PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nayo Lopez (ranked 2864 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Varian (ranked 4734 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lopez
vs
Varian

200 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nayo Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Varian!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varian fails with the takedown.
Varian throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Varian has Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Varian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Varian on the inside.
Varian drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lopez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varian looks for a takedown but Lopez sprawls well.
Nayo Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Varian.
Varian tests Lopez's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Varian, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lopez moves in looking to clinch but Varian pushes him off.
Lopez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Varian defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lopez.
Lopez sets himself, and Varian steps forward looking for the clinch! Lopez avoids it this time.
Varian shoots in for a double leg but Lopez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Varian moves into the clinch.

Varian gets control of Lopez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Varian will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Varian is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Varian is continuing to stall.
Let's hope that Varian has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Varian is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wanted to stand there but Varian had control of the position.
Varian is pulling down on Lopez's head. It's preventing any offense from Lopez, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Varian is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lopez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Varian breaks the clinch.
Varian tries a low kick but Lopez avoids it.
Lopez wants to clinch up but Varian keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Varian has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Lopez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Lopez tries to roll but Varian sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Lopez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
What can Lopez do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Varian dominated that 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.

Lopez wants to clinch up but Varian keeps it at a distance.
Varian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez wants to clinch up but Varian keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Varian.

Varian closes the distance and clinches.
Varian has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lopez after a bit of a struggle.
Varian gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lopez.

Varian successfully pulls guard.
Kevin Varian has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Varian pushes Lopez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lopez keeps Varian at a distance using the push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown but Varian manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lopez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nayo Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lopez stuffs the takedown attempt from Varian. Varian gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopez feinted with a counter takedown.

Varian closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lopez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nayo Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Varian digs a right hand underneath Lopez's ribcage. Lopez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Varian has Lopez pushed against the cage.
Lopez prevents the takedown attempt.
Lopez trying to stall but Varian improves his position.
Lopez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varian keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lopez's efforts to push away.

Varian manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Varian seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Varian wants to sweep but no luck.
Varian is breathing heavily.
Varian seems keen to control Lopez's posture.
Varian throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Varian is pulling down on Lopez's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varian keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Lopez being controlled here momentarily.
Varian keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Varian keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lopez doesn't manage to clinch there - Varian circles away.

That's four 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.
Varian shoots in and drives through. Lopez sprawls well.
Varian fails to land with a series of punches.
Lopez is looking to counter punch.
Varian 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 Varian off to one side.
Lopez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Varian.
Varian stuffs the takedown attempt from Lopez. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopez is looking to land body kicks.
Varian takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Varian misses with a takedown attempt - Lopez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Lopez misses the target.
Varian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lopez fails with the takedown

and Varian moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Varian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Varian checks the leg kick nicely there.
Varian darts in looking for a takedown but Lopez gets double underhooks and turns Varian into the cage.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Varian moves into the clinch.
Varian leaning his opponent against the cage.

Varian jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varian pulls Lopez in close to his closed guard and prevents Lopez from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varian's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Varian won't let him.
Lopez looking to sit in guard and control but Varian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lopez is trying to hold Varian in close to prevent damage but Varian has managed to pass into half guard.

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.
Varian seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Varian is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lopez defends it well.
Lopez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Varian on the ground.
Varian moves into full mount! Lopez won't be happy about that!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varian sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Varian throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Varian throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Varian punching from mount but Lopez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Lopez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Varian throws some wild stikes that Lopez manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Varian takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Varian misses with a head shot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varian looking to finish with strikes here!

Varian is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lopez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Varian tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Varian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Varian 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 Chris Dean scores the fight for Kevin Varian!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Kevin Varian!
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Kevin Varian!

Kevin Varian wins by unanimous decision!