PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Thomason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lopez
vs
Thomason

168 cm
22
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luke Thomason!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomason looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lopez shoots for a takedown but Thomason saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lopez fails to land the takedown.
Lopez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lopez tries to clinch but Thomason moves out of range.
Lopez shoots for a double leg takedown but Thomason sprawls well. He's pushed Lopez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Lopez with that takedown attempt.
Thomason misses with a low kick.
Thomason fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lopez checks it well.
Lopez avoids the head kick by Thomason.
Thomason throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.
Thomason throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thomason tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lopez is able to avoid easily.
Thomason stalks Lopez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lopez's face. Lopez staggers backwards, shaken.
Thomason throws a combination that misses
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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!
Thomason throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luke Thomason is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt - Thomason sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luke Thomason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomason pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomason fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lopez.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomason manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lopez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lopez is breathing heavily.
Thomason misses with a looping right.

Lopez drives through and clinches with Thomason against the cage.
Lopez goes for a takedown attempt but Thomason pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thomason misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez avoids the head kick by Thomason.
Nice sprawl there from Thomason as Lopez shoots in.
A head kick misses from Thomason.
Thomason tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomason fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lopez.
Lopez shoots for a double leg takedown but Thomason sprawls well. He's pushed Lopez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thomason looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Lopez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomason misses with a body kick.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Thomason.
Thomason throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thomason throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomason paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thomason avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomason tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomason just misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Thomason.
Thomason throws a right hand that Lopez ducks under and follows up with a left that Lopez also avoids with ease.
Thomason just misses with a punch to the body.
A low kick from Thomason is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lopez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomason moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomason misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lopez.
A combination from Thomason does no damage.
Thomason misses with an uppercut. Lopez saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Thomason. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lopez.
Lopez moves in looking to clinch but Thomason pushes him off.
Thomason misses with a straight left.
Lopez shoots in but Thomason avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A swing and a miss from Thomason.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomason. Lopez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lopez misses with a series of wild punches.
Thomason misses with an attempted mid kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomason does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thomason is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lopez rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomason throws a head kick that misses.
Thomason dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luke Thomason will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lopez moves out of range of the body kick from Thomason.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Thomason in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Lopez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomason keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomason as he avoids it easily.
Thomason misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomason misses with a wild body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomason misses the target.
Lopez throws a body punch but Thomason moves out of range.
Lopez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomason tries to avoid it but Lopez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomason to the ground. Thomason escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomason tries to bum rush Lopez with a series of wild strikes but Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Thomason.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thomason counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thomason.
Thomason throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomason.
Lopez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomason paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lopez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomason avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomason looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lopez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomason.
Thomason throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick misses from Thomason.
Thomason throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lopez counters with a good, hard body kick but Thomason shrugs it off.
Thomason keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomason tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomason looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Thomason looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thomason throws a right and a left that Lopez avoids nicely.
Lopez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thomason lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lopez circles away quickly and effectively.
Thomason looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomason throws a series of punches but Lopez moves out of range.
Thomason misses with a head kick.
Lopez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomason throws a head kick that misses.
Lopez throws a head kick but Thomason moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomason misses with a double jab.
Lopez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomason throws out the jab.
Lopez shoots in and drives through. Thomason sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Thomason. Those never looked like landing.
Good work by Lopez as he checks the leg kick.
Thomason tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Thomason.
Lopez throws a front kick aimed at Thomason's knee but Thomason avoids it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lopez.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thomason sprawls well. Thomason wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomason pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lopez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thomason looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Lopez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomason.
Lopez looks to land a left hand but Thomason moved out of range nicely.
Lopez slips a jab and a cross from Thomason.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomason waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lopez.
Thomason on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Thomason showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thomason tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopez throws a chopping leg kick but Thomason manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lopez shoots in but Thomason avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Thomason gets caught napping as Lopez dives in and scores a takedown. Thomason manages to retain guard.
Thomason has Lopez pulled in close to control his posture.

Thomason uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thomason.
Thomason throws a jab but it's blocked by Lopez.
Thomason goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lopez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thomason checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thomason misses with a body shot.
Thomason fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lopez manages to avoid it.
Thomason looks for the body kick but Lopez saw that one coming.
Luke Thomason seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lopez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thomason's calf.
Thomason misses with an uppercut
and Lopez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thomason misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomason keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomason misses with a body shot.
Thomason fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lopez manages to avoid it.
Thomason misses with a few strikes there.
Lopez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomason's waist but Thomason gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lopez off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomason rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lopez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lopez moves away from the strike by Thomason.
Lopez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomason.
Rafael Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thomason throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Thomason.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick and Thomason moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomason. Lopez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomason misses with the combination.
Thomason throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.

Lopez closes the distance and pushes Thomason back into the cage.
Lopez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomason pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thomason tries to break the clinch but Lopez is controlling the position.
Lopez is stalling here.
Thomason is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Thomason wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomason is trying to break free.
Lopez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomason pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thomason wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lopez has him pressed against the cage.
Thomason working hard to break the clinch.
Lopez struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomason controls his hands.
Thomason tries to break free but Lopez pushes him back against the cage.
Thomason wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lopez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thomason is keeping busy.
Lopez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomason pulls him back up using the underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Thomason comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thomason winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Thomason!