PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apachai Hopachai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Lopes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apachai Hopachai has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hopachai
vs
Lopes

203 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
202 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Apachai Hopachai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pavel Lopes!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopachai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lopes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hopachai tries to clinch but Lopes is having none of it.
Lopes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lopes slaps away a takedown attempt from Hopachai, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lopes avoids the body shot from Hopachai.

Lopes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hopachai napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hopachai tries to escape but Lopes is in control.
Lopes in side control, throwing shots but Hopachai defends.
Lopes lands a decent elbow from side control.
Lopes throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Lopes tries for a kimura but Hopachai is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopachai tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Lopes easily slips into full mount!
Lopes fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopachai is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Lopes goes for an armbar but Hopachai turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hopachai.
Hopachai lands a couple of elbows.

Lopes scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Lopes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hopachai is trying to defend but Lopes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lopes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hopachai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lopes.
Hopachai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Lopes seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopes prevents Hopachai from standing back up.
Lopes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hopachai is trying to control but can't.
Hopachai is breathing heavily.
Lopes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Lopes wants to work for an arm triangle but Hopachai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lopes trying to mount his opponent but Hopachai defends it.
Lopes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lopes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopes is looking for a kimura here.
Lopes slips a nice elbow through Hopachai's hands, connecting with Hopachai's forehead.

Lopes is looking for a kimura but Hopachai is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lopes to get the leverage.
Lopes missing with the ground and pound from half 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. Lopes connects with a nice short shot to Hopachai's temple.

Lopes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hopachai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lopes.

Lopes looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopes works his foot free and advances to mount.

Lopes wants to finish this one by submission but Hopachai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lopes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Lopes dominated that round.
That's time! Hopachai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hopachai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lopes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hopachai tries to clinch up.
Hopachai tries to clinch there but Lopes circles away.
Hopachai throws a right and a left that Lopes avoids nicely.
Hopachai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lopes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lopes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopachai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lopes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lopes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hopachai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopes is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopachai has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopes throwing strikes but missing.
Lopes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Lopes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lopes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopachai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lopes.
Lopes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lopes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lopes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lopes landing with the ground and pound.
Lopes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopachai wants to stand and escape but Lopes is having none of it.
Lopes is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopachai has wrist control.
Lopes thows a big elbow that misses.
Lopes works over Hopachai with some ground and pound from guard.
Pavel Lopes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopes lands a couple of elbows.
Lopes stands up over Hopachai, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lopes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lopes thows a big elbow that misses.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Lopes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Lopes drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Lopes seems to have locked his on tight now - Hopachai screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Lopes, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Pavel Lopes!