PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Mazzini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mazzini has chosen In the Name of God - Dream Theater 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.

Lopez
vs
Mazzini

185 cm
19
209 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

187 cm
21
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pedro Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paulo Mazzini!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Lopez with that takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mazzini shoots in looking for a takedown. Lopez tries to sprawl out of it but Mazzini keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lopez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lopez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mazzini counters with a head kick that drops Lopez - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!

Lopez is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mazzini wants to stand but Lopez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Oh Lopez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lopez seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez manages to get to full guard.
Mazzini looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mazzini won't allow Lopez to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Lopez or perhaps it was just good defense by Mazzini which made him look bad.
Mazzini tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Mazzini as Lopez shoots in.
Mazzini tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mazzini connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Mazzini.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mazzini wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mazzini has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.
Lopez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mazzini has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lopez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mazzini pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mazzini lands an elbow inside that Lopez shrugs off.
Mazzini fails to pull guard.
Mazzini is trying to break free.
Mazzini is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mazzini drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lopez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mazzini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lopez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Lopez gets a takedown into half guard.
Lopez wants to take a breather but Mazzini is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Mazzini reverses the position - he's now on top in Lopez's guard.
Mazzini trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lopez's guard.
Lopez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mazzini is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mazzini wants to stand but Lopez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lopez is trying to keep Mazzini in close.
Lopez 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.

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.

Mazzini stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice takedown defense from Lopez. No joy for Mazzini on that attempt.
Mazzini lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mazzini shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopez sprawls well. He's pushed Mazzini's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lopez misses with a takedown
and Mazzini counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lopez's knee momentarily.
A punch combination from Mazzini misses.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mazzini as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Mazzini. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mazzini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mazzini gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lopez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mazzini's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Mazzini dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mazzini lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lopez backs up against the cage.
Mazzini misses with a double jab

and Lopez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lopez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Mazzini looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lopez trying to pass the guard but Mazzini defending well.
Lopez trying to control the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopez moves into full mount! Mazzini won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mazzini tries to buck Lopez off but he can't manage it.
Lopez content just to control the position here.

Lopez is working for a guillotine from mount but Mazzini frees his head quite easily.
Lopez lands a nice shot to the head.
Lopez prevents Mazzini from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lopez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lopez controlling from mount.
Mazzini slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mazzini wants to get back to his feet.
Lopez wants to control but Mazzini is keeping him busy.

Mazzini looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mazzini pushes Lopez off looking to stand but Lopez dives back in and keeps control.
Lopez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez passes to side control.
Lopez wants to control but Mazzini is keeping him busy.

Lopez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lopez working the ground and pound.
Lopez is putting a hurting on Mazzini here, landing some big shots from side control.

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.
Mazzini is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Lopez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Lopez controls the position.
Lopez trying to control the position but Mazzini is working away.
Lopez scoring with punches and elbows.
Mazzini is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mazzini tries for a takedown but Lopez circles away easily

and Lopez counters with a single leg into guard. Mazzini didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Lopez dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mazzini keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mazzini lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lopez circles away quickly and effectively.
Lopez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mazzini swivels and escapes.
Lopez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Pedro Lopez has been cut.
Mazzini fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mazzini tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mazzini with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lopez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lopez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lopez advances to half guard.
Lopez stops Mazzini from getting back to his feet.
Lopez is looking to advance position but Mazzini won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mazzini gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lopez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Mazzini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mazzini throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mazzini's head.

Mazzini is looking for a triangle here but Lopez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mazzini is working to avoid the ground and pound but Lopez connects with a decent elbow.
Lopez tries to advance to mount but Mazzini denies him.

That's two 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.
Mazzini is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lopez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Mazzini tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Lopez wants to control but Mazzini has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Mazzini wants to get back to full guard.
Lopez is keen to just control but Mazzini is a slippery customer.
Mazzini looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Pedro Lopez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lopez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lopez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Lopez decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mazzini tries to bum rush Lopez with a series of wild strikes but Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Lopez gets the takedown into side control.
Mazzini wants to get back to his feet but Lopez drags him back down.
Lopez wants to control but Mazzini is keeping him busy.
Lopez controls the position.
Mazzini takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Lopez showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Lopez!