PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itshak Rabinovitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lopez
vs
Rabinovitch

185 cm
27
187 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

182 cm
29
194 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Itshak Rabinovitch!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rabinovitch is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Rabinovitch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rabinovitch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lopez moves away.
Lopez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rabinovitch's sensitive parts.
A jab from Rabinovitch misses.
Rabinovitch fails to land with a series of punches.

Rabinovitch has Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Rabinovitch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lopez blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez tries to circle away but Rabinovitch has him pinned against the cage.
Lopez tries a knee to the head but Rabinovitch blocks it.
Lopez has had enough of the clinch but Rabinovitch keeps him there for the moment.
Lopez misses with a punch on the inside.
Rabinovitch tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Rabinovitch connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lopez's face.

It looks like Frank Lopez has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lopez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lopez misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez tries to land knees in the clinch but Rabinovitch avoids the damage to the body.
Lopez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rabinovitch unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rabinovitch tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Lopez is stalling here.
Rabinovitch lands with a short shot to the head.
Rabinovitch has Lopez pressed against the cage, preventing Lopez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lopez tries to circle away but Rabinovitch has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rabinovitch fails to land.
Lopez has had enough of the clinch but Rabinovitch keeps him there for the moment.
Rabinovitch tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lopez avoids it.
Rabinovitch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lopez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lopez tries to break the clinch but Rabinovitch is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lopez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lopez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lopez misses with the head strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lopez throws an elbow but misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lopez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lopez lands a hook that snaps the head of Rabinovitch backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lopez misses with a punch to the body.
Our sources have told us that Lopez has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Rabinovitch makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rabinovitch tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Rabinovitch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Lopez misses with a hook.
Lopez throws a leg kick but Rabinovitch sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lopez fails to land with a series of punches.
Rabinovitch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch misses with a hook.
Rabinovitch missing with a left hand there. Lopez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lopez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rabinovitch is out of range.
Lopez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Itshak Rabinovitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lopez tries to keep at a distance but Rabinovitch has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lopez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rabinovitch has him pressed against the cage.
Lopez lands an elbow inside.
Rabinovitch keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lopez's efforts to push away.
A knee to the head by Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rabinovitch lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Rabinovitch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Lopez throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rabinovitch looking to throw knees to the head but Lopez is blocking nicely.
Rabinovitch scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez is trying to break free.
Lopez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lopez.
Rabinovitch scores with a shot to the side of Lopez's head.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lopez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rabinovitch trying to land knees to the body.
Lopez throws an elbow that misses.
Rabinovitch blocking some punches.
Lopez wants to break free but Rabinovitch has control.
Rabinovitch lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itshak Rabinovitch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Lopez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lopez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rabinovitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lopez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rabinovitch counters by clinching up.
Rabinovitch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lopez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lopez pushes off an throws an elbow but Rabinovitch leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lopez misses with a hook to the ribs.

Lopez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lopez slips a straight right by Rabinovitch.
Lopez checks a leg kick.
Rabinovitch doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rabinovitch misses with a straight right.
An attempted straight right counter from Lopez misses the target.
Rabinovitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Lopez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabinovitch throws a body shot but no joy.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rabinovitch.
A little feinted left hand from Lopez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lopez slips a jab from Rabinovitch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lopez.
Lopez takes one to the chin there.
Rabinovitch throws a right hand that misses
letting Lopez counter with a right hand.

Rabinovitch closes the distance and clinches.
Rabinovitch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez tries to work over Rabinovitch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rabinovitch working aggressively here.
Lopez throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rabinovitch.
Lopez working hard to break the clinch.
Rabinovitch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Rabinovitch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.
A right handed body shot lands from Lopez.
Rabinovitch gets through Lopez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rabinovitch has a couple of punches blocked by Lopez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rabinovitch lands a right hand.
Rabinovitch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rabinovitch as Lopez tries to tie him up.
Rabinovitch dodges an elbow strike from Lopez.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rabinovitch.
Good body shot from Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Rabinovitch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rabinovitch looking to throw knees to the head but Lopez is blocking nicely.
Lopez takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lopez throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lopez tries to stall but Rabinovitch uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rabinovitch tries a knee to the head but Lopez blocks it.
Lopez lands with a light punch inside.
Rabinovitch connects with a knee to the head.
Rabinovitch throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lopez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lopez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Lopez.
Lopez has a couple of punches blocked by Rabinovitch.
Lopez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rabinovitch avoids it.
Rabinovitch swings wildly with an uppercut but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rabinovitch lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lopez lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice left hand lands by Rabinovitch.
Lopez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rabinovitch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rabinovitch tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rabinovitch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lopez blocks it with crossed arms.
Rabinovitch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rabinovitch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Rabinovitch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lopez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rabinovitch misses with the head strike.
Lopez misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lopez misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itshak Rabinovitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frank Lopez's cut.
That's time! Lopez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rabinovitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Itshak Rabinovitch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rabinovitch misses with a straight right.
Lopez throws a big counter combination but Rabinovitch scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rabinovitch crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lopez - the referee stops the clock and Rabinovitch gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lopez. Rabinovitch manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rabinovitch takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Lopez throws a body punch but Rabinovitch moves out of range.
Lopez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rabinovitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lopez connects with a body shot that sends Rabinovitch's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lopez throws a solid leg kick but Rabinovitch takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lopez.
A slow jab from Rabinovitch misses its intended target.
Rabinovitch might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a combination
and Rabinovitch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lopez lands a nice hook to Rabinovitch's body. Rabinovitch takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Rabinovitch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lopez scores with a shot to the side of Rabinovitch's head.
Good body shot from Lopez.
Rabinovitch misses with a knee to the head.
Lopez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lopez trying to stall but Rabinovitch improves his position.
Rabinovitch throws a head punch that misses.
Rabinovitch throws a head punch that misses.

Lopez breaks the clinch.
Lopez defending well as Rabinovitch loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Lopez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rabinovitch misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Rabinovitch throws a jab when Lopez was well out of range.
Rabinovitch with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez avoids the head kick by Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rabinovitch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rabinovitch blocks a leg kick.
Lopez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rabinovitch on the side of the head.
Lopez dips to his left and cracks Rabinovitch with an uppercut!
Rabinovitch throws a poor cross that misses
and Lopez counters with a low kick, right behind Rabinovitch 's knee.
Itshak Rabinovitch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez takes a swing at Rabinovitch's ribcage but misses.
Lopez moves away from the strike by Rabinovitch.
Rabinovitch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lopez throws a leg kick but Rabinovitch sees it coming and moves out of range.
It seemed like Rabinovitch was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lopez misses with the combination.
Rabinovitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lopez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lopez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lopez swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rabinovitch doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.
Lopez misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabinovitch moves out of range of the strikes.
Lopez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rabinovitch is out of range.

Lopez gets tackled into the cage by Rabinovitch. Rabinovitch maintains the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lopez throws an elbow but misses.
Rabinovitch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rabinovitch prevents a body shot from Lopez.
Lopez managing to block the knees to the body from Rabinovitch.
Lopez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rabinovitch has Lopez pressed against the cage, preventing Lopez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lopez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lopez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

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 Frank Lopez.
I think Rabinovitch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Itshak Rabinovitch!