PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Samuca Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grape Ape (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
Ape

199 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samuca Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Grape Ape!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ape as he jumps to the side.
Lopez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ape swivels and escapes.
Lopez throws a body punch but Ape moves out of range.
Ape throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Horrible takedown by Lopez or perhaps it was just good defense by Ape which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuca Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ape tries to clinch up but Lopez circles away and keeps his distance.
Ape shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopez sprawls well. He's pushed Ape's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ape fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lopez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ape on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lopez. Lopez obviously looking to wear him down.
Ape displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lopez.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lopez.
Ape fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ape fails to land the takedown.
Ape throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lopez.
Ape fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Lopez as Ape shoots in.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Ape shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Horrible takedown by Lopez or perhaps it was just good defense by Ape which made him look bad.
Lopez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ape swivels and escapes.
Lopez is breathing heavily.

Lopez forces Ape back against the cage and clinches.
Lopez tries to pull guard but Ape won't allow it.
Ape is looking for a takedown.
Lopez prevents Ape from breaking the clinch.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Ape tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ape.
Nice takedown defense from Ape. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ape tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Lopez moves into the clinch.
Ape tries to pull guard but Lopez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lopez is trying to drag Ape to the mat but Ape just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Come on Lopez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ape wants a takedown.
Lopez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ape to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ape tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ape throws a lazy head kick
and Lopez counters with a good, hard body kick but Ape shrugs it off.
Ape is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Ape with a nice cross.
Ape changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lopez tries to avoid it but Ape manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lopez to the ground. Lopez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ape fails with the takedown.
Ape defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lopez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lopez gets a clinch.
Ape has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.
Lopez tries to score a body lock takedown but Ape shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Samuca Lopez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ape as he jumps to the side.
Ape misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ape closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Samuca Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ape throws a leg kick but Lopez checks it.

Lopez closes the distance and clinches.
Lopez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ape avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lopez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ape is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuca Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ape is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ape is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lopez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Lopez decides to pull guard.
Lopez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ape wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but Ape is proving a slippery customer.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Ape from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Grape Ape.
Ape tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ape throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lopez.
Lopez connects with a solid leg kick.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
Ape lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ape looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lopez is fending him off so far but Ape persists. Nope, Lopez circles away and we're back to standing.
Ape throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.
Ape throws a head kick that misses.
Lopez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ape.
Lopez avoids a kick to the body.
Ape shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lopez defends it nicely.
Ape shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lopez as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ape moves forwards but Lopez connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Lopez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lopez pulls Ape into guard.
Lopez keeping full guard, as Ape tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ape is controlling him.
Lopez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Ape from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ape passes into half guard.
Ape is keen to just control but Lopez is a slippery customer.
Lopez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ape on the ground.
Lopez has his hands clasped together around Ape's back. He's all about the action.
Ape prevents Lopez from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ape wants to control but Lopez is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Grape Ape will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Lopez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Ape as Lopez shoots in.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ape as he avoids it easily.
Ape shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.

Lopez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lopez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuca Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez trying to land knees to the body.

Lopez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ape with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ape shoots in but Lopez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ape wants to clinch
and Lopez counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ape scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ape shoots in looking for a takedown but Lopez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ape's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ape fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ape goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Ape drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ape wanted to stand there but Lopez had control of the position.
Lopez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ape has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lopez is proving hard to escape from.
Ape working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ape wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Lopez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ape wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lopez stuffs the takedown attempt from Ape. Ape gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ape shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ape is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ape is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lopez is not content to let Ape control the position.
Ape prevents Lopez from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ape seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lopez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ape seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Grape Ape has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ape lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ape trying to mount his opponent but Lopez defends it.
Ape is trying to control. Lopez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lopez is looking to control Ape's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
Grape Ape comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ape has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grape Ape!