PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cory Deegan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Deegan's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Land of Confusion. Lopez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Vamos kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Deegan
vs
Lopez

177 cm
35
167 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

181 cm
43
162 lbs
49 - 18 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cory Deegan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 49 - 18 - 2, fighting out of New York, Miguel Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Deegan throws a hook but Lopez blocks it.
Deegan blocks a low kick nicely.
Deegan lands a right hook to the body.
Deegan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.
Lopez throws a push kick but Deegan slaps the foot to one side.
Deegan throws a head kick that misses.
Lopez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Deegan throws a good cross that connects.
Lopez throws a head kick but Deegan moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Deegan.
Deegan misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Deegan misses with a straight left.

Deegan moves into the clinch.
Deegan 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 Cory Deegan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Deegan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deegan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lopez.

Lopez tries to keep at a distance but Deegan has taken the fight into the clinch.

Deegan breaks from the clinch.
Deegan throws a series of punches but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Deegan to score with a decent uppercut.

Deegan drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez is adopting a defensive guard.

Deegan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Deegan misses with a lunging right hand
and Lopez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Deegan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lopez's head backwards.
Deegan lands with a nice body punch.
Cory Deegan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Deegan tries to clinch there but Lopez circles away.
Lopez is looking for the big counter here.
Lopez looks to land a right hand but Deegan moved out of range.
Deegan appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Deegan has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deegan wants a takedown.

Deegan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Deegan checks the leg kick.
Deegan misses with a looping left.
Lopez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lopez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Deegan.
Lopez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Deegan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Deegan connects with a body shot that sends Lopez's belly button to the back.
Lopez misses with the combination.
Deegan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice uppercut there from Deegan.
Deegan just misses with a punch to the body.
Deegan shoots in looking for a takedown but Lopez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Deegan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Deegan misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a kick to the body.

Deegan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Deegan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Deegan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Lopez is looking to regain half guard here but Deegan keeps moving and retains side control.
Lopez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Deegan off and has taken his back!
Deegan can't escape the position.
Deegan is working hard here to advance position.
Lopez controls the action.
Deegan breaks Lopez's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Deegan is controlling him.

Deegan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lopez is on top in guard.

Deegan wants to sweep here but Lopez controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez postures up.
Lopez is stalling in the full guard.

Lopez gets to his feet - Deegan follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Deegan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Deegan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lopez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Deegan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lopez is trying to defend but Deegan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Lopez kicks Deegan off and gets back to his feet.
Lopez misses with a low kick.
Lopez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Deegan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lopez scrambles back to his feet.
Deegan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lopez.
Lopez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Deegan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lopez on the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lopez slips a jab and a cross from Deegan.
Deegan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lopez as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Deegan is defended easily by Lopez.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Cory Deegan is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Deegan finds it's way through Lopez's defenses.
Deegan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Deegan misses with a two punch combination.
Deegan throws an overhand right that lands on Lopez's shoulder, as Lopez tries to avoid the shot.
Miguel Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Deegan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lopez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Deegan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Deegan tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez is looking for the big counter here.
Deegan moves out of range of the body kick from Lopez.
Deegan throws a lazy right hand but Lopez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lopez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Deegan is able to avoid easily.
Lopez lands with an overhand left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Deegan is defended easily by Lopez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Deegan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Deegan misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deegan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Lopez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Deegan throws a body shot but no joy.
Lopez throws a leg kick but Deegan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Deegan wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Lopez throws a right hand that Deegan ducks under and follows up with a left that Deegan also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Deegan clinches.
Lopez landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick and Deegan moves out of range easily.
Deegan looks to land a right hand but Lopez moved out of range.
A little jabbing left from Lopez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Deegan misses with a straight left.
Deegan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lopez swivels and escapes.
Sloppy strikes from Lopez. Those never looked like landing.
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Deegan.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lopez.
Miguel Lopez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Deegan misses with an uppercut
and Lopez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Deegan throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lopez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Deegan is in Lopez's guard.
Deegan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Miguel Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Deegan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Deegan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lopez is keeping the position for now.
Lopez wants to get back to his feet but Deegan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Deegan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Deegan lands a couple of digs.
Deegan trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but Deegan defends easily.
Deegan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to sweep here but Deegan controlling him for the moment.
Deegan wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Deegan looking to pass the guard.
Deegan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Deegan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lopez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lopez controlling Deegan's posture.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Miguel Lopez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Lopez.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lopez.
Deegan throws a jab but it's blocked by Lopez.
Lopez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lopez slips a jab from Deegan.
A countering left hand to the body from Lopez misses.
No luck for Deegan with that takedown attempt.
Deegan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lopez's head backwards.
Deegan misses with a body kick.

Deegan clinches up with Lopez and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Deegan manages to break the clinch.
Deegan thows a left - swing and a miss!
A slow jab from Deegan misses its intended target.
Lopez moves out of range as Deegan strikes.
Deegan tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deegan moves forwards but Lopez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Deegan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lopez.
Deegan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lopez defends it nicely.

Deegan rushes Lopez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Deegan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lopez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lopez blocking some punches.
Deegan has Lopez pressed against the cage, preventing Lopez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Deegan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Deegan misses with a series of wild punches.
Lopez with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deegan swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No joy there for Deegan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It seemed like Lopez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lopez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Deegan.
Despite the aggression on Lopez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Deegan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Deegan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopez misses with a wild body shot.
Lopez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lopez misses with a kick to the body.
Deegan throws out a loose jab but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice side step and Lopez releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lopez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lopez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Deegan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lopez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Deegan just misses with a punch to the body.

Deegan darts in and clinches Lopez up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez throws a series of strikes that have Deegan backpedaling.
Deegan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lopez but Lopez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Deegan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez looks to land a left hand but Deegan moved out of range nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Lopez. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Deegan misses.
Deegan throws a lazy uppercut
and Lopez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Deegan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Deegan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Deegan shoots in for a takedown but Lopez shows good takedown defense.
Deegan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lopez. Lopez obviously looking to wear him down.
Lopez has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Lopez lands with a kick to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deegan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lopez.
Lopez misses with a low kick.
Deegan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deegan avoids the head kick by Lopez.
Deegan misses with a wild combination.
A countering left hand to the body from Lopez misses.
Deegan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lopez.
Deegan fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Deegan catches Lopez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lopez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Deegan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Lopez's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miguel Lopez.
I think Lopez 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Lopez!
Our winner, Miguel Lopez, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
The defeated Cory Deegan had this to say: 'My Heart...My Heartttt! Someone get me an ambulance. '.