PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tap Out (ranked 2806 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Lopez (ranked 7236 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopez has chosen Vamos as his entrance music. 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.

Out
vs
Lopez

178 cm
25
158 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

181 cm
50
162 lbs
59 - 37 - 2

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tap Out!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 59 - 37 - 2, fighting out of New York, Miguel Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Lopez finds it's target.

Out drives through and clinches with Lopez against the cage.
Out lands a shoulder strike.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez throws a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Out looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez misses with a wild combination.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Out.
Lopez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lopez throws a head kick but Out moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Out clinches up against the cage.
Out fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Out digs a right hand underneath Lopez's ribcage. Lopez let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lopez's coach down at Midnight MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lopez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Out closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Out goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lopez blocking some punches.
Lopez lands a shoulder strike.
Out working aggressively here.
Out misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lopez.
Out lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tap Out seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Out doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.

Out instigates a clinch.
A short left from Out.
Out misses with the head strike.
Out misses with a hook from the clinch.
Out lands an uppercut.
Lopez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Out.
A short uppercut from Lopez.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Out lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Out swings wildly with an uppercut but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lopez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lopez pushes Out back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Lopez.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Lopez scores with a four punch combination!
Out tries to clinch there but Lopez circles away.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Out was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lopez.
A head kick misses from Lopez.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Out tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Out tries to clinch up.
Out tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Out swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Out tries to clinch there but Lopez circles away.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
Lopez misses with a few strikes there.
Lopez throws a nice looking combination but Out bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It looked like Out wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Out wants to clinch but Lopez slips to the side
and Lopez counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Out looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Out tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Lopez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lopez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lopez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Out tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lopez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Out.
Lopez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Out wants to clinch up but Lopez keeps it at a distance.
Out staying out of range there.
Out is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Lopez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Lopez throws a hook to the side of Out's head but Out sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Lopez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lopez throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Out tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
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!
Out moves out of range of the body kick.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Out is looking to clinch.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Out moves into the clinch.
Lopez tries to circle away but Out has him pinned against the cage.
Out tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Lopez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Out ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lopez throws a series of punches but Out moves out of range.

Out drives through and clinches with Lopez against the cage.
Lopez throws a punch but it's blocked by Out.
Out goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lopez tries to circle away but Out has him pinned against the cage.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Out is looking to clinch.
Out tries to clinch there but Lopez circles away.
Out tries to clinch up but Lopez circles away and keeps his distance.
Lopez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lopez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a two punch combination.
Lopez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
Lopez throws a counter combo.
Lopez throws a series of punches but Out avoids them all with ease.
Lopez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Out clinches with his opponent.
Out lands a shot to the body.
Lopez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Out backwards.
Out lands a nice uppercut.
Out has a couple of punches blocked by Lopez.
Out swings wildly with an uppercut but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Out lands a left hand.
Out working aggressively here.
Lopez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Out throws a head punch that misses.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Lopez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Out counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lopez thinking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Out moves into the clinch successfully.
Lopez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lopez stalling the fight.
Lopez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Out.
Lopez blocks a body shot from Out.
A short right from Out on the inside.
Out misses with a punch to the body.
Lopez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Out is trying to stall.
Lopez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Out sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Out darts in trying to clinch
and Lopez counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Out uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Lopez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Out looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez misses the body punch
and Out connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Out wants to clinch up but Lopez keeps it at a distance.
Lopez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Out is looking to clinch.
Lopez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lopez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Out tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
Lopez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Out looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez misses with the combination.
Out scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Out fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lopez throws a body shot but no joy.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lopez throws a body shot but no joy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lopez blocks a body shot from Out.
Out misses with a hook to the ribs.
Out struggles to land a body shot inside as Lopez controls his hands.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lopez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Out rather than just go for the knockout.

Out closes the distance and clinches.
A right hook to the body lands for Out.
Tap Out has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lopez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Lopez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Miguel Lopez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Out is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Lopez misses with a double jab.

Out closes the distance and pushes Lopez back into the cage.
Out swings wildly with an uppercut but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez working hard to break the clinch.
Lopez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lopez prevents a body shot from Out.
Out pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lopez blocks an uppercut.
Out can't find room to land a body shot as Lopez controls the action.
Out misses with a punch to the body.
Out lands a body shot.
Out throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Out.
Out throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.
Lopez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Out has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Out swings wildly with an uppercut but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tap Out has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Out throws a punch but it's blocked by Lopez.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Out moves in looking to clinch but Lopez pushes him off.
Lopez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Out.
An attempted straight right counter from Out misses the target.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.

Out has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Out.
Out misses with a hook to the ribs.
Out doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Out fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Out lands with a short shot to the head.
Out tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lopez misses with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lopez scores with a shot to the side of Out's head.
Out has a couple of punches blocked by Lopez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Out misses with a short punch on the inside.
Out misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Out fails to land.
Out fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Out has a couple of punches blocked by Lopez.
Out is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Out lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lopez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Out doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Out can't find room to land a body shot as Lopez controls the action.
Out misses with a short punch on the inside.
Out pushes Lopez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Out can't find room to land a body shot as Lopez controls the action.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Out clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Out gets through Lopez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Out misses with a body punch.

Lopez breaks from the clinch.
Out moves in looking to clinch but Lopez pushes him off.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Out tries to clinch up.
Out doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.
Out wants to clinch but Lopez slips to the side
and Out takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopez swings for the body but Out moves out of range.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Out wants to clinch up but Lopez keeps it at a distance.
Out cracks Lopez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses.
Out tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tap Out showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Lopez!
A relieved looking Miguel Lopez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.