PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marco Pepinhos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pepinhos comes into the arena with Macaco - Hacen Falta Dos blaring out of the sound system. Marco Pepinhos has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pepinhos
vs
Lopez

183 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Pepinhos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jay Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Lopez with that takedown attempt.

Lopez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lopez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lopez prevents Pepinhos from improving his position.
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pepinhos defending well though.
Lopez prevents Pepinhos from improving his position.
Lopez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lopez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pepinhos moves into full guard.
Pepinhos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lopez is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lopez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pepinhos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lopez throwing strikes from guard but Pepinhos blocks nicely.
Lopez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pepinhos's head.
Pepinhos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Pepinhos had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lopez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Pepinhos Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lopez's back instead.
Pepinhos lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepinhos thows a strike but Lopez uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Lopez as he ends up in Pepinhos 's guard!
Lopez slips nicely into half guard.
Pepinhos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pepinhos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pepinhos defending well though.
Pepinhos wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pepinhos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lopez.
Lopez prevents Pepinhos from improving his position.
Lopez moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez landing a few strikes.
Lopez moves into full mount!
Lopez scoring with strikes but Pepinhos is staying in there.
Lopez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Pepinhos?
Lopez unloading with bombs!
Lopez scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pepinhos is breathing heavily.
Pepinhos can't escape the position.

Lopez is working for a guillotine from mount but Pepinhos frees his head quite easily.
Lopez dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepinhos is in a horrible position here. Lopez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Lopez trying to control but Pepinhos is having none of it.
Lopez landing strikes, looking to finish!
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 with shots to the head and body - Pepinhos looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lopez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pepinhos tries to hold on but Lopez postures up.
Lopez with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Lopez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jay Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ground and pound from Lopez.
Pepinhos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lopez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepinhos is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lopez is just content to waste time from the top position. Pepinhos takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Lopez throwing strikes but missing.
Lopez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lopez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pepinhos keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pepinhos stuffs the takedown.
Marco Pepinhos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Lopez.
Lopez shoots in for a double leg but Pepinhos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jay Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pepinhos as he avoids it easily.
Pepinhos stuffs the takedown attempt from Lopez. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
Pepinhos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt
and Pepinhos counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lopez's knee momentarily.
Lopez shoots and misses
and Pepinhos counters with a nice body kick.

Pepinhos scores a takedown into full mount!
Lopez throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to escape the mount.

Lopez defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pepinhos.
Lopez is bucking up trying to escape but Pepinhos cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Lopez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lopez is refusing to be controlled, as Pepinhos sits in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lopez can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lopez actively working from the bottom here.
Pepinhos prevents Lopez from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is defending against the submission attempts here by Pepinhos.
Lopez is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Pepinhos trying to control the action but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Lopez trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Pepinhos manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Pepinhos dominated that second 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.

Lopez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pepinhos has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lopez is looking to take a break and control but Pepinhos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lopez is trying to ground and pound but Pepinhos uses the momentary lack of control by Lopez to regain half guard.
Pepinhos throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lopez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pepinhos punching from the bottom.
Lopez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lopez looks to land a strike but Pepinhos avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lopez throws and elbow that misses. Pepinhos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lopez's guard. Nice move by Pepinhos!
Lopez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pepinhos is one step ahead there.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez looking to control.

Lopez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lopez looking for a sweep. Not yet Lopez, not yet.

Pepinhos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lopez looking to control but Pepinhos passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez gets back to full guard.
Lopez is striking off his back. Pepinhos thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Pepinhos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pepinhos blocks the strikes from Lopez.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Pepinhos is controlling well.
Pepinhos passes the guard and advances to mount!

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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pepinhos cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lopez working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pepinhos blocks Lopez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pepinhos is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lopez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Pepinhos tries to control but Lopez wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Lopez really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lopez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pepinhos manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lopez's best efforts.
Pepinhos trying to control here.
Lopez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lopez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Lopez thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Pepinhos to regain full guard.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lopez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pepinhos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lopez.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopez throws and elbow that misses. Pepinhos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lopez's guard. Nice move by Pepinhos!
Lopez lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Lopez looking for a sweep. Not yet Lopez, not yet.
Pepinhos wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lopez swinging wilding here.

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.

Lopez gets the takedown into side control.
Lopez scoring with punches and elbows.
The strikes coming from Lopez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Pepinhos can't do much from the bottom here.
Lopez working the ground and pound but Pepinhos is defending the strikes.
Lopez tries to move to mount but Pepinhos blocks the move with his legs.
Pepinhos takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez cracks Pepinhos with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Pepinhos prevents Lopez from moving into mount.
Lopez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Pepinhos sneaks back into half guard.
Lopez is looking to pass Pepinhos's guard but actually Pepinhos recovers to full guard.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopez throws a strike but Pepinhos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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.
Pepinhos trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez tries to strike from the bottom.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pepinhos is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lopez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pepinhos's back instead.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Lopez.
Pepinhos is trying to escape under a series of strikes and manages to escape from Lopez 's hooks.
Lopez blocks Pepinhos's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Lopez dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pepinhos fails with the takedown

and Lopez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pepinhos's guard now.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pepinhos's head.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopez is in close to Pepinhos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pepinhos is trying to control the position but Lopez postures up.
Lopez trying to control but Pepinhos is working from the bottom.

Lopez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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.
Lopez distracts Pepinhos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pepinhos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopez throws a strike but Pepinhos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lopez is striking but Pepinhos is not phased and passes to half guard.
Lopez tries to roll over but Pepinhos keeps him under control.

That's two 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.
Pepinhos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lopez keeps working.
Lopez lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Pepinhos is controlling well.
Lopez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pepinhos is working away from the top position though.
Pepinhos works his way into full mount!
Lopez wants to hold on but Pepinhos pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lopez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Pepinhos has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Lopez's face.
Lopez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pepinhos tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pepinhos cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lopez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lopez regains half guard.

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 makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lopez.
Lopez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Lopez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marco Pepinhos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.
Pepinhos stands and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lopez chipping away with strikes from the bottom.
Lopez is trying to control Pepinhos's posture but Pepinhos avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lopez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Jay Lopez!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Jay Lopez!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Jay Lopez!

Jay Lopez wins by unanimous decision!
Jay Lopez is the new middleweight champion!