PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juan Tamad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pepe Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tamad comes to the cage accompanied by The Joker. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tamad
vs
Lopez

184 cm
37
200 lbs
26 - 24 - 1

179 cm
27
202 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 26 - 24 - 1, fighting out of London, Juan Tamad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pepe Lopez!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Tamad blocks the body kick.

Tamad closes the distance and clinches.
Tamad is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lopez misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez blocking some punches.
Tamad working aggressively here.
Lopez missing with knees to the body.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tamad takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamad feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lopezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Lopez gets tackled into the cage by Tamad. Tamad maintains the clinch.
Tamad doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tamad misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tamad lands a nice uppercut.
Tamad controlling the action here for a moment.
Lopez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tamad.
Tamad has a couple of punches blocked by Lopez.
Tamad wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tamad throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tamad.
Tamad 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 three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Tamad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Tamad.
Tamad goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez prevents a body shot from Tamad.
Lopez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tamad wants a takedown.
Tamad stalls.
Tamad lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
Tamad misses with the head strike.
Lopez blocking some punches.

Lopez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tamad goes for a double leg but Lopez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lopez continues to drive forward.
Lopez slips under a jab.
Tamad with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tamad darts in trying to clinch
and Lopez counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamad shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lopez defends it nicely.

Lopez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tamad quickly recovers to half guard.
Lopez wants to take a breather but Tamad is having none of it.
Tamad is trying to get back to full guard.
Lopez throwing shots but Tamad is blocking nicely.
Lopez wants to free his trapped foot but Tamad is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tamad is trying to maintain the position but Lopez is very close to passing his half guard.
Lopez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamad is trying is best to control the position here.
Lopez working the head and body with strikes.
Lopez trying to pass the guard but Tamad defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lopez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tamad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lopez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lopez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tamad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lopez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tamad connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lopez tests Tamad's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Tamad darts in and clinches Lopez up against the cage.
Tamad misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tamad has Lopez pressed against the cage.
Lopez struggles to land a body shot inside as Tamad controls his hands.

Lopez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Lopez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tamad is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lopez off and has taken his back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez wants to escape the position.
Tamad doesn't have the hooks in and Lopez manages to turn into his guard.
Tamad is trying to keep Lopez in close.
Tamad keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez with a nice head shot there.
Lopez stands up over Tamad, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tamad looking for a sweep. Not yet Tamad, not yet.
Tamad working a defensive guard here.
Lopez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tamad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lopez is one step ahead there.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Tamad keeps moving.

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 with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lopez passes Tamad's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tamad is pressing down on Lopez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Tamad keeps moving.
Lopez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lopez is working Tamad over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lopez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lopez throws a big right hand that misses.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez throwing strikes from guard but Tamad blocks nicely.
Lopez stays in close to Tamad's body and controls the position.
Lopez landing some decent shots from guard.
Lopez stopping the sweep attempt from Tamad.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lopez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pepe Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez is looking to work some ground and pound but Tamad has wrist control.
Lopez stopping the sweep attempt from Tamad.
Lopez lands a couple of digs.
Lopez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lopez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tamad swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lopez stopping the sweep attempt from Tamad.
Lopez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lopez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tamad is trying to keep Lopez in close.
Tamad wants to sweep here but Lopez controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pepe Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tamad changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tamad is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Tamad lands a really nice looking cross but Lopez seems unphased.

Lopez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tamad's guard.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Tamad keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lopez working some strikes from top position.
Lopez stands and throws Tamad's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tamad is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamad gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Lopez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lopez thows a huge punch but Tamad dodges it nicely.
Tamad is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lopez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tamad is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Lopez there.
Lopez working Tamad over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez thows a huge punch but Tamad dodges it nicely.
Tamad wants to control but Lopez is keeping busy.
Lopez is looking to stall here but Tamad recovers full guard.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tamad wants to sweep but no luck.
Lopez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tamad's head.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez stopping the sweep attempt from Tamad.
Lopez is working Tamad over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lopez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tamad is keeping the position for now.
Lopez is looking to work some ground and pound but Tamad has wrist control.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Tamad is retaining full guard.
Pepe Lopez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tamad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lopez manages to get himself to full guard.

Tamad stopping the sweep attempt from Lopez.
Tamad with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tamad in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Juan Tamad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lopez wants to sweep here but Tamad controlling him for the moment.

Tamad avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tamad stopping the sweep attempt from Lopez.

Lopez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tamad defends well.
Tamad connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pepe Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lopez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

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