PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fredrik Stenberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Stenberg
vs
Lopez

177 cm
28
164 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

181 cm
47
162 lbs
55 - 26 - 2

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Bullet Proof System

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fredrik Stenberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 55 - 26 - 2, fighting out of New York, Miguel Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez tries to bum rush Stenberg with a series of wild strikes but Stenberg uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stenberg.

Stenberg manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lopez on his heels. He'll look to pass Lopez's guard now, I'm sure.
Stenberg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lopez is keeping the position for now.
Stenberg is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lopez has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Midnight MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Stenberg drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stenberg jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stenberg cracks Lopez with a solid left hand.
Lopez looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stenberg stands and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lopez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stenberg takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenberg is nestled in close to Lopez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lopez is looking for a sweep. Stenberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lopez is still trying to improve position.
Nice strikes from Stenberg there.
Stenberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Stenberg is trying to work for a kimura but Lopez is defending well.
Stenberg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lopez has hold of Stenberg's hands but Stenberg slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stenberg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lopez wants to control but Stenberg is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stenberg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lopez is trying to stand.
Stenberg working Lopez over with strikes.

Stenberg is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lopez sees it coming and defends easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stenberg lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stenberg working Lopez over with strikes.
Lopez trying to hold on to Stenberg's head to control him but Stenberg postures up.
Lopez taking some punishment here, with Stenberg in his half guard.
Lopez tries to roll over but Stenberg keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez manages to get to full guard.
Stenberg is pushing down on Lopez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lopez is fighting to maintain full guard but Stenberg has managed to sneak the leg through.

Stenberg is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lopez sees it coming and defends easily.
Lopez moves into full guard.
Stenberg scoring with some ground and pound.
Stenberg chips away with some ground and pound.
Stenberg working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopez's head.

Lopez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Stenberg uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to improve his position.
Stenberg in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stenberg connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lopez some visible discomfort.
Lopez tries to bench press Stenberg off him but Stenberg keeps the position.
Stenberg landing a few strikes.
Stenberg lands a few punches from side control.
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 tries to buck Stenberg off but Stenberg is having none of it.
Lopez can't do much from the bottom here.

Stenberg is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lopez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A cross from Stenberg lands.
Stenberg connects with the punch.

Stenberg has closed the distance and engaged Lopez in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stenberg.
Stenberg scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stenberg lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lopez tries to land a knee to the head but Stenberg blocks with his arms.
Lopez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stenberg misses with a punch on the inside.

Stenberg jumps into guard, dragging Lopez to the mat.

Stenberg is looking for a triangle but Lopez pushes his legs off easily.
Stenberg 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lopez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stenberg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lopez defends it easily.

Lopez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stenberg has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lopez has managed to get both his arms back between Stenberg's legs - danger averted.

Stenberg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Stenberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stenberg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lopez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lopez wants to stand but Stenberg has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Stenberg looking for a guillotine here but Lopez defends easily.

Stenberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Stenberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stenberg 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.

Stenberg working for a triangle but Lopez defends it easily.

Stenberg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lopez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lopez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stenberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stenberg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stenberg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?

Stenberg is looking for a triangle but Lopez pushes his legs off easily.

Stenberg has his foot on Lopez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lopez works his way back into a safe position though.
Stenberg has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Lopez has passed into side control.
Lopez is looking to take a break and control but Stenberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stenberg is looking to regain half guard here but Lopez keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez stands up and beckons Stenberg to his feet.
Lopez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lopez! But no joy.
Lopez needs to keep his hands up - Stenberg had a free shot at his head there.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stenberg counters with a stiff right hand.
Lopez throws a looping overhand right but Stenberg ducks down to avoid it.
Stenberg appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Stenberg misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lopez throws a front kick aimed at Stenberg's knee but Stenberg avoids it well.
Miguel Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stenberg feints and as Lopez raises his hands in defense, Stenberg changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez pulls Stenberg in to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stenberg working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopez's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fredrik Stenberg dominated that second round.
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 takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stenberg slips under a jab.
Lopez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Stenberg fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lopez swinging wildly here.
A swing and a miss from Stenberg.
Stenberg connects with a right hand. Lopez shakes it off.
Sloppy strikes from Lopez. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stenberg looks to land a left hand but Lopez moved out of range nicely.
Stenberg closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lopez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stenberg throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lopez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Miguel Lopez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stenberg gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stenberg misses with a hook from the clinch.

Stenberg manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lopez wants to get up but he can't break Stenberg's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Stenberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lopez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Stenberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lopez wants to stand but Stenberg has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Lopez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stenberg is looking for a triangle but Lopez pushes his legs off easily.

Stenberg working for a triangle but Lopez defends it easily.

Stenberg looking for a guillotine here but Lopez defends easily.

Stenberg working for a triangle but Lopez defends it easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Stenberg actively working from the bottom here.

Stenberg looking for submissions off his back.
Fredrik Stenberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lopez trying to control the action but Stenberg is working from the bottom.
Stenberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lopez is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stenberg desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lopez in particular looking to stall.
Stenberg is controlling Lopez's trapped leg to prevent Lopez from advancing to side control.
Lopez wants to get back to his feet.
Stenberg slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Miguel Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stenberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stenberg wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Lopez is now in half guard.
Stenberg holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fredrik Stenberg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stenberg has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fredrik Stenberg!
A victorious Fredrik Stenberg thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Miguel Lopez had this to say: 'never been more excited to retire. only 3 fights left'.