PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Baako The African (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Lopez will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

The African
vs
Lopez

160 cm
25
199 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

5th Round

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Baako The African!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jose Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts The African, as that shot connected.
The African swats away the attempt to clinch by Lopez.
Lopez misses with a series of wild punches.
The African thows a body shot but no joy.
Some wild striking there from Lopez.
A swing and a miss from The African.
The African 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 The African off to one side.
Nice uppercut lands for The African. That snapped Lopez's head back.
The African throws a series of punches but Lopez avoids them all with ease.
The African throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lopez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The African tries to move into range but Lopez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The African lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lopez circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab, jab by Lopez - just one landing.
Lopez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The African takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
Lopez looks to land a left hand but The African moved out of range nicely.
The African misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The African keeps the fight on the outside.
Lopez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lopez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lopez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. The African sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lopez throws a left and a right that both miss
and The African counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lopez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lopez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The African avoids a kick to the body.
The African checks a leg kick.
The African thows a body shot but no joy.
Jose Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez shoots and misses
and The African counters with a left to the body.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lopez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but The African circles away quickly and effectively.

Lopez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, The African has escaped the position, nice work there.
The African is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lopez looks gassed!
The African can't do much from the bottom here.
The African manages to get back to half guard.
The African is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lopez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lopez's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The African lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Lopez.
The African is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The African throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Lopez!
The African keeps control of the position as Lopez tries to break free.
Lopez has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Lopez wants to escape the position.
Can Lopez hold on?! The African is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
The African looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
The African looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez is trying to stand back up.
The African doesn't have the hooks in and Lopez manages to turn into his guard.
Lopez is fighting to break The African's control of his arms but The African is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! The African is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lopez, into his guard.
The African wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
The African with a flurry of punches that miss.

Lopez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The African wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The African is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jose Lopez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The African uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lopez.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt
and The African connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lopez scores with a nice right hand.
Jose Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt
and The African counters with a left to the body.
The African lands a jab-cross combination.
The African fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lopez manages to avoid it.
Lopez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and The African counters with a two punch combo.
Baako The African has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Lopez.
Lopez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Jab from The African.
Lopez shoots and misses

so The African counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The African trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Lopez has momentary wrist control but The African slips an elbow through the middle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as The African accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The African slips nicely into half guard.
The African lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lopez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to improve his position.
The African slips a nice elbow through Lopez's hands, connecting with Lopez's forehead.
The African missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The African thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.
The African slips a nice elbow through Lopez's hands, connecting with Lopez's forehead.
The African is keen to just control but Lopez is a slippery customer.
The African thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lopez is trying to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. The African connects with a nice short shot to Lopez's temple.

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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. The African connects with a nice short shot to Lopez's temple.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The African is nestled in close to Lopez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The African wants to take a breather but Lopez is having none of it.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but The African pulls his head out easily.
The African is trying to control. Lopez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with The African in particular looking to stall.
The African is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lopez is pressing down on The African's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Lopez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but The African can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The African trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The African throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The African trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.

The African avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The African throws a big right hand that misses.

Lopez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. The African gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The African loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The African avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but The African defends easily.
The African lands a couple of elbows.
The African missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The African looking to pass the guard.
The African wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The African circles away from the clinch attempt
and The African counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African dominated that second round.
That's time! The African's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lopez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before The African has time to react.
Lopez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lopez shoots and misses
and The African counters with a left to the body.
The African scores with a body shot.
The African misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lopez.
Lopez has his takedown stuffed
and The African counters with a one-two to the body.
The African throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lopez misses with a series of wild punches.
Lopez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but The African manages to avoid it.
The African misses with a series of wild punches.
Lopez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The African ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The African just misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The African circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The African misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The African jabs at Lopez's body.
The African scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Lopez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt

and The African counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lopez's guard now.
Baako The African has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Lopez.

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

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

Lopez has an active guard here but The African has managed to pass into half guard.

The African is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The African is keen to just control but Lopez is a slippery customer.
Lopez is looking for a sweep. The African is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Lopez actively working from the bottom here.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but The African pulls his head out easily.
The African scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lopez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The African smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lopez misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The African misses with a body punch

and Lopez counters with a nice double leg into side control. The African won't be happy with that.

Lopez swings around for an armbar but The African sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lopez's guard.
The African working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopez's head.
The African scoring with punches to the head and body.
The African trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The African tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.
The African connects with a couple of short punches.

Lopez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. The African doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. The African manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The African landing with the ground and pound.
The African scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The African showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Lopez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but The African can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The African scoring with punches to the head and body.
Baako The African overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The African preventing the sweep.
The African has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The African looking to pass the guard.
The African wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lopez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The African showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice body punch from The African.
The African fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lopez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The African throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lopez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Lopez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! The African is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! The African has escaped and now he's on top!
The African slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The African working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopez's head.
Lopez is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The African postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The African working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The African trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The African throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lopez has his feet on The African's thighs here. He's pushed The African off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! The African screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jose Lopez!
Jose Lopez is the new middleweight champion!