PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Pearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mijain Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mijain Lopez told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Pearson
vs
Lopez

187 cm
20
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, James Pearson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mijain Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearson misses with the combination.

Pearson has managed to clinch.
Lopez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pearson tries to break the clinch but Lopez is controlling the position.
Pearson wants to break free but Lopez has control.
Pearson has Lopez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lopez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson lands a shot to the body.
Pearson has Lopez pushed against the cage.
Lopez looking to stall.
Pearson tries to pull guard but Lopez holds him up against the cage and eventually Pearson drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Pearson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short body shot lands from Pearson as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pearson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Pearson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pearson seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Lopez gets tackled into the cage by Pearson. Pearson maintains the clinch.
Nice body punch from Pearson.
Pearson lands a body punch.
Pearson holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pearson as Lopez tries to tie him up.
Pearson stalling against the cage.
Pearson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pearson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lopez gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Pearson pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pearson is trying to keep Lopez in close.
Pearson looking to control but Lopez passes into half guard.
Pearson tries to get to full guard but Lopez has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pearson tries to kick Lopez off in order to stand up. Lopez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Pearson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pearson moves into the clinch successfully.
Lopez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pearson is keeping busy.
Lopez has Pearson pressed against the cage, preventing Pearson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lopez is trying to maintain a safe position but Pearson gets an underhook and turns Lopez into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pearson cracks Lopez with a nice body shot.
Pearson just leaning against Lopez, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lopez gets underhooks to prevent Pearson's takedown attempt.
Lopez prevents Pearson from breaking the clinch.
Pearson controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Pearson for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lopez wants to stall.
Lopez being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pearson manages to break the clinch.

Lopez tries to keep at a distance but Pearson has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pearson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A body shot lands from Pearson.

Pearson breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pearson has Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Pearson stalling the fight.
Nice body punch from Pearson - that landed with a thud.
Lopez taking a breather.
Pearson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lopez or not.
James Pearson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lopez is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pearson pulls guard successfully.
Pearson 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Pearson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pearson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pearson is trying to push Lopez away but Lopez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lopez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lopez trying to stall but Pearson improves his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Pearson is struggling to control the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pearson as Lopez tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Pearson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez letting Pearson take a breather here.
Lopez's coach down at Soul Supremacy Rio was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lopez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

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

Pearson moves into the clinch.
Pearson wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pearson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Lopez prevents the takedown attempt.

Pearson successfully pulls guard.
Pearson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lopez is controlling him.
Pearson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson is looking to sweep but instead, Lopez has passed into half guard.
Pearson trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Pearson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearson is working hard here to advance position.
Pearson wants to control but Lopez is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Pearson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pearson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Pearson!