PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raymond Rios has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rios
vs
Lopez

197 cm
20
278 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

201 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raymond Rios!
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, Tom Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rios fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rios tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Rios tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.

Lopez darts in and clinches Rios up against the cage.

Lopez jumps into guard, dragging Rios to the mat.

Lopez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rios doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rios manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rios trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rios got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lopez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rios has managed to get both his arms back between Lopez's legs - danger averted.
Rios scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lopez is on top in guard.

Rios lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Lopez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Rios working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lopez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lopez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
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.
Lopez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rios wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rios is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez dives in and scores a takedown into Rios's guard.
Rios can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lopez controls the pace.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rios is keeping the position for now.
Rios wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Lopez is now in half guard.
Lopez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lopez works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rios sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lopez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lopez controlling the action here.
Rios keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rios trying to control but Lopez postures up.
Rios is not content to let Lopez control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Lopez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lopez forces Rios back against the cage and clinches.
Lopez prevents a body shot from Rios.
Lopez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Lopez pulls Rios into guard.
Lopez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rios puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lopez has hold of Rios's hands but Rios slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Rios is controlling well.

Rios is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez pushes Rios off looking to stand but Rios dives back in and keeps control.
Lopez is trying to get back to full guard.
Lopez keeps trying to improve his position.
Lopez trying to control here.
Lopez is looking for a sweep. Rios is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Lopez gets a takedown into half guard.
Tom Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez controlling the action here.
Lopez trying to control the action but Rios is working from the bottom.
Rios wants to sweep but Lopez has passed to side control!
Rios is not content to let Lopez control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios tries to improve position but can't.
Lopez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Lopez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rios to his feet.
Tom Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lopez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rios!
Lopez controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rios keeps working.
Rios tries to improve position but can't.

Lopez stands up and beckons Rios to his feet.
Raymond Rios is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lopez drops Rios with a beautiful combination! Rios stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Lopez is looking for the KO!

It looks like Raymond Rios has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rios attempts a counter takedown but Lopez avoids it well and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raymond Rios's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rios rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.
Lopez crunches a lovely knee into Rios's ribcage.

Lopez pulls Rios into guard.
Lopez wants to stand up but Rios is controlling him.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but Rios defends easily.
Lopez has Rios pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lopez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rios blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lopez.
Lopez stalling.
Rios is pressing down on Lopez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lopez is stalling in the full guard.

Lopez stands up and waves to Rios to follow him.

Lopez moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios missing with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Rios.

Lopez decides to pull guard.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rios defends it easily.
Rios with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez has his foot on Rios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rios works his way back into a safe position though.
Rios lands a couple of elbows.
Lopez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lopez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Rios looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez stays in close to Rios's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lopez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Lopez!