PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lopez
vs
Granger

165 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

162 cm
25
143 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)
Heisenberg

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight 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 Helsinki, Pedro Lopez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Granger!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Granger feints and as Lopez raises his hands in defense, Granger changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Granger throwing strikes from guard but Lopez blocks nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Granger with a flurry of punches that miss.

Lopez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lopez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Granger scoring with some ground and pound.

Lopez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Lopez working for a triangle but Granger defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lopez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Granger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Granger slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger trying to control the action but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Granger working the ground and pound.
Lopez is trying to control Granger's posture but Granger avoids it.
Lopez tries to bench press Granger off him but Granger keeps the position.
Lopez is working hard here to advance position.
Lopez wants to control but Granger postures up.
Granger in side control lands a decent elbow.
Granger cracks Lopez with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Granger lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Granger lands an elbow.
Granger in side control lands a decent elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lopez is trying to control Granger's posture but Granger avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lopez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Lopez is trying to get back to half guard.
Lopez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lopez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Granger wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lopez regains half guard.
Lopez is staying active underneath Granger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lopez is looking for a sweep. Granger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lopez is refusing to be controlled, as Granger sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Granger working the head and body with strikes.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Granger working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Granger is trying to control the action in half guard but Lopez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lopez won't allow Granger to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez trying to control from the bottom.
Granger is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lopez!
Lopez is looking to get to half guard.
Granger lands a couple of good shots and Lopez has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Granger scores with strikes from the back.
Granger trying to control momentarily.
Lopez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Lopez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lopez wants to control but Granger is keeping busy.
Lopez is trying to get back to full guard.
Granger is trying to control the action in half guard but Lopez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to control Granger's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?
Granger working over Lopez with some ground and pound. Lopez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Granger trying to control the action but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Lopez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Granger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Granger's back!

Granger fending off the submission attempt from Lopez.

Lopez patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Granger is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lopez gets his way!
Lopez doesn't have the hooks in and Granger manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Granger 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.

Granger fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lopez to the ground. Granger is now in Lopez's guard.
Granger throws a big elbow that misses.
Granger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Granger wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Granger looking to pass the guard.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but Granger defends easily.
Granger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Granger is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Lopez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Granger wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Granger postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Granger escapes and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Lopez is looking for a sweep.
Lopez gets back to half guard.
Granger works his foot free and advances to mount.
Granger is landing with some decent strikes but Lopez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Granger lands a couple of good shots and Lopez has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Lopez tries to escape the position.
Granger loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Lopez hold on?
Granger lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Granger has Lopez flattened out and is raining down punches.
Granger lands with a hammerfist to the side of Lopez's head.
Lopez is really stuck here.
Granger biding his time, looking for the opening.

Lopez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Granger.
Granger is landing with strikes. Lopez can't take much more of this.
You can see the frustration on Lopez's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Granger has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Lopez.
Lopez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Lopez breaks Granger's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez postures up.
Granger pulls Lopez in close to his closed guard and prevents Lopez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Granger is keeping the position for now.
Granger is pulling down on Lopez's head. It's preventing any offense from Lopez, at least for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lopez forces his way into half guard.
Granger regains full guard. Nicely done.
Granger keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.
Granger managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez passes Granger's left leg - he's now in half guard.
James Granger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez tries to pass to full mount but Granger defends it.
Lopez trying to advance position but Granger counters by regaining guard.
Granger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lopez is one step ahead there.
Granger is trying to keep Lopez in close.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Granger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lopez defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Granger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Granger shoots in and bounces Lopez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lopez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Granger is aware though and is defending well.
Granger trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Granger cracks Lopez with a solid left hand.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Granger defends it easily.
Granger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Granger postures up.
Granger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lopez has momentary wrist control but Granger slips an elbow through the middle.

Lopez has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Granger doesn't defend quickly enough and Lopez has managed to lock this one up! Can Granger escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Lopez on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Pedro Lopez!
Pedro Lopez retains his featherweight title!
Pedro Lopez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.