PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Omer Cantrell (ranked 24562 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Lopez (ranked 4868 p4p, 0 weight class). Omer Cantrell has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cantrell
vs
Lopez

190 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Omer Cantrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cantrell is fending him off so far but Lopez persists. Nope, Cantrell circles away and we're back to standing.
An attempted straight right counter from Cantrell misses the target.
Lopez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cantrell counters with a nice uppercut.
Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cantrell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cantrell lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Cantrell jumps into guard, dragging Lopez to the mat.

Cantrell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lopez passes into half guard.
Cantrell wants to control but Lopez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lopez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Cantrell works to full guard.
Lopez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Lopez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cantrell dives on top into guard.

Cantrell wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Cantrell stops Lopez from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but Cantrell is proving a slippery customer.
Cantrell tries to stand but Lopez is controlling from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cantrell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cantrell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cantrell won't allow Lopez to get back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cantrell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Cantrell as Lopez shoots in.
As Lopez tries to get set, Cantrell tries to push him back and clinch up but Lopez manages to avoid the attempt.
Omer Cantrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Lopez.
Lopez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cantrell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
It appears Cantrell was looking to counter with a kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez has his takedown stuffed
and Cantrell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lopez looks winded!
Cantrell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lopez.
Cantrell has a takedown stuffed.
Lopez misses with a takedown

and Cantrell counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cantrell.
Lopez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cantrell manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is trying to stand up here but Cantrell is controlling him well.
Cantrell slips a nice elbow through Lopez's hands, connecting with Lopez's forehead.

Cantrell is working for a submission of some sort.
Cantrell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cantrell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cantrell's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omer Cantrell dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lopez slaps away a takedown attempt from Cantrell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lopez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lopez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cantrell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cantrell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lopez pinned against the cage. Lopez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lopez is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jose Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantrell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lopez.
Jose Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantrell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lopez.
Lopez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cantrell is fending him off so far but Lopez persists. Nope, Cantrell circles away and we're back to standing.
Omer Cantrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Lopez.
Lopez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cantrell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lopez is breathing heavily.
Lopez tries to land a front kick but Cantrell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cantrell is looking to counter punch.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick

and Cantrell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lopez is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cantrell dives into side control.

Cantrell wants to control but Lopez is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cantrell decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cantrell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cantrell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lopez circles away.

Cantrell gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cantrell is trying to pull guard but Lopez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Lopez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Cantrell jumps into guard, dragging Lopez to the mat.
Lopez looking to sit in guard and control but Cantrell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantrell tries to stand but Lopez is controlling from the bottom.
Lopez looking for a sweep. Not yet Lopez, not yet.
Cantrell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cantrell defends it easily.
Lopez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cantrell is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cantrell is working Lopez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cantrell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lopez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cantrell is one step ahead there.
Cantrell lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omer Cantrell dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cantrell fails with a takedown attempt.
Lopez lands a nice shot to the body.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cantrell half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Omer Cantrell is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cantrell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Cantrell as Lopez shoots in.
Cantrell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lopez closes the distance and clinches.
Cantrell wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omer Cantrell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Lopez fails with the takedown
and Cantrell counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantrell blocks a head kick by Lopez.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cantrell but Cantrell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cantrell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lopez doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Cantrell counter with a right hand.
Cantrell shoots in for a double leg but Lopez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lopez tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez stuffs the takedown attempt from Cantrell. Cantrell gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cantrell's waist but Cantrell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lopez off to one side.
Lopez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cantrell shoots for a takedown but Lopez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for Lopez with that takedown attempt.
Cantrell feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Lopez as Cantrell shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice sprawl there from Cantrell as Lopez shoots in.
Cantrell is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Lopez gets tackled into the cage by Cantrell. Cantrell maintains the clinch.
Cantrell tries to pull guard but Lopez won't allow it.
Cantrell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Lopez wants a takedown but no success here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cantrell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lopez is defending well.
Jose Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Omer Cantrell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lopez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cantrell's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Lopez.
Well Cantrell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omer Cantrell!