PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mijain Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bilyal Makhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Lopez
vs
Makhov

196 cm
16
285 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

196 cm
18
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mijain Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bilyal Makhov!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lopez gets a double leg takedown into Makhov's guard.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Makhov is retaining full guard.
Lopez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Our spies down at at Whirl's Burger Bar (and Gym) inform us that Makhov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Lopez postures up.
Makhov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez trying to control but Makhov is working from the bottom.

Makhov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhov is trying to keep Lopez in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Makhov wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makhov tries for a takedown but Lopez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Makhov sprawls well. Makhov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
Makhov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lopez but Lopez pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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

Lopez pulls guard successfully.

Lopez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Makhov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Makhov wants to pass the guard but Lopez is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makhov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Makhov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lopez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Makhov has managed to get both his arms back between Lopez's legs - danger averted.
Lopez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makhov.
Lopez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Makhov content to stall in guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Makhov throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makhov wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Makhov stuffs the takedown.
Makhov with the counter takedown but Lopez avoids it easily.
Lopez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lopez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Makhov. Makhov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Makhov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lopez quickly recovers to half guard.
Lopez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lopez tries to get out of the position.
Lopez looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makhov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lopez's head.
Makhov thows a huge punch but Lopez dodges it nicely.
Makhov thows a huge punch but Lopez dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to get back to full guard.
Lopez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Makhov is working away from the top position though.

Makhov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lopez is just riding it out for now. Makhov eventually gives up the hold.
Lopez wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Makhov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Makhov fails to land the takedown.
A quick step to the side and Lopez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Makhov shoots in for a takedown but Lopez shows good takedown defense.
Lopez is looking for a counter combo.

Makhov clinches.
Makhov tries to pull guard but Lopez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mijain Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bilyal Makhov.

Lopez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lopez throws a leg kick

and Makhov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Makhov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhov postures up in Lopez's guard and throws a big left but Lopez blocks it.

Lopez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Makhov escapes and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Lopez tries to bench press Makhov off him but Makhov keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez pushes Makhov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Makhov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lopez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Makhov.
Makhov throwing strikes but Lopez manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Makhov tries to bench press Lopez off him but Lopez keeps the position.

Lopez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Lopez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Makhov, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez throws an elbow but Makhov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Makhov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lopez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lopez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Makhov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Makhov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Makhov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Makhov working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lopez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lopez forces his way into half guard.
Makhov gets full guard.
Makhov wants to sweep here but Lopez controlling him for the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Makhov is breathing heavily.
Lopez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Makhov's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Makhov leaves Lopez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Makhov fails to land the takedown.
Lopez shoots in but Makhov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Makhov feints the counter takedown.
Makhov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lopez.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez throws a head kick that misses.
Makhov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mijain Lopez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lopez misses with a wild body shot.
Lopez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Makhov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Makhov.
Lopez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makhov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lopez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Makhov on the ground.
Makhov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhov is stalling in the full guard.
Makhov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makhov.
Makhov won't allow Lopez to sweep him here.
Makhov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Makhov from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Makhov clinches with his opponent.
Lopez struggles to land a body shot inside as Makhov controls his hands.
Makhov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lopez gets underhooks to prevent Makhov's takedown attempt.
Makhov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez has clasped his hands together around Makhov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Lopez working away.
Makhov regains half guard.
Makhov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Makhov.
Makhov trying to keep a closed guard but Lopez is proving a slippery customer.
Lopez trying to control but Makhov is working from the bottom.
Lopez looking to sit in guard and control but Makhov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lopez is looking to sweep but instead, Makhov has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is looking to improve his position.
Makhov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lopez keeps working.
Lopez wants to get back to his feet.
Lopez is looking to control Makhov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?
Lopez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lopez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makhov.
Lopez has his hands clasped together around Makhov's back. He's all about the action.
Lopez is looking to control Makhov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lopez avoid being mounted?
Makhov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Makhov thows a huge punch but Lopez dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Makhov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bilyal Makhov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mijain Lopez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Makhov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bilyal Makhov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lopez 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Bilyal Makhov!