PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Vidal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vidal comes to the cage accompanied by Dead End Countdown. Carlos Lopez acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Vidal
vs
Lopez

173 cm
18
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Diamond Design Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Vidal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carlos Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Vidal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez misses with a double jab.
A nice combination there by Lopez.
Lopez looks to land a combination. Vidal sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Lopez tries to clinch but Vidal moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Vidal as Lopez shoots in.
An inside leg kick from Lopez misses.
Lopez scores with a nice strike.
A punch combination from Lopez misses.
Vidal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lopez throws a series of punches but Vidal moves out of range.
Nice cross by Lopez.
Vidal tries to clinch up
and Lopez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vidal lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez rushes Vidal and presses him up against the cage.
Vidal jumps guard but Lopez stands there with Vidal around his waist. Vidal gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lopez tries for a takedown but Vidal manages to get underhooks.
Vidal wants to break free but Lopez has control.
Lopez stalling the fight.
Vidal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lopez smiles and moves away.
Vidal doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.
Lopez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vidal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left and a right from Lopez both land. Nice combination.
Vidal scores with a one two! Lopez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Carlos Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vidal throws a hook but Lopez blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Lopez does no damage.
Vidal shoots in and drives through. Lopez sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Vidal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vidal slips under a jab from Lopez.
Lopez throws a combination that misses
and Vidal makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lopez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vidal counters with a left and a right that stings Lopez.
Lopez looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vidal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Lopez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lopez showed some decent athleticism there.
Vidal wants to control but Lopez is keeping busy.
Lopez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidal works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vidal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lopez is staying active underneath Vidal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Vidal wants to work for an arm triangle but Lopez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lopez is refusing to be controlled, as Vidal sits in half guard.
Vidal blocks the strikes from Lopez.
Lopez is looking to escape.
Vidal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lopez keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vidal is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Lopez can't keep his opponent in guard - Vidal advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lopez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Vidal passes to full mount!

Vidal working for a guillotine from mount but Lopez is in no mood to give up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carlos Lopez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vidal lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vidal lands a with a good body shot.
Vidal shoots in looking for a takedown. Lopez tries to sprawl out of it but Vidal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lopez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lopez rushes Vidal and presses him up against the cage.
Vidal letting Lopez take a breather here.
Vidal tries to pull guard but Lopez holds him up against the cage and eventually Vidal drops back down to his feet.
Vidal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lopez is breathing heavily.
Lopez has Vidal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vidal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Vidal throws a head kick that misses.
Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vidal counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vidal lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lopez at a distance.
Vidal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vidal shoots in but Lopez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Vidal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Vidal.
Lopez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vidal counters with a solid body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vidal.
Vidal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lopez but Lopez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
John Vidal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vidal lands with a slapping head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses
and Vidal counters with a low kick, right behind Lopez 's knee.
Vidal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.
Vidal throws a series of punches but Lopez moves out of range.
Vidal lands a head kick. Lopez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Vidal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vidal darts in trying to clinch
and Lopez counters with a nice kick to the body.
Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vidal counters with a head kick. That will keep Lopez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Lopez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vidal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lopez moves into the clinch.
Lopez goes for a takedown attempt but Vidal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vidal sizes up Lopez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Vidal plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Vidal bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Vidal throws a nice head kick!
Lopez stuffs the takedown attempt from Vidal. Vidal gets slowly back to his feet.
Vidal misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vidal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lopez circles away.
Lopez misses with a few strikes there.
Vidal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lopez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vidal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez slips a jab and a cross from Vidal.
Vidal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lopez.
Vidal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vidal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lopez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lopez misses with a kick to the body
letting Vidal counter with a right hand.
Vidal throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.
Vidal tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Vidal counter with a right hand.
Horrible takedown by Vidal or perhaps it was just good defense by Lopez which made him look bad.
Vidal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.
Lopez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vidal tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vidal counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Vidal clinches but Lopez breaks the clinch

and Lopez moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez pulls guard successfully.
Lopez wants to improve his position but instead Vidal has moved into half guard.
Lopez tries to kick Vidal off but Vidal keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vidal is just content to waste time from the top position. Lopez takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Vidal wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Vidal prevents Lopez from getting back to his feet.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Vidal from controlling successfully.
Lopez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vidal is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vidal falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vidal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Vidal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez misses with a combination
and Vidal counters with a head kick. That will keep Lopez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Vidal is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Vidal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vidal throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.
Vidal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Lopez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vidal lands a head kick!
Lopez avoids a kick to the body.
Vidal scores with a head kick.
Vidal moves in looking to clinch but Lopez pushes him off.
Lopez throws a series of punches but Vidal avoids them all with ease.
Lopez stuffs the takedown.
Lopez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vidal.
Lopez misses with a few strikes there.
Vidal pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four 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.
Vidal swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Vidal.
Lopez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vidal swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Lopez as Vidal shoots in.
Vidal shoots in for a takedown but Lopez shows good takedown defense.
Lopez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vidal is fending him off so far but Lopez persists. Nope, Vidal circles away and we're back to standing.
A cross from Vidal lands.
Vidal is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Vidal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vidal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lopez.
Lopez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but John Vidal did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vidal thows a body shot but no joy.
Lopez misses with a series of wild punches.

Vidal feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Vidal wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Vidal preventing the sweep.
Vidal stops Lopez from standing up.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Vidal from controlling successfully.
Lopez wants to stand up but Vidal is controlling him.
Vidal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez is looking for a triangle but Vidal pushes his legs off easily.

Lopez working for a triangle but Vidal defends it easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vidal connects with a solid leg kick.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Lopez misses.
Vidal falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lopez counters with a three punch combo that has Vidal backing up. Vidal nods at Lopez to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vidal lands a high kick!
Lopez throws a leg kick
and Vidal counters with a head kick. That will keep Lopez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Vidal's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Vidal duly obliges.
Vidal closes the distance and clinches up with Lopez, looking for a takedown. Vidal pushes Lopez against the cage but Lopez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lopez misses with a double jab
and Vidal counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Lopez moves into the clinch successfully.

Lopez pulls guard successfully.
Lopez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Lopez has his foot on Vidal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vidal works his way back into a safe position though.
Vidal trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vidal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lopez's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidal postures up.
Lopez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vidal is one step ahead there.
Vidal trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lopez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Vidal.
A punch combination from Vidal misses.
Vidal misses with a double jab
and Lopez counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lopez throws a good cross that connects.
Lopez takes a swing at Vidal's ribcage but misses.
Lopez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vidal shoots in for a takedown but Lopez shows good takedown defense.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vidal fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Vidal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Vidal misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Vidal had his way with Carlos Lopez in that round.
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!

Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vidal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vidal throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt - Vidal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vidal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lopez.
Vidal misses with a takedown attempt
and Lopez counters with a solid body kick.
Vidal closes the distance but Lopez moves to the side
and Lopez counters with a left and a right that stings Vidal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vidal misses with the combination.
Lopez throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Vidal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lopez thinking.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Vidal looks for a takedown but Lopez sprawls well.
Lopez's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lopez duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidal lands with a cross.
Lopez misses with a double jab
and Vidal counters with a head kick.
Vidal displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A punch combination from Vidal misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lopez.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vidal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vidal wants to clinch but Lopez slips to the side
and Lopez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vidal with a jab.
Vidal throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lopez waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Vidal.
Vidal moves forwards but Lopez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Vidal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vidal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez moves out of range as Vidal throws a body kick.
Lopez misses with a double jab
and Vidal counters with a head kick.
Lopez misses with a series of wild punches.
Vidal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Lopez is predictable there
and Vidal counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lopez counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Vidal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Vidal.
Vidal dodges the punch combination from Lopez.
Lopez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lopez connects with a crisp jab.
Vidal throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lopez counters with a nice uppercut.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Vidal to counter with a crisp jab.
John Vidal is winning the standup battle so far.
Vidal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lopez swivels and escapes.
Vidal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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 lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lopez lands with a hook. Vidal tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Vidal misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lopez misses with a combination
and Vidal counters with a head kick. That will keep Lopez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Carlos Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lopez throws a series of punches but Vidal avoids them all with ease.
Vidal works over Lopez's head and body with a nice combination.
Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vidal counters with a left and a right that stings Lopez.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice uppercut lands for Vidal. That snapped Lopez's head back.
Vidal takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
John Vidal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lopez misses with a combination
and Vidal finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Vidal.
I think Vidal 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 49:46
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 49:46
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Vidal!
John Vidal is the new bantamweight champion!