PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Bush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Lopetus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopetus has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bush
vs
Lopetus

170 cm
27
170 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

168 cm
29
160 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Bush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keijo Lopetus!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bush tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lopetus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bush somewhat.
Lopetus loads up on a big right hand but Bush slips the punch.

Bush closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bush lands in his opponent's guard.
Bush won't allow Lopetus to sweep him here.

Bush drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lopetus dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bush keeping full guard, as Lopetus tries to pass.
Bush is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopetus content to stall in guard here.
Lopetus is pushing down on Bush's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bush is fighting to maintain full guard but Lopetus has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lopetus looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lopetus's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bush looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Lopetus working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bush wants to get back to full guard.
Lopetus sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bush is trying to stand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jab from Lopetus.

Bush darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bush working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopetus manages to get to full guard.
Bush throws a strike but Lopetus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bush is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lopetus is looking to pass into half guard but Bush pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bush is in guard.

Lopetus keeping full guard, as Bush tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopetus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bush's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bush not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keijo Lopetus will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bush tries to keep at a distance but Lopetus has taken the fight into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Lopetus.
Lopetus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lopetus misses with a body punch.
Lopetus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bush goes for a takedown attempt but Lopetus pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Bush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bush is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lopetus tests Bush's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lopetus misses with a hook. Bush ducked under it nicely.
Bush is looking to counter with a body kick.

Bush scores with a takedown into Lopetus's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopetus looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bush stopping the sweep attempt from Lopetus.
Bush chips away with some ground and pound.
Bush postures up.
Bush trying to move into half guard but instead Lopetus has managed to sweep!

Billy Bush overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bush looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bush is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopetus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lopetus stopping the sweep attempt from Bush.
Lopetus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Let's hope that Lopetus has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lopetus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bush swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopetus looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Lopetus advances to half guard.
Lopetus perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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 has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lopetus stuns Bush with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lopetus ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lopetus throws a lazy right hand but Bush sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bush changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bush keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lopetus.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopetus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bush shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lopetus as he avoids it easily.
Lopetus sizes up Bush with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Lopetus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lopetus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bush swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bush drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lopetus sprawls and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lopetus. Bush does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lopetus throws a leg kick but Bush sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lopetus throws a leg kick that misses.
Lopetus connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bush's hands.
Bush dips to his left and cracks Lopetus with an uppercut!
Lopetus pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bush back to the cage. Lopetus follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Billy Bush has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bush ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Billy Bush is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bush throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bush checks a leg kick nicely.
Lopetus throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopetus has closed the distance and engaged Bush in a clinch.
Bush has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lopetus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bush is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lopetus gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bush looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Bush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bush is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lopetus is defending well.
Lopetus lands a hook that snaps the head of Bush backwards.
Lopetus is pressed up against the cage. Bush has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lopetus down to the mat. Lopetus avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lopetus fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lopetus throws out a loose jab but Bush uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lopetus has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lopetus looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lopetus lands a leg kick that knocks Bush off balance momentarily.
Lopetus tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bush looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Keijo Lopetus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopetus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopetus swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Bush looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lopetus!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopetus is looking to reverse the position.
Bush working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Lopetus manages to get back to half guard.
Bush trying to advance position but Lopetus counters by regaining guard.
Lopetus wants to sweep here but Bush controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopetus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lopetus is adopting a defensive guard.
Lopetus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bush is one step ahead there.
Lopetus controlling the position.

Bush is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lopetus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lopetus has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bush seems keen to control Lopetus's posture.
Lopetus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bush has a closed guard, preventing Lopetus from standing up.
Billy Bush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopetus passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Lopetus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lopetus 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Lopetus!
In his post fight interview, Keijo Lopetus started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.