PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Donnelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pepe Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Donnelly
vs
Lopez

190 cm
24
193 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

179 cm
22
202 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Donnelly!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pepe Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donnelly throws out a loose jab but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lopez has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Lopez fails to land the takedown.
Donnelly throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lopez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Donnelly darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lopez misses with a looping left.
Lopez throws a body punch but Donnelly moves out of range.
Lopez defending well as Donnelly loads up on a big left hand.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Donnelly.
Donnelly throws an overhand right that lands on Lopez's shoulder, as Lopez tries to avoid the shot.
Donnelly misses with a straight left.
Donnelly checks a low kick from Lopez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez shoots in but no luck this time.
The fighters circling - Lopez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Donnelly connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Donnelly throws a jab but it's blocked by Lopez.
Lopez bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lopez.
Lopez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Donnelly pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lopez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Donnelly.
Donnelly misses with a hook. Lopez ducked under it nicely.

Lopez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Donnelly to the ground. Lopez is now in Donnelly's guard.
Lopez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Donnelly keeps moving.
Donnelly pulls Lopez in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Donnelly manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Lopez pushes off an throws an elbow but Donnelly leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Donnelly avoiding damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lopez prevents Donnelly from breaking the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Donnelly.
Donnelly is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Donnelly pulls his leg out and moves away.
Brian Donnelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepe Lopez.

Lopez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ground and pound from Lopez.
Lopez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lopez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lopez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lopez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Donnelly's head.
Lopez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Lopez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Donnelly wants to get back to full guard.
Lopez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Donnelly keeps working.
Lopez controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pepe Lopez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A solid leg kick lands there for Lopez.
Donnelly misses the shot to the body.
Lopez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lopez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Brian Donnelly is winning the standup battle so far.
Lopez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lopez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donnelly misses the shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Donnelly. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Donnelly.
Pepe Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez moves away from the strike by Donnelly.

Lopez drives through with a takedown into Donnelly's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lopez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donnelly keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Lopez pushing down on Donnelly's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez trying to control the action but Donnelly is working from the bottom.
Pepe Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez working the head and body with strikes.
Donnelly is staying active underneath Lopez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lopez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Donnelly sees it coming and defends easily.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Donnelly has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lopez is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lopez is keen to just control but Donnelly is a slippery customer.

Lopez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lopez avoids the body shot from Donnelly.
Lopez tries to land a leg kick but Donnelly saw it coming and moves away.
Donnelly checks a low kick from Lopez.
Donnelly misses the shot to the body.
Donnelly misses with a double jab.
Donnelly swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lopez.
Donnelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lopez can pounce on him.
Lopez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Donnelly checks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Lopez misses
and Donnelly counters with a stiff right hand.
Some bone on bone action there as Donnelly checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Donnelly slaps away a takedown attempt from Lopez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Donnelly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lopez misses with a body kick.
Donnelly misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lopez counters with a thumping low kick.
Lopez closes the distance and clinches up with Donnelly, looking for a takedown. Lopez pushes Donnelly against the cage but Donnelly circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Donnelly throws a big shot that misses.
Lopez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Donnelly.
Nice jab there from Donnelly.
Donnelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Donnelly.
Donnelly throws a hook but Lopez blocks it.
Lopez blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lopez.

Donnelly lands a left and a right that send Lopez crashing to the mat, dazed. Donnelly thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Lopez is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Donnelly.
Lopez lands with a hook. Donnelly tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lopez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Donnelly misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Lopez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Donnelly's guard.
Lopez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Lopez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Donnelly is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Donnelly has escaped and now he's on top!

Lopez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brian Donnelly will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Donnelly bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lopez's head.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Donnelly.
Donnelly has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lopez.
Lopez avoids the body shot from Donnelly.
Lopez takes a swing at Donnelly's ribcage but misses.
Lopez misses with a straight left.
Donnelly lands a slapping body shot.
Donnelly punishes Lopez's body with a nice straight punch.
Donnelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lopez can pounce on him.
Donnelly looks to throw the jab but Lopez is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Lopez.
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donnelly has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lopez.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Donnelly sprawls well. Donnelly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lopez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Donnelly has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Donnelly and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Donnelly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lopez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Donnelly.
Lopez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Donnelly throws a hook but Lopez avoids it easily.
Donnelly blocks a low kick nicely.
Good shot there by Donnelly.
Donnelly moves out of range of the body kick from Lopez.
Donnelly is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Lopez throws a body punch but Donnelly moves out of range.
Lopez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An inside leg kick from Lopez misses.
Lopez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Brian Donnelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to chop away at Donnelly's legs.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick and Donnelly moves out of range easily.
Donnelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lopez can pounce on him.
Donnelly scores with a hook to the body. Lopez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A telegraphed right hand from Donnelly misses the target.
Donnelly connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Donnelly scores with a jab to the body.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez misses with a low kick.
Donnelly avoids the head kick by Lopez.
Donnelly swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Donnelly lands a big uppercut and Lopez crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Lopez looks OK. Donnelly waves Lopez back to his feet!
Lopez is still on wobbly legs! Can Donnelly finish him?
Lopez throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly lands a jab to Lopez's midsection.
Donnelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez seems to have recovered his senses.

Donnelly drops Lopez with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Lopez looks back up at him and smiles so Donnelly waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Lopez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lopez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lopez misses with a body kick.
Donnelly just misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez throws a push kick but Donnelly slaps the foot to one side.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donnelly misses with a body shot.
Lopez throws a lazy right hand but Donnelly sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lopez thows a leg kick but Donnelly checks it
letting Donnelly counter with a right hand.
Lopez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Donnelly defends it nicely.
Lopez walks into a left hand.
Donnelly misses the body punch

so Lopez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Donnelly is trying to keep Lopez in close.

Donnelly has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Lopez has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Donnelly avoiding damage.
Donnelly has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Donnelly clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lopez misses with a takedown
and Donnelly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Donnelly finds Lopez's off switch, with a big overhand right that connects perfectly to the side of the head! Lopez flops back against the cage, eyes gazing into the distance. Donnelly lands an unnecessary shot before the referee has time to step in and end the fight. Brutal stuff but I'm sure Lopez will be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Brian Donnelly!
Brian Donnelly retains his middleweight title!
Brian Donnelly managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry, into his post fight interview.