PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julio Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mali Pali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Lopez
vs
Pali

175 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

HARDCORE Fighting Brand

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio 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, Mali Pali!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pali looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lopez is fending him off so far but Pali persists. Nope, Lopez circles away and we're back to standing.
Pali shoots in but Lopez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Pali changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lopez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pali trying to control the action but Lopez is working from the bottom.

Pali thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lopez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Pali seems to be working for a kimura but Lopez defends the submission attempt.
Pali tries to pass to full mount but Lopez defends it.
Pali looks gassed!

Pali is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lopez is just riding it out for now. Pali eventually gives up the hold.
Lopez trying to control but Pali postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pali looking to sit in guard and control but Lopez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pali looking for a guillotine here but Lopez defends easily.

Pali throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lopez uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Pali's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pali is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Pali is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pali is looking for a sweep.
Pali looks to move to half guard but instead Lopez has passed into mount! Damn!
Pali regains half guard.
Pali wants to get back to full guard.

Pali is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pali looking for submissions off his back.
Lopez is pressing down on Pali's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pali is holding on for now.
Lopez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to control but Pali is keeping him busy.

Lopez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Lopez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pali.
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Pali scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Pali is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lopez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lopez manages to get back to half guard.

Pali is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Pali is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Pali is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lopez is trying to stand back up but Pali is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to maintain the position but Pali is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pali wants to work for an arm triangle but Lopez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Pali is looking for a kimura but Lopez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pali to get the leverage.
Lopez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Pali passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Lopez!
Pali dominating with strikes here.
Lopez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Pali looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pali looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pali wants to control the pace but Lopez is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pali closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lopez circles away.
Lopez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pali counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lopez won't be happy with that.

Pali working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Pali tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lopez can't do much from the bottom here.

Pali tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopez is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pali looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pali tries to advance to mount but Lopez denies him.
Lopez is looking to reverse the position.

Pali tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Lopez sneaks out the side door and pushes Pali away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Pali shoots in and bounces Lopez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pali preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pali!
Lopez manages to capitalize on a mistake by Pali to take his back!
Pali rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Pali is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.
Lopez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Pali with the active half guard here but Lopez passes nicely into side control.
Pali is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lopez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lopez is keen to just control but Pali is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pali wants to improve his position but Lopez is controlling well.
Pali is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lopez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lopez's back!

Pali is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lopez has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Lopez is really stuck here.

Pali is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lopez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lopez for a finish.
I really don't envy Lopez right now.

Pali tightening his grip on Lopez, looking for the choke.
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!
Lopez prevents Pali from getting a body triangle.
Mali Pali has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez rolls, trying to escape but Pali keeps control of the position.

Lopez showing good submission defense here.
Pali gets his hands free as Lopez looks to control.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Lopez trying to control the hands but Pali won't let him.

Pali has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pali is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lopez has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Pali gets his hands free as Lopez looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mali Pali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lopez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Lopez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pali misses with a takedown attempt

and Lopez counters with a takedown into side control.
Pali gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lopez is trying to control the action in half guard but Pali is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lopez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pali wants to improve his position but Lopez is controlling well.
Lopez uses his free foot to push down on Pali's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pali.
Pali takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pali is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez looking to control but Pali is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pali is trying to reverse the position but instead Lopez has taken his back - oops!
Lopez scores with punches and elbows.
Lopez wants to control but Pali is keeping busy.
Pali turns into Lopez and is now in his guard.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pali is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lopez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pali's back instead.
Lopez doesn't have the hooks in and Pali manages to turn into his guard.
Pali wants to pass the guard but Lopez is keeping the position.
Lopez controlling Pali's posture.
Pali stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pali would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pali trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pali shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lopez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Pali actively working from the bottom here.
Pali manages to get to full guard.

Pali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lopez preventing the sweep.
Pali controls Lopez momentarily but Lopez frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pali keeping busy on the bottom but Lopez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Lopez is looking to advance position but Pali won't allow it.
Lopez trying to control the action but Pali is working from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lopez connects with a nice short shot to Pali's temple.

Lopez is trying to work for a kimura but Pali is defending well.
Pali is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lopez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lopez's back!

Pali sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Lopez taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mali Pali!