PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Smalls
vs
Lopez

170 cm
20
162 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Smalls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jorge Garcia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smalls tries to bum rush Lopez with a series of wild strikes but Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smalls napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smalls is trying to get back to half guard.
Lopez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Smalls will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Smalls is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smalls defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Smalls will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Smalls manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Smalls is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lopez defends it well.
Lopez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smalls is trying to control. Lopez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smalls is working for a submission of some sort.
Lopez wants to get back to full guard.
Lopez is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Lopez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smalls looking to sit in guard and control but Lopez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smalls looking to control.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls wants to get back to his feet but Lopez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smalls not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smalls keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johnny Lopez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Smalls throws a combination that misses

and Lopez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lopez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smalls wants to get back to his feet.
Lopez is trying to control the action in half guard but Smalls is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smalls is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls is refusing to be controlled, as Lopez sits in half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lopez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lopez wants to control but Smalls is keeping him busy.
Smalls is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Lopez jumps into side control!
Smalls is looking to regain half guard here but Lopez keeps moving and retains side control.
Smalls is being controlled here.
Smalls prevents Lopez from moving into mount.
Smalls takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smalls tries to buck Lopez off but Lopez is having none of it.
Smalls is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lopez off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smalls working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Smalls doesn't have the hooks in and Lopez manages to turn into his guard.
Smalls keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smalls wants to stand up but Lopez is controlling him.
Smalls can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lopez controls the pace.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalls has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lopez looking to score a takedown here. Smalls is defending well but Lopez drives through and ends up in Smalls's guard.
Smalls is trying to hold Lopez in close to prevent damage but Lopez has managed to pass into half guard.
Smalls tries to kick Lopez off but Lopez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Smalls is staying active underneath Lopez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smalls is trying to stand.
Lopez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smalls is doing well to control the position and prevent Lopez from advancing to side control.

Smalls has one foot on Lopez's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Lopez lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Smalls.
Lopez misses with a shot to the body
and Smalls counters with a left and a right that stings Lopez.
Lopez scores with a body shot.
Lopez dodges the punch combination from Smalls.
Smalls stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smalls wants it to stay on the feet.
Smalls misses with a wild combination.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lopez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smalls is fending him off so far but Lopez persists. Nope, Smalls circles away and we're back to standing.
Lopez works Smalls's body with a nice hook.
Smalls shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopez sprawls well. He's pushed Smalls's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lopez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Smalls as Lopez shoots in.
Reggie Smalls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Lopez.
Lopez thuds a left hand into Smalls's body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lopez. Smalls does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smalls!
Lopez shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Smalls decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smalls prevents Lopez from improving his position.
Smalls takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Smalls is working for an americana but Lopez has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Smalls was thinking about the submission.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez working a defensive guard here.
Lopez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smalls!
Lopez is landing with some decent strikes but Smalls is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Lopez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smalls is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lopez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smalls is looking to escape.
Smalls taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls working to try and regain half guard.
Lopez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lopez controlling from mount.
Smalls takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Lopez looking to ground and pound but Smalls is blocking nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smalls squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez lands a big elbow.
Smalls tries to hold on but Lopez postures up.
Smalls is squirming around, avoiding Lopez's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Smalls misses with a wild body shot.
Lopez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smalls.

Lopez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smalls's guard.
Lopez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lopez connects with a couple of short punches.
Smalls is trying to control the position but Lopez postures up.
Lopez trying to control but Smalls is working from the bottom.
Lopez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Smalls pushes Lopez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lopez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smalls rather than just go for the knockout.
A telegraphed right hand from Lopez misses the target.
Lopez throws a right and a left that Smalls avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lopez throws a right hand that misses
and Smalls counters with a one-two to the body.
Lopez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smalls fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lopez avoids it really well and circles away.
Lopez jabs Smalls right on the nose. Smalls blinks but takes it well.
Lopez doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalls circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez throws a right hand that Smalls ducks under and follows up with a left that Smalls also avoids with ease.
Lopez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls with a hook.
Smalls looks to land a combination but Lopez avoids it well.
Smalls tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lopez swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Smalls looking to score a takedown here. Lopez is defending well but Smalls drives through and ends up in Lopez's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smalls tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.
Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.
Smalls content to stall in guard here.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but Smalls is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lopez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Smalls drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lopez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smalls has Lopez in his guard.
Lopez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lopez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smalls looking for a sweep. Not yet Smalls, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Smalls is retaining full guard.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.
Smalls is wriggling around but Lopez manages to pass to half guard.
Smalls trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Reggie Smalls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Lopez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Smalls actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lopez 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Lopez!