PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Love (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moses Puppicis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Love
vs
Puppicis

186 cm
20
207 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
23
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Orlando Love!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Moses Puppicis!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Love tries to score a power double leg takedown but Puppicis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Love somewhat.
Love tries to close the distance and clinch but Puppicis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Puppicis connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Love's hands.
Love will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Love doesn't manage to clinch there - Puppicis circles away.
Puppicis lands a high kick!
Love wants to clinch.
Puppicis with the counter takedown but Love avoids it easily.
Moses Puppicis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puppicis dives in for a single leg takedown but Love sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Puppicis doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Love counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puppicis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Puppicis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Puppicis has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Love is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Orlando Love has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moses Puppicis.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Love.

Love pulls Puppicis into guard.

Love had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Puppicis defends it easily.
Love controls Puppicis momentarily but Puppicis frees himself.
Puppicis forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Puppicis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Puppicis prevents Love from improving his position.
Love throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Love is trying to get back to full guard.
Love might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Love trying to hold on to Puppicis's head to control him but Puppicis postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puppicis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Puppicis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Love is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Puppicis jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Love fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice sprawl there from Love as Puppicis shoots in.
Love is looking to counter with a body kick.

Love throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Puppicis was covering up waiting for the punch and Love finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Puppicis wants to get back to his feet but Love passes into half guard.

Love throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Love gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Love tries to bum rush Puppicis with a series of wild strikes but Puppicis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Love shoots in for a double leg but Puppicis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Love shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Puppicis as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Puppicis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Love looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Puppicis dives in and grabs Love's left leg, looking for a takedown. Love pushes down on Puppicis's head and hops out.
Puppicis just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromLove.

Love closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Love lands in his opponent's guard.

Puppicis has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Love off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Love wants to clinch
and Puppicis counters with a right hand to the body.
Love slaps away a takedown attempt from Puppicis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Orlando Love is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Puppicis misses with a takedown attempt - Love sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Orlando Love has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moses Puppicis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puppicis tries to close the distance and clinch but Love swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Love is looking to clinch.

Puppicis forces Love back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Puppicis is trying to pull guard but Love has him pressed against the cage.

Puppicis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Love fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Love fails with the takedown
and Puppicis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Puppicis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Puppicis scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puppicis scores with a head kick.
No luck for Love with that takedown attempt.
Puppicis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Love as he avoids it easily.
Moses Puppicis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Puppicis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Puppicis is breathing heavily.

Puppicis clinches with his opponent.
Love wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Puppicis has him pressed against the cage.
Love looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Love breaks from the clinch.
Love has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Puppicis.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Puppicis clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puppicis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Puppicis rushes Love and presses him up against the cage.
Love is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Puppicis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Love prevents it.
Love wants to stall.
Puppicis is trying to force a seperation but Love has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Puppicis's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Puppicis pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puppicis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Love wanted to stand there but Puppicis had control of the position.
Puppicis keeping moving, preventing Love from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Puppicis 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Puppicis fails with a takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Love misses its target.

Love is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Puppicis's half guard.
Puppicis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Love scores with a couple of nice shots.
Love is stalling here. Puppicis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Love seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Puppicis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Love is trying to control Puppicis's posture but Puppicis avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An elbow from Puppicis crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puppicis tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Puppicis decides to stand up, so the ref orders Love to his feet.
Puppicis tries to clinch but Love moves out of range.
Love is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Love does no damage.
Love throws a sloppy head kick

and Puppicis counters by moving into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Puppicis manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puppicis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Love circles away.
Puppicis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Orlando Love has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moses Puppicis.
Puppicis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Love tries to counter by clinching up but Puppicis breaks away and moves out of range.
Love fails in his attempt to clinch.
Puppicis shoots in for a takedown but Love shows good takedown defense.
Puppicis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Love has a takedown stuffed.
Love moves in looking to clinch but Puppicis pushes him off.
Puppicis blocks a head kick by Love.
Puppicis wants to counter the offense by Love and move into the clinch position.
Puppicis fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puppicis goes for a double leg but Love avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Love continues to drive forward.

Love fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Puppicis to the ground. Love is now in Puppicis's guard.
Love trying to control the position from guard on top but Puppicis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moses Puppicis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Puppicis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Puppicis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Love decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Puppicis, up you get!
Puppicis swings for the body but Love moves out of range.
Puppicis swats away the attempt to clinch by Love.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puppicis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Love sprawls well. Love wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Puppicis gets slowly back to his feet.
Love shoots in looking for a takedown. Puppicis tries to sprawl out of it but Love keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Puppicis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Love closes this distance looking for a takedown but Puppicis circles away.
A punch combination from Puppicis misses.
Love seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Love shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Puppicis's guard.

Puppicis looking for a guillotine here but Love defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Orlando Love.
Well Puppicis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moses Puppicis!