PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jay Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Federico Lovalente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lopez
vs
Lovalente

187 cm
25
190 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
197 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Average Joes FC Smashwear clothing (CBK)

-OVERDOSE Factory-
Average Joes FC Smashwear clothing (CBK)

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jay Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Federico Lovalente!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez tries to clinch up.
Lopez blocks a jab.

Lopez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lopez lands in his opponent's guard.
Lopez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lovalente utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lopez is looking to work some ground and pound but Lovalente has wrist control.
Lovalente keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Lopez throwing strikes from guard but Lovalente blocks nicely.
Lopez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lopez looking to pass the guard.
Lopez is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lovalente.
Lopez misses with the combination.
Lovalente misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovalente fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lopez is out of range.
Lopez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lovalente.
Nice takedown defense from Lovalente. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.
Lovalente misses with an uppercut.
A head kick misses from Lovalente.
Lovalente buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lopez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Lovalente throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lopez was covering up waiting for the punch and Lovalente finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lopez is breathing heavily.

Lovalente thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Lovalente from controlling successfully.
Lopez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lovalente trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to sweep here but Lovalente controlling him for the moment.
Lovalente postures up in Lopez's guard and throws a big left but Lopez blocks it.
Lopez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Lovalente drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lovalente jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lovalente throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Jab, jab by Lovalente - just one landing.

Lovalente moves into range and clinches up with Lopez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lovalente connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lopez's face.

Lopez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lovalente is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lopez to the mat. Lopez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lovalente wants to pass the guard but Lopez is keeping the position.
Lovalente trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Lovalente won't allow Lopez to sweep him here.
Lopez tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lovalente passes Lopez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lopez is trying to get back to full guard.
Lopez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Lovalente is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but Lovalente is proving a slippery customer.
Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.
Lopez wants to hit a switch here but Lovalente passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Lopez there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lovalente has control of Lopez's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lopez regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Lopez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to control Lovalente's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.
Lovalente 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.

Lovalente is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lopez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lopez is not content to let Lovalente control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Federico Lovalente dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lovalente scoring well with a low kick there.
Lovalente misses with a double jab

and Lopez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lovalente defending well though.
Lovalente is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lovalente taking some punishment here, with Lopez in his half guard.
Lovalente tries to roll over but Lopez keeps him under control.
Lopez trying to control the action but Lovalente is working from the bottom.
Lopez throwing shots but Lovalente is blocking nicely.
Lovalente is looking to control Lopez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lovalente avoid being mounted?
Lopez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A low kick from Lopez is predictable there
and Lovalente counters with a good low kick that Lopez was not able to check.
Lopez clinches but Lovalente breaks the clinch
and Lovalente counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez scores with a three punch combo!
Lopez throws a nice looking combination but Lovalente bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lopez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lovalente moves into the clinch.
Lopez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lovalente up against the cage.
Lovalente landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Lovalente.
Lopez tries to break the clinch but Lovalente is controlling the position.

Lovalente breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lovalente lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lovalente throws a low kick, looking for Lopez's leg but Lopez calmly moves out of range.
Lovalente turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lopez tries to clinch but Lovalente moves away
and Lovalente counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lovalente fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lopez.
Lovalente throws a head kick that misses.
Lopez looks to land a combination. Lovalente sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lovalente.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lovalente cracks a nice hook into Lopez's ribs.
Good leg kick by Lovalente there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lovalente chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lovalente lands with a hook. Lopez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lovalente feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lopez's calf.
Lovalente dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lopez. That did some damage!
Lovalente scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

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

Lovalente seems to be looking for submissions.

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

Lovalente seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to roll over but Lovalente keeps him under control.
Lopez is staying active underneath Lovalente, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lovalente is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lopez is looking to control Lovalente's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?
Lopez is pressing down on Lovalente's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lovalente looking to pass the guard.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lovalente stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lovalente on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lopez trying to control from Lovalente's half guard. Lovalente has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lopez is looking to work some ground and pound but Lovalente has wrist control.
Lovalente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lopez.
Lovalente 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.

Lovalente is looking for a triangle but Lopez pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lovalente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Federico Lovalente showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lopez avoids the head kick by Lovalente.
Lovalente circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lovalente counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Good leg kick by Lovalente there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lopez misses with a double jab.
Lovalente throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lopez.
Lopez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lopez tries to bum rush Lovalente with a series of wild strikes but Lovalente uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopez blocks a jab.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Lovalente shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lovalente circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lovalente counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopez tries to get to full guard but Lovalente has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lovalente is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Lopez as he works his way to full guard.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Lovalente from controlling successfully.
Lopez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lovalente stands and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lopez is trying to control Lovalente's posture but Lovalente avoids it.
Federico Lovalente has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Lopez tries to buck Lovalente off but Lovalente is having none of it.
Lopez gets back to half guard.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Lovalente is controlling well.
Federico Lovalente is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Lovalente is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lopez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lopez moves into full guard.
Lovalente stopping the sweep attempt from Lopez.
Lopez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lovalente wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Lovalente preventing the sweep.
Lopez tries to strike from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lovalente tries for a takedown but Lopez circles away easily

so Lopez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente is pulling down on Lopez's head. It's preventing any offense from Lopez, at least for the moment.
Lovalente preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lopez throws a big right hand that misses.
Lovalente pulls Lopez in close to prevent any damage.
Lovalente avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Lovalente keeps moving.
Lopez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lovalente swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lovalente is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lopez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lovalente lands a really nice looking cross but Lopez seems unphased.
Lovalente slaps away a takedown attempt from Lopez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lovalente closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lovalente tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Lovalente.
Lovalente lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lopez backs up against the cage.
Lopez slips a straight right by Lovalente.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Lovalente.
Lovalente with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lopez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lovalente counters with an outside leg kick.
Lovalente swats away the attempt to clinch by Lopez.
Lovalente throws a lazy right hand but Lopez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jay Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lopez tries for a takedown but Lovalente circles away easily

and Lovalente counters by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Federico Lovalente comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lovalente 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Federico Lovalente!