PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ribeiro
vs
Lopez

188 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thiago Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, AJ Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro moves out of range of the leg kick from Lopez.
Lopez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ribeiro pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ribeiro gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ribeiro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ribeiro as Lopez tries to tie him up.
Ribeiro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lopez's efforts to push away.
Ribeiro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Ribeiro stalls.
Lopez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro connects with an inside leg kick.
Lopez tries to clinch up but Ribeiro circles away and keeps his distance.

Lopez tries to keep at a distance but Ribeiro has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ribeiro tries to land knees in the clinch but Lopez avoids the damage to the body.
Ribeiro has Lopez pushed against the cage.
Lopez tries to stall but Ribeiro uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lopez tries for a takedown but Ribeiro manages to get underhooks.
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lopez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ribeiro is defending well.

Ribeiro manages to break the clinch.
Ribeiro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lopez ducks right into an uppercut from Ribeiro.

Ribeiro instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Ribeiro.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ribeiro avoids it really well and circles away.
Thiago Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Lopez.
A head kick by Ribeiro misses
and Lopez counters with a thumping low kick.
Lopez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ribeiro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ribeiro circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ribeiro clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ribeiro missing with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ribeiro.
Lopez is trying to break the clinch but Ribeiro has him pressed against the cage.
Lopez managing to block the knees to the body from Ribeiro.
Lopez avoiding damage as Ribeiro throws knees to the body.
Lopez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ribeiro just stands there and leans against the cage.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ribeiro dodges the punch combination from Lopez.

Ribeiro forces Lopez back against the cage and clinches.
Lopez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ribeiro avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ribeiro comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ribeiro missing with knees to the body.

Ribeiro manages to break the clinch.

Ribeiro has Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Ribeiro lands an elbow just above Lopez 's eye.
Ribeiro lands a knee to the body.
Lopez looks gassed!
A right handed body shot lands from Ribeiro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ribeiro moves into range and clinches up with Lopez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ribeiro is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ribeiro tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ribeiro stalling in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Ribeiro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ribeiro.
Lopez looking for a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ribeiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ribeiro closes the distance and pushes Lopez back into the cage.

Ribeiro breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Ribeiro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A chopping leg kick lands by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro throws a low kick but Lopez moves out of range easily.
Lopez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ribeiro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thiago Ribeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lopez gets tackled into the cage by Ribeiro. Ribeiro maintains the clinch.
Ribeiro leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ribeiro throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lopez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ribeiro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ribeiro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ribeiro throws a head kick that misses
and Lopez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Ribeiro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro lands a knee to the head.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ribeiro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ribeiro leaves Lopez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lopez.
Thiago Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Lopez.
Lopez is breathing heavily.
Ribeiro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lopez.

Ribeiro clinches.
Ribeiro stalling.

Ribeiro breaks from the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lopez.

Ribeiro gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ribeiro gets underhooks to prevent Lopez's takedown attempt.
Ribeiro lands an elbow that stopped Lopez in his tracks for a moment.
Ribeiro lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro tries to land knees in the clinch but Lopez avoids the damage to the body.

Ribeiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ribeiro throws a head kick that Lopez semi-blocks.
Ribeiro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Ribeiro takes the fight into the clinch.
Lopez managing to block the knees to the body from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez fails to pull guard.
Lopez avoiding damage as Ribeiro throws knees to the body.
Ribeiro looking to throw knees to the head but Lopez is blocking nicely.
Lopez tries to pull guard but Ribeiro forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lopez is trying to push Ribeiro away but Ribeiro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lopez wants to get back to striking at distance but Ribeiro won't allow it.

Ribeiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lopez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ribeiro has closed the distance and engaged Lopez in a clinch.
Ribeiro pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thiago Ribeiro has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants a takedown but no success here.

Ribeiro manages to break the clinch.
Lopez throws a hook but Ribeiro blocks it.
Ribeiro plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Thiago Ribeiro is winning the standup battle so far.
Ribeiro throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lopez's head.
Lopez feints a jab promting Ribeiro to slip. Lopez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ribeiro slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ribeiro as he jumps to the side.
Ribeiro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ribeiro clinches up with Lopez and pushes him back against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ribeiro obliges.
Ribeiro unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lopez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lopez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ribeiro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Ribeiro dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ribeiro darts in and clinches Lopez up against the cage.
Lopez tries to break free but Ribeiro pushes him back against the cage.

Lopez drags the fight down to the ground.
Lopez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ribeiro stands up from Lopez's guard - Ribeiro perhaps looking for a knockout.
Lopez shoots and misses

and Ribeiro counters by clinching up.
Ribeiro displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lopez up against the cage.
Ribeiro throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro blocks the elbow strike.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ribeiro connects with a knee to the head.
Ribeiro putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lopez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Ribeiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ribeiro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lopez, pushing him back against the cage.
Ribeiro with a knee to the head.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ribeiro pushes Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Ribeiro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?

Ribeiro breaks the clinch.
Lopez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ribeiro circles away.
Lopez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Ribeiro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ribeiro controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ribeiro - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ribeiro lands a nice knee to the body.
Ribeiro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez is looking for a takedown.
Thiago Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Lopez.
Ribeiro connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lopez's face.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch.

Ribeiro pushes Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Ribeiro tries to land knees in the clinch but Lopez avoids the damage to the body.

Ribeiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ribeiro wants to clinch.
Lopez tries for a takedown but Ribeiro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ribeiro gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ribeiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ribeiro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lopez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ribeiro defends it nicely.
Ribeiro misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro throws a front kick aimed at Lopez's knee but Lopez avoids it well.
Lopez avoids the head kick by Ribeiro.
Lopez shoots and misses
and Ribeiro counters with a nice body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Lopez blocks the leg kick.

Ribeiro closes the distance and clinches.
Lopez is trying to pull guard but Ribeiro has him pressed against the cage.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez tries to clinch up.
Ribeiro tries a head kick but it misses.
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 wants to clinch up but Ribeiro keeps it at a distance.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
AJ Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thiago Ribeiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ribeiro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Ribeiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ribeiro has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Ribeiro!
Our winner, Thiago Ribeiro, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.