PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gene Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lenny Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Anderson
vs
Lopez

178 cm
29
182 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

170 cm
26
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gene Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lenny Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez throws a nice inside leg kick.

Lopez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Anderson, pushing him back against the cage.
Lopez lands an elbow just above Anderson 's eye.

Lopez lands a takedown into guard.
Anderson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lopez wants to pass the guard but Anderson is keeping the position.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anderson 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.
Lopez stands and throws Anderson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Lopez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lopez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Anderson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lopez.

Lopez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Anderson, who protects the arm well.
Lopez works to advance to full mount. Anderson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Lopez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lopez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lopez tries to control but Anderson wriggling away.

Lopez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Lopez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Anderson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Anderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Anderson tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is squirming around, avoiding Lopez's attempts to control the action.
Anderson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Anderson is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Lopez working for a guillotine from mount but Anderson is in no mood to give up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lopez raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson wants to control but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Anderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lopez on the ground.
Lopez lands a big elbow.
Anderson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lopez.
Anderson tries to reverse the position but Lopez maintains control.
My spies in BLACKSMITH GYM - THE 25 Coach Las Vegas Mega-Gym inform me that Lopez has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Lopez looking to control but Anderson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez can't control as he wanted to and Anderson manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Lopez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anderson wants to get back to full guard.
Lopez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anderson keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lenny Lopez was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Lopez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anderson to the mat! Anderson manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Lopez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lopez.
Lopez works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Anderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lopez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lopez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Anderson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Lopez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Lopez trying to control the action but Anderson is working from the bottom.

Lopez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Anderson, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson is trying to escape the position but Lopez is controlling the position.

Lopez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown. Anderson tries to sprawl out of it but Lopez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anderson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lopez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Anderson's half guard.
Lopez works his way into full mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Lopez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is squirming around, avoiding Lopez's attempts to control the action.
Anderson wants to hold on but Lopez pushes him away.
Lopez working Anderson over with strikes here.
Lenny Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez controlling from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anderson tries to hold on but Lopez pushes him away.
Anderson is looking to get to half guard.
Lopez lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson wants to hold on but Lopez pushes him away.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Lopez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Anderson blocking the ground and pound.
Lopez wants to control the pace but Anderson is squirming around nicely.
Lopez looking to ground and pound but Anderson is blocking nicely.
Anderson tries to lock up and control but Lopez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Lopez goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Anderson is on top in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Anderson prevents Lopez from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Anderson.
Lopez seems keen to control Anderson's posture.

Lopez scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lopez lands with a nice body kick.

Lopez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Anderson!
Lopez is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anderson is trying to control Lopez's posture but Lopez avoids it.
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 but Anderson is working away.
Lopez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Anderson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Anderson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lopez's head.
Anderson trying to control from half guard but Lopez is working away.
Anderson tries to stand and escape but Lopez is controlling the position.
Lopez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Lopez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Anderson wants to stand up but Lopez has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Anderson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Anderson's back!
Lopez throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Lopez is persistently looking for the submission but Anderson is defending it well.

Lopez looking for the choke from the back.

Lopez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Lopez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson just trying to survive but Lopez is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Lopez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Anderson covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Anderson trying to control but not successfully.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anderson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Lopez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Anderson is defending well though. Lopez let's go of the attempt for now.
Anderson holding both Lopez 's hands and preventing any damage.
Anderson just trying to survive but Lopez is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson turns into Lopez and is now in his guard.
Lopez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Anderson throws a big elbow that misses.
Anderson won't allow Lopez to sweep him here.
Lopez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Anderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lopez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lopez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Anderson controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Gene Anderson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Anderson tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anderson but Anderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lenny Lopez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice sprawl there from Anderson as Lopez shoots in.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Anderson is defended easily by Lopez.
Anderson 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 Anderson off to one side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez thows a body kick. Anderson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lopez scores with a leg kick.
Gene Anderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Lopez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenny Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lopez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenny Lopez!
An out of breath Lenny Lopez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.