PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bornas Lopette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chase Ries (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopette's entrance music is This is War. A fine choice. Bornas Lopette has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lopette
vs
Ries

190 cm
19
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bornas Lopette!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chase Ries!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ries lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lopette, right into the meat.
Ries throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lopette slips under a jab from Ries.
Ries swings widly with a right hand
and Lopette counters with a head kick. That will keep Ries thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Ries dives in and scores a takedown into Lopette's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ries throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lopette works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lopette is looking to stand up but Ries isn't so interested in that idea.
Ries slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopette is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ries throwing strikes from guard but Lopette blocks nicely.
Ries won't allow Lopette to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopette can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ries controls the pace.
Ries trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chase Ries.
Ries fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ries fails to land the takedown.
Ries misses with a hook.
Ries lands with a right hand.
Ries misses with a body shot.

Ries dives in and scores a takedown into Lopette's guard.
Ries controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ries stops Lopette from standing up.
Ries not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ries stopping the sweep attempt from Lopette.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ries stops Lopette from standing up.
Lopette wants to sweep here but Ries controlling him for the moment.
Ries not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lopette lands a really nice looking cross but Ries seems unphased.
Ries misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lopette.
Ries closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lopette circles away.
A big left from Ries misses.
The fighters circling - Ries throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ries shoots in but Lopette avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bornas Lopette has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chase Ries.
Ries dives in and grabs Lopette's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lopette pushes down on Ries's head and hops out.
Ries uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lopette.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopette with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lopette ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chase Ries seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Ries, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ries fails with a takedown attempt.
Lopette defending well as Ries loads up on a big left hand.
Ries misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Lopette counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lopette goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lopette throws a head punch that misses.
Lopette prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ries changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lopette fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ries lands with a shot to the body.
Lopette lands with a shot to the body.
Lopette connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ries looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lopette is fending him off so far but Ries persists. Nope, Lopette circles away and we're back to standing.
Bornas Lopette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lopette stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lopette wants it to stay on the feet.

Ries closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ries looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lopette is trying to get back to his feet.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ries looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lopette is avoiding damage well.
Lopette is trying to control Ries's posture but Ries avoids it.
Lopette is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Lopette wants to control but Ries postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ries fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ries is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lopette will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Lopette is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ries has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Ries dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ries misses with a looping right.
Ries shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lopette defends it nicely.
Ries takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Ries looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lopette pushes Ries off looking to stand but Ries dives back in and keeps control.
Lopette trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Ries trying to control the action but Lopette is working from the bottom.
Ries sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lopette defending well though.
Lopette knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ries on the ground.
Ries wants to control but Lopette is keeping him busy.
Ries slows the pace down in half guard.
Ries is keen to just control but Lopette is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chase Ries hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lopette throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ries misses with a series of wild punches.
Lopette with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ries thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ries lands a slapping body shot.
Ries fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lopette avoids it really well and circles away.
Lopette on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ries tries to bum rush Lopette with a series of wild strikes but Lopette uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopette connects with a solid leg kick.
Ries takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ries throws a body punch but Lopette moves out of range.
Lopette slips under a jab from Ries.
Ries misses the jab.
Ries dives in and grabs Lopette's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lopette pushes down on Ries's head and hops out.
Bornas Lopette has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chase Ries.
Lopette swinging wildly here.
Lopette throws a hook to the side of Ries's head but Ries sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopette lands a jab to the nose.

Lopette forces Ries back against the cage and clinches.
Ries changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lopette fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ries looks to land a right hand but Lopette moved out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Lopette. No joy for Ries on that attempt.
Ries closes the distance and clinches up with Lopette, looking for a takedown. Ries pushes Lopette against the cage but Lopette circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ries takes a swing at Lopette's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lopette. That's going to slow Ries down.
Ries is breathing heavily.
Lopette looks to land a right hand but Ries moved out of range.
Ries lands a jab-cross combination.
Ries tries to bum rush Lopette with a series of wild strikes but Lopette uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopette lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ries's sensitive parts.
Ries is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lopette.
Bornas Lopette is winning the standup battle so far.
Ries gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A jab from Ries misses.
Lopette uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ries.
Ries fails with the takedown.
Ries throws a right hand that misses
and Lopette counters with an outside leg kick.
Lopette connects with an inside leg kick.
Ries takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by Ries. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ries.
Ries fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ries walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ries shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopette as he jumps to the side.
Lopette scores with a nice strike.
Lopette throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lopette throws a sloppy head kick and Ries moves out of range easily.
Ries misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopette tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopette with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ries throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lopette scores with a one two! Ries had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lopette scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lopette jabs Ries right on the nose. Ries blinks but takes it well.
Lopette displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ries throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bornas Lopette dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lopette slips under a jab from Ries.
Ries's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ries fails with a takedown attempt.
Ries scores with a nice strike.
Lopette throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lopette throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ries shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lopette defends it nicely.
A slow jab from Ries misses its intended target.
Lopette avoids the body shot from Ries.
Lopette stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lopette wants it to stay on the feet.
Bornas Lopette has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chase Ries.
Lopette lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Lopette has closed the distance and engaged Ries in a clinch.
Ries takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A shot in the inside from Lopette.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopette pushes Ries back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ries blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ries has Lopette pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lopette manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lopette lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lopette lands a hook that snaps the head of Ries backwards.
Ries takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ries tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lopette lands a nice uppercut.
Lopette misses with a punch to the body.
Lopette trying to land knees to the body.
Lopette gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ries.
Lopette prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lopette working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lopette lands a left hand.

Ries is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Lopette scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ries is still on wobbly legs! Can Lopette finish him?
Lopette is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lopette lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lopette lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Lopette.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopette creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Ries's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Ries drops to his knees and Lopette pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bornas Lopette!
Bornas Lopette retains his middleweight title!
A very excited looking Bornas Lopette made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.