PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Soriano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopez comes into the arena with Apeman blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Soriano's choice of entrance music: Bebot by The Black Eyed Peas. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lopez
vs
Soriano

175 cm
26
146 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

165 cm
32
143 lbs
24 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $75
Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alberto Lopez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Pablo Soriano!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soriano throws a body punch but Lopez moves out of range.
Soriano gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Soriano throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lopez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Soriano misses with a leg kick.
Lopez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Soriano is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Alberto Lopez has been cut.
Soriano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lopez.
Soriano with a nice cross.
Soriano lands a nice looking body kick.
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!
Soriano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lopez throws a lazy body kick
and Soriano counters with a thumping low kick.
Lopez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Soriano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
Soriano connects with a solid leg kick.

Soriano forces Lopez back against the cage and clinches.
Soriano tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Soriano presses Lopez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lopez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Soriano gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Soriano misses with a punch on the inside.
Soriano pushes Lopez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lopez works on Soriano's body with a couple of short punches.
Soriano pressing his opponent against the cage.
Soriano misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lopez blocks a body shot from Soriano.
Soriano stops a takedown attempt from Lopez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soriano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Soriano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lopez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soriano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soriano will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lopez up against the cage.
Soriano lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Soriano has a couple of punches blocked by Lopez.
Soriano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lopez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Lopez fails to land.
Soriano prevents a body shot from Lopez.
Soriano tries to land knees in the clinch but Lopez avoids the damage to the body.
Soriano misses with a hook to the ribs.
Soriano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Soriano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lopez avoids it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lopez prevents a body shot from Soriano.
A head punch on the inside from Soriano fails to land.
Soriano tries a knee to the head but Lopez blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Soriano.
Soriano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soriano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lopez is defending well for now.
Soriano stalls.
A short left from Lopez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soriano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Soriano blocking some punches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Soriano obliges.
Lopez tries to pull guard but Soriano won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alberto Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Lopez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Soriano tries to stall but Lopez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soriano blocks a body shot from Lopez.
Lopez lands with a light punch inside.
Lopez is trying to maintain a safe position but Soriano gets an underhook and turns Lopez into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lopez misses with some punches.
Soriano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Soriano struggles to land a body shot inside as Lopez controls his hands.
Soriano lands a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Soriano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Lopez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Soriano slips a jab from Lopez.
Soriano misses with a hook to the body
and Lopez counters with a body kick.
Soriano fakes the leg kick and cracks Lopez in the body.
A low kick from Soriano is predictable there
enabling Lopez to counter with a crisp jab.
Lopez misses with a body shot.
Lopez throws a leg kick
and Soriano counters with a body kick.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soriano.
Soriano walks into a stiff left hand from Lopez.
Lopez misses with a body shot.
Soriano throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Lopez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Soriano is looking to slow Lopez down with leg kicks.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soriano.
Soriano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lopez connects with an inside leg kick.
Lopez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Soriano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lopez. That did some damage!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Soriano.
Soriano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Soriano lands a nice looking body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soriano throws a leg kick
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lopez, as that shot connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Soriano, right into the meat.
Soriano misses with an uppercut. Lopez saw that one coming.
Soriano throws a right hand that misses
and Lopez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick and Soriano moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Soriano.
Soriano lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soriano.
Lopez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soriano throws a leg kick but Lopez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Soriano misses with a series of wild punches.
Soriano throws a quick inside leg kick.
Soriano throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Soriano misses the jab.
Lopez will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Soriano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lopez misses the shot to the body.
Lopez moves out of range of the leg kick from Soriano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Soriano misses with a wild combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Soriano.
Soriano throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
Soriano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lopez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Soriano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Soriano.
Soriano moves forwards but Lopez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soriano throws a hook to the side of Lopez's head but Lopez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Lopez misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Soriano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alberto Lopez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Soriano keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soriano.
Soriano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lopez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Soriano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lopez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Soriano fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lopez checks it well.
Soriano looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Soriano throws a front kick aimed at Lopez's knee but Lopez avoids it well.
Soriano throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lopez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Soriano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses the shot to the body.
Soriano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lopez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soriano.
Lopez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Soriano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Lopez is out of range and Soriano settles back down.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lopez checks a leg kick.
Nice shot by Lopez.
Soriano throws a lazy head kick
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Soriano throws the left hand but Lopez avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to score with low kicks.
Soriano scores with a decent looking hook.
Lopez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Soriano looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Lopez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soriano manages to avoid it.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soriano.
Soriano takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
Soriano takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lopez wants to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soriano swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soriano throws a leg kick that misses.
Lopez looks to score with a jab to the body but Soriano is just out of range.
Soriano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soriano lands a jab to Lopez's midsection.
Soriano throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lopez counters with a body kick that stops Soriano in his tracks momentarily.
Lopez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soriano throws a right hand that misses
and Lopez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Soriano scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soriano throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lopez counters with a low kick, right behind Soriano 's knee.
Lopez throws a jab when Soriano was well out of range.
Lopez throws a poor cross that misses
and Soriano counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Soriano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lopez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Soriano.
Soriano throws a big shot that misses.
Nice cross by Lopez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soriano tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lopez is able to avoid easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soriano on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Soriano really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Lopez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soriano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lopez moves away.
Nice shot lands for Soriano.
Soriano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Soriano feints and then cracks Lopez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lopez down.
Pablo Soriano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez throws a low kick but Soriano moves out of range easily.
Soriano misses with a low kick as Lopez jumps back.
Lopez thuds a left hand into Soriano's body.
A low kick from Soriano misses
and Lopez counters with a nice body kick.
Lopez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soriano throws out the jab.
Lopez thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soriano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lopez blocks a jab.
Lopez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lopez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Soriano counters with a leg kick.
Soriano blocks a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Soriano.
Crunch! Soriano slams his shin into Lopez's torso.
Soriano throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lopez gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Soriano. Lopez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Soriano misses with a hook. Lopez ducked under it nicely.
Soriano scores with a decent looking hook.
Soriano throws a leg kick but Lopez moved away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lopez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soriano moves away.
Soriano misses with a wild body shot.
Soriano misses with a straight left.
Lopez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soriano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soriano misses with a leg kick
and Lopez counters with a stiff right hand.
Soriano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lopez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lopez scores with a body shot.
Soriano bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Soriano feints and then cracks Lopez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lopez down.
Lopez misses with a wild body shot.
A leg kick checked by Lopez.
Soriano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lopez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lopez looks to score with a jab to the body but Soriano is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Lopez.
Soriano lands with a hook. Lopez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Lopez.
Lopez throws the kick towards the body but Soriano avoids it.
Soriano connects with a looping right hand.
That kick from Soriano tenderised Lopez's leg. Lopez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lopez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lopez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soriano was well out of range. Poor timing from Lopez.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Soriano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Soriano dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Lopez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Soriano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lopez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Soriano throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Lopez counters with a leg kick.
Soriano tries to land a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lopez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lopez moves out of range of the leg kick from Soriano.
Soriano scores with a spinning back kick!
Soriano throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lopez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Soriano connects with a solid leg kick.
A lazy left from Soriano finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Soriano moves out of range of the body kick from Lopez.
Lopez throws a series of punches but Soriano avoids them all with ease.
Soriano misses the shot to the body.
Soriano tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lopez lands a right hook to the body.
Soriano on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
That kick from Soriano tenderised Lopez's leg. Lopez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Alberto Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez moves forwards but Soriano connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Lopez lands a jab to Soriano's midsection.
Soriano misses the shot to the body.
Soriano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pablo Soriano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soriano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lopez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Soriano misses with a hook to the body
and Lopez counters with a stiff right hand.
Lopez connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez connects with a leg kick. Soriano looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Soriano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a wild combination.
Lopez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soriano.
Lopez throws a hook to the side of Soriano's head but Soriano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lopez misses with a body kick.
Lopez blocks a low kick nicely.
Soriano scores with a jab to the body.
Lopez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lopez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lopez misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a straight left.
Soriano lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Soriano throws a leg kick
and Lopez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Soriano scores with a jab to the jaw.
Soriano is looking to slow Lopez down with leg kicks.
Soriano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Soriano throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soriano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soriano scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pablo Soriano.
Well Soriano 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 45:50
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 45:50
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Soriano! Pablo Soriano retains his bantamweight title!
Pablo Soriano very nearly forgot to thank Supersize Me amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.