PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Armstrong
vs
Lopez

188 cm
28
155 lbs
16 - 3 - 1

165 cm
26
155 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Bruce Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pedro Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lopez lands a lovely overhand right.

Armstrong has Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Armstrong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lopez trying to stall but Armstrong improves his position.
Armstrong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Armstrong throws a head punch that misses.
Lopez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.
Lopez throws a punch but it's blocked by Armstrong.

Armstrong decides to pull guard.

Lopez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Armstrong manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lopez has Armstrong in his guard.

Armstrong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopez's head.
Armstrong has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Armstrong works over Lopez with some ground and pound from guard.
Armstrong tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armstrong stands up over Lopez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong pushing down on Lopez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Armstrong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Armstrong is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lopez sees it coming and defends easily.
Lopez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Armstrong.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.

Lopez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Armstrong working the head and body with strikes.
Lopez holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Nice strikes from Armstrong there.

Armstrong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lopez is looking to control Armstrong's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?
Lopez is refusing to be controlled, as Armstrong sits in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Armstrong connects with a nice short shot to Lopez's temple.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.
Armstrong has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Armstrong raining down hammerfists from mount.
Armstrong scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez working to try and regain half guard.
Armstrong putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Armstrong cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Armstrong avoids the attempt from Lopez to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Armstrong cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lopez is trying desperately to improve position.
Lopez taking shots to the head.
Armstrong lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lopez hang on?
Armstrong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lopez is looking to escape.
Lopez working to try and regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Armstrong is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Armstrong passes to side control.
Lopez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lopez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Armstrong slips a nice elbow through Lopez's hands, connecting with Lopez's forehead.
Lopez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Lopez has his foot on Armstrong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Armstrong works his way back into a safe position though.
Armstrong looking to pass the guard.

Lopez working for a triangle but Armstrong defends it easily.

Armstrong drops back looking for a leg! Lopez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lopez manages to kick Armstrong off! Armstrong jumps back into Lopez's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Armstrong dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lopez misses with a straight right.

Armstrong has closed the distance and engaged Lopez in a clinch.
Lopez trying to stall but Armstrong improves his position.
Lopez tries to stall but Armstrong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lopez stalling against the cage.
Lopez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lopez tries to break the clinch but Armstrong is controlling the position.
Armstrong is working for takedown but Lopez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lopez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lopez misses with a punch on the inside.
Armstrong lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lopez backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong lands an uppercut.
Lopez is trying to stall.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Armstrong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Armstrong gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Armstrong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lopez, pushing him back against the cage.

Armstrong pulls Lopez into guard.

Lopez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Armstrong looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lopez passes into side control.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Armstrong has escaped the position, nice work there.

Lopez tries for a kimura but Armstrong is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Armstrong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Armstrong is looking for a sweep.
Lopez wants to control but Armstrong is keeping him busy.
Armstrong sneaks back into half guard.

Lopez is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Lopez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Armstrong actively working from the bottom here.

Armstrong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Armstrong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?

Armstrong is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.
Armstrong is looking to control Lopez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Armstrong avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Armstrong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Lopez is trying to work for a kimura but Armstrong is defending well.

Armstrong is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.

Armstrong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lopez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez trying to control from half guard but Armstrong is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pedro Lopez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lopez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lopez throws a shot from downtown. Armstrong moves away and avoids it.
Armstrong tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Armstrong bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lopez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Armstrong appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Armstrong doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.
Lopez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lopez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lopez loads up on a big right hand but Armstrong slips the punch.
Lopez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Armstrong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Lopez manages to circle out of the way.
Lopez missing with a left hand there. Armstrong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lopez connects with a right hand. Armstrong shakes it off.
Lopez tries to bum rush Armstrong with a series of wild strikes but Armstrong uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Armstrong has closed the distance and engaged Lopez in a clinch.
Lopez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Armstrong prevents Lopez from breaking the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lopez.
Lopez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Armstrong pulls guard.

Armstrong looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lopez is looking to pass into half guard but Armstrong pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Armstrong is in guard.

Armstrong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
Our spies down at at Zero Tolerance inform us that Lopez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Armstrong with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Lopez looking to control.
Armstrong tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.

Lopez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Armstrong is aware though and is defending well.
Armstrong stands up over Lopez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Armstrong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Armstrong connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lopez is trying to keep Armstrong in close.
Armstrong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Armstrong throws a big right hand that misses.
Armstrong lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lopez is trying to keep Armstrong in close.
Armstrong trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Armstrong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lopez is trying to keep Armstrong in close.
Armstrong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lopez's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lopez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Armstrong defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lopez is trying to keep Armstrong in close.
Armstrong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Armstrong landing some decent shots from guard.
Bruce Armstrong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Armstrong scoring with some ground and pound.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Armstrong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Armstrong advances to half guard.
Lopez is pressing down on Armstrong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but Armstrong defends easily.

Lopez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Armstrong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong passes into half guard.
Lopez is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Armstrong is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Armstrong is pressing down on Lopez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lopez is holding on for now.
Nice strikes from Armstrong there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armstrong lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lopez trying to control but Armstrong postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Armstrong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Armstrong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Armstrong!
After winning the bout, Bruce Armstrong thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.