PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malakai Semerkhet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Semerkhet comes to the cage accompanied by راقصة صغيرة. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Semerkhet
vs
Lopez

170 cm
25
154 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

165 cm
22
155 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Conquer

Grand Champion Apparel
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Malakai Semerkhet!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pedro Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A chopping leg kick lands by Semerkhet.
Malakai Semerkhet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Semerkhet throws a push kick but Lopez slaps the foot to one side.
Semerkhet lands a jab to the nose.
Semerkhet is looking to score with low kicks.
Semerkhet fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Semerkhet throws a head kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lopez. Semerkhet does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Semerkhet sprawls well. Semerkhet wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Semerkhet misses with a few strikes there.
Semerkhet lands a leg kick that knocks Lopez off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopez moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Semerkhet.
Semerkhet throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lopez feints the counter takedown.
Lopez scores with a body shot.
Semerkhet stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Semerkhet wants it to stay on the feet.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Semerkhet shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Malakai Semerkhet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Lopez.
Semerkhet misses with an uppercut.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Semerkhet has control of Lopez's left arm, preventing Lopez from doing any damage.
Semerkhet seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Lopez wants to pass the guard but Semerkhet is keeping the position.
Lopez trying to control but Semerkhet is working from the bottom.
Semerkhet is trying to keep Lopez in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semerkhet can't keep his opponent in guard - Lopez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lopez stalling away here and it's allowed Semerkhet to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Semerkhet holds on and takes a little breather.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Semerkhet keeps moving.
Lopez is stalling in the full guard.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Semerkhet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semerkhet is controlling Lopez's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Semerkhet goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lopez is defended easily by Semerkhet.
Lopez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Semerkhet.

Semerkhet gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Semerkhet keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semerkhet pulls Lopez in close to his closed guard and prevents Lopez from doing any damage or advancing position.

Lopez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Semerkhet controlling the position.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Semerkhet keeps moving.
Semerkhet keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez trying to control but Semerkhet is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lopez closes the distance and clinches up with Semerkhet, looking for a takedown. Lopez pushes Semerkhet against the cage but Semerkhet circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lopez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Semerkhet tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lopez is able to avoid easily.
Lopez blocks the body kick.
Semerkhet lands a slapping body shot.
Lopez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Semerkhet looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Semerkhet gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Semerkhet misses with a head kick.
Semerkhet throws a body kick that misses.
Lopez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez moves out of range of the body kick.
Lopez feints the counter takedown.
Semerkhet moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lopez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lopez is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Lopez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Semerkhet's waist but Semerkhet gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lopez off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semerkhet scores with the left hand. Lopez knows he should have avoided that one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Semerkhet. That's going to slow Lopez down.
Semerkhet misses with an uppercut. Lopez saw that one coming.
Lopez with the counter takedown but Semerkhet avoids it easily.
Lopez misses with a straight right.
Semerkhet swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lopez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Semerkhet defends it well.
Semerkhet throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.
Semerkhet connects with a leg kick. Lopez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Malakai Semerkhet is winning the standup battle so far.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Semerkhet shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Malakai Semerkhet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Lopez.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lopez checks a leg kick.

Lopez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Semerkhet is trying to defend but Lopez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Semerkhet is not content to let Lopez control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is working for a submission of some sort.
Semerkhet trying to control from the bottom.

Lopez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Semerkhet sees it coming and defends easily.
Lopez is trying to control the action in half guard but Semerkhet is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Semerkhet holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lopez seems to be working for a kimura but Semerkhet defends the submission attempt.
Lopez wants to take a breather but Semerkhet is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Semerkhet defends it well.
Semerkhet is looking to control Lopez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Semerkhet avoid being mounted?
Lopez is trying to control. Semerkhet wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Semerkhet pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Malakai Semerkhet is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lopez moves out of range as Semerkhet throws a body kick.
Lopez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Semerkhet.
Lopez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That kick from Semerkhet tenderised Lopez's leg. Lopez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Semerkhet takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lopez goes for a double leg but Semerkhet avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Semerkhet continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez moves out of range of the body kick from Semerkhet.
Lopez avoids the head kick by Semerkhet.
Semerkhet throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Malakai Semerkhet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lopez is defended easily by Semerkhet.
Lopez moves out of range of the body kick.
Lopez slips under a jab from Semerkhet.
Semerkhet throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lopez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Semerkhet.
Lopez feints the counter takedown.
Semerkhet scores with a sloppy right hand. Lopez should have avoided that one.

Lopez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Semerkhet is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malakai Semerkhet dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lopez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Semerkhet did well to prevent Lopez getting side control.

Lopez seems to be looking for submissions.
Lopez is looking to stall here but Semerkhet recovers full guard.
Semerkhet keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.

Lopez looking to improve position, pressing down on Semerkhet's thigh with his hand. Semerkhet seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Lopez paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Lopez's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Semerkhet picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Malakai Semerkhet!
Malakai Semerkhet retains his featherweight title!
A victorious Malakai Semerkhet thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.