PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joey Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jorge Lopez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stanton
vs
Lopez

170 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
170 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joey Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jorge Lopez!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez throws a right hand that Stanton ducks under and follows up with a left that Stanton also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez is looking to clinch.
Stanton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lopez tries to avoid it but Stanton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lopez to the ground. Lopez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lopez misses with a low kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stanton.
Lopez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Stanton has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Lopez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lopez being controlled for a moment.

Stanton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stanton is breathing heavily.
Lopez is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton misses with the ground and pound.
Lopez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stanton's best efforts.
Lopez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lopez is pressing down on Stanton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stanton won't allow Lopez to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stanton trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Lopez is trying to keep Stanton in close.

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.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lopez pushes Stanton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lopez tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stanton swats away the attempt to clinch by Lopez.
Stanton throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez moves in looking to clinch but Stanton pushes him off.
Lopez tries to clinch there but Stanton circles away.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses
enabling Stanton to counter with a crisp jab.
Lopez throws a series of punches but Stanton avoids them all with ease.
Stanton leaves Lopez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lopez tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Lopez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lopez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Stanton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lopez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stanton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stanton defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.
Lopez wants to get back to his feet but Stanton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lopez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stanton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Stanton wants to free his trapped foot but Lopez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stanton stops Lopez from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Stanton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lopez tries to sprawl but Stanton drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Stanton with the ground and pound but Lopez uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Stanton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lopez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stanton has managed to get both his arms back between Lopez's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanton preventing the sweep.

Stanton drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lopez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lopez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lopez!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stanton is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to take a break and control but Stanton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lopez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Stanton wants to control but Lopez postures up.
Lopez working the ground and pound.
Lopez wants to control but Stanton is keeping him busy.
Lopez staying calm.

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.

Lopez decides to stand back up.
A head kick from Lopez lands but Stanton takes it in his stride.
Stanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
Lopez tries to clinch up but Stanton circles away and keeps his distance.
Lopez moves out of range of the body kick from Stanton.
Jorge Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Lopez as Stanton shoots in.
Lopez throws a right and a left that both miss.

Lopez has Stanton up against the cage in a clinch.
Lopez misses with an elbow strike.
Stanton avoiding damage as Lopez throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to stall.
Lopez is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Lopez looking to throw knees to the head but Stanton is blocking nicely.

Stanton gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Lopez pushes Stanton off and gets back to his feet.
Stanton shoots in but Lopez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lopez doesn't manage to clinch there - Stanton circles away.
Lopez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stanton fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Stanton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanton swats away the attempt to clinch by Lopez.
Lopez is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a two punch combination.

Stanton gets a clinch.
A knee to the head by Lopez.
Stanton has Lopez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lopez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stanton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lopez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stanton looking to stall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Lopez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Stanton is pulling down on Lopez's head. It's preventing any offense from Lopez, at least for the moment.
Stanton wants to get back to his feet but Lopez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lopez works over Stanton with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lopez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stanton's head.
Lopez motions for Stanton to come forward. Lopez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez closes the distance but Stanton moves to the side
and Stanton counters with a nice body kick.

Stanton instigates a clinch.
Stanton avoiding damage as Lopez throws knees to the body.

Lopez drags the fight down to the ground.
Lopez pulls Stanton in close to his closed guard and prevents Stanton from doing any damage or advancing position.

Lopez is working an open guard so Stanton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Stanton stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stanton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stanton is looking to stall here but Lopez recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Stanton postures up.
Stanton thows a big elbow that misses.
Lopez keeping full guard, as Stanton tries to pass.
Stanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Stanton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lopez has his hands on Stanton's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joey Stanton just wasn't active enough.
Stanton fails with a takedown attempt.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown but Stanton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lopez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lopez tries to clinch but Stanton moves away

and Stanton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lopez's guard.
Stanton throws a strike but Lopez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stanton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lopez controlling from the top position.

Lopez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stanton, up you get!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stanton checks a leg kick.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt

and Stanton counters with a shoot takedown. Lopez fights it but they end up in guard.
Joey Stanton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Lopez.
Stanton wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Stanton with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton looking to pass the guard.
Stanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanton throws a big right hand that misses.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Stanton isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stanton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Stanton isn't so interested in that idea.
Stanton looking to sit in guard and control but Lopez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Stanton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stanton 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Stanton!