PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonov Lopescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Lopescu
vs
Rock

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonov Lopescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Liam Rock!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rock lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Antonov Lopescu has been cut.
Rock dives in and grabs Lopescu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lopescu pushes down on Rock's head and hops out.

Lopescu feints and as Rock raises his hands in defense, Lopescu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lopescu stays in close to Rock's body and controls the position.
Lopescu distracts Rock with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lopescu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lopescu sitting in guard here, content to control.

Rock has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lopescu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rock trying to strike off his back.
Lopescu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rock controls Lopescu momentarily but Lopescu frees himself.

Lopescu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock looking for a sweep. Not yet Rock, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lopescu is fending him off so far but Rock persists. Nope, Lopescu circles away and we're back to standing.

Lopescu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rock napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lopescu is putting a hurting on Rock here, landing some big shots from side control.
Lopescu controls the position from side control.
Lopescu is breathing heavily.
Lopescu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rock for as long as he can get away with.
Rock is trying to control Lopescu's posture but Lopescu avoids it.
Lopescu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lopescu working the body and head with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lopescu is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rock will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Lopescu decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rock to his feet.
Rock gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lopescu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Antonov Lopescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Rock.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopescu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rock trying to keep a closed guard but Lopescu is proving a slippery customer.
Rock utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rock trying to keep a closed guard but Lopescu is proving a slippery customer.
Lopescu trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lopescu wants to control from the top but Rock keeps moving.
Lopescu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rock shoots in for a double leg but Lopescu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rock misses with a takedown

and Lopescu counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rock!
Rock is desperately trying to improve his position but Lopescu has a good base and remains in mount.
Lopescu controlling from mount.
Lopescu with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lopescu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rock is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lopescu with a couple of short strikes.
A nice elbow there by Lopescu.
Rock keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lopescu looking to control and managing it successfully.

Lopescu with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopescu looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonov Lopescu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonov Lopescu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rock fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Lopescu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rock manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lopescu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lopescu stopping the sweep attempt from Rock.
Antonov Lopescu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rock being controlled here, momentarily.
Rock keeping moving, preventing Lopescu from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Rock working for a triangle but Lopescu defends it easily.
Lopescu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rock looking for a sweep. Not yet Rock, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rock doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopescu circles away.

That's two 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.

Rock rushes Lopescu and presses him up against the cage.
Rock drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lopescu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lopescu throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rock counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lopescu is working for takedown but Rock is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rock tries for a takedown but Lopescu manages to get underhooks.
Antonov Lopescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Rock.
Rock looking for a takedown.
Rock tries to pull guard but Lopescu won't allow it.
Lopescu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rock.
Lopescu tries to circle away but Rock has him pinned against the cage.

Rock gets control of Lopescu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rock will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lopescu is stalling in the full guard.
Rock looking to control.

Rock has his foot on Lopescu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lopescu works his way back into a safe position though.
Lopescu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu throws a strike but Rock rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lopescu pushes Rock off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rock fails to land the takedown.

Lopescu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu working some strikes from top position.
Lopescu thows a big elbow that misses.
Lopescu trying to control but Rock is working from the bottom.
Lopescu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rock keeping moving, preventing Lopescu from controlling successfully.
Rock really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lopescu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lopescu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopescu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rock keeping moving, preventing Lopescu from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rock throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lopescu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonov Lopescu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonov Lopescu's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rock closes the distance and clinches.

Rock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rock gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lopescu stands up over Rock, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lopescu prevents Rock from getting back to his feet.
Rock is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lopescu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lopescu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Lopescu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lopescu tries to free his leg and advance position but Rock is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopescu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rock lands a body shot.
Rock has his takedown stuffed

and Lopescu counters with a single leg into guard. Rock didn't expect that.
Lopescu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rock wants to stand but Lopescu is controlling the position.
Rock trying to control the position.
Lopescu is stalling in the full guard.
Lopescu throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu won't allow Rock to sweep him here.
Lopescu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopescu sitting in guard here, content to control.

Rock has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lopescu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rock closes the distance and clinches.
Rock tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lopescu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lopescu can't break the clinch.

Rock breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock closes the distance and clinches up with Lopescu, looking for a takedown. Rock pushes Lopescu against the cage but Lopescu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Antonov Lopescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Rock.
Rock lands a jab-cross combination.

Lopescu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rock taking a bit of punishment here - Lopescu scoring with strikes.
A lull in the action here.
Lopescu wants to control but Rock is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Lopescu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rock dodges the ground and pound from Lopescu.
Lopescu trying to control the action but Rock is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopescu decides to stand back up. Lopescu steps back and let's Rock get back to his feet.

Rock has Lopescu up against the cage in a clinch.
Lopescu misses with a knee to the head.
Lopescu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lopescu slaps away a takedown attempt from Rock, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lopescu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lopescu shoots for a takedown but Rock saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lopescu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Liam Rock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antonov Lopescu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rock shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopescu sprawls well. He's pushed Rock's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Lopescu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonov Lopescu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lopescu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonov Lopescu!