids it really well and circles away.
Hammer throws an off balance right hand
letting Lopez counter with a right hand.
Hammer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thor Hammer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lopez slips a straight right by Hammer.
Lopez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hammer catches Lopez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lopez throws a right hand that misses
and Hammer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lopez scores with a jab.
Lopez throws a shot from downtown. Hammer moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a looping left.
Hammer throws out a counter right but Lopez avoids it with no problem.
Hammer takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lopez scores with a punch to the head.
Lopez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lopez misses with a straight left.
Hammer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hammer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hammer throws a body shot but no joy.
Lopez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hammer 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.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
Hammer doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hammer has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Lopez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hammer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Lopez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hammer's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammer is looking to improve his position.
Lopez wants to take a breather but Hammer is having none of it.
Lopez wants to free his trapped foot but Hammer is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Lopez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Lopez is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to control but Hammer is keeping him busy.
Hammer won't allow Lopez to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lopez seems to be looking for submissions.
Lopez is looking to pass Hammer's guard but actually Hammer recovers to full guard.
Lopez passes Hammer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lopez is looking to advance position but Hammer won't allow it.
Lopez is working hard here to advance position.

Lopez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hammer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lopez.
Lopez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hammer knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Lopez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Lopez misses the jab.
Lopez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lopez throws a hook but Hammer avoids it easily.
Hammer throws a body kick that misses.
Hammer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hammer thumps Lopez with a low kick.
Hammer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hammer there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lopez misses with a right hand
and Hammer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lopez misses with a left hand
and Hammer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez has his takedown stuffed
and Hammer counters with a straight right hand.
Hammer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lopez.
Hammer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez throws a lazy uppercut
and Hammer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lopez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hammer manages to avoid it.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hammer appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lopez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Hammer misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lopez. Hammer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hammer cracks Lopez with an open hand slap.
Lopez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hammer walks into a left hand.
Hammer lands a front kick.
Lopez throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Lopez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hammer takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez darts in looking for a takedown but Hammer gets double underhooks and turns Lopez into the cage.
Lopez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hammer counters with a nice uppercut.

Lopez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lopez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hammer's elbow.
Lopez fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short left from Hammer.
Lopez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lopez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Good body shot from Lopez.

Hammer breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hammer is retaining full guard.
Lopez looking to sit in guard and control but Hammer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lopez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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 four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hammer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammer stopping the sweep attempt from Lopez.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but Hammer defends easily.

Lopez has his foot on Hammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hammer works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thor Hammer.
I think Lopez 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nate Lopez!
Nate Lopez decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.