PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gosha Lopez (ranked 840 p4p, 98 weight class) and Feihck Tiote (ranked 882 p4p, 103 weight class). Lopez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sho Z-pod duba. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lopez
vs
Tiote

165 cm
22
135 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
164 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gosha Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Feihck Tiote!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiote 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.
Tiote throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Tiote has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Lopez closes the distance and pushes Tiote back into the cage.

Lopez wants the takedown. Tiote is fighting it off but Lopez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Tiote's guard against the cage.

Tiote looking for a guillotine here but Lopez defends easily.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Tiote keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tiote looking for subs off his back but Lopez has passed one foot through into half guard.

Lopez is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez trying to mount his opponent but Tiote defends it.

Tiote is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.
Tiote wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Lopez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tiote knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Lopez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tiote is looking to improve his position.

Tiote actively working from the bottom here.

Lopez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lopez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiote is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tiote actively working from the bottom here.
Lopez controlling the action here.
Tiote makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tiote.

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.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Tiote is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tiote fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopez stuffs the takedown attempt from Tiote. Tiote gets slowly back to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Lopez misses the target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tiote.
Gosha Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Feihck Tiote.
Tiote looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lopez tries to counter by clinching up but Tiote breaks away and moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiote looks for a takedown but Lopez sprawls well.
Tiote tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
It looked like Lopez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tiote.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tiote looking to score a takedown here. Lopez is defending well but Tiote drives through and ends up in Lopez's guard.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but Tiote is proving a slippery customer.
Lopez wants to sweep here but Tiote controlling him for the moment.
Lopez seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lopez here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Tiote from controlling successfully.
Lopez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tiote manages to get himself to full guard.

Lopez advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez tries to advance to mount but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiote bucks up and tries to throw Lopez off but instead Lopez has got his back!
Lopez is looking to control Tiote but Tiote is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Gosha Lopez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lopez looking for the choke from the back.
Lopez has the hooks in. Tiote is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Lopez tightening his grip on Tiote, looking for the choke.
Lopez doesn't have the hooks in and Tiote manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tiote trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiote trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tiote looking to sit in guard and control but Lopez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lopez 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.
Lopez wants to pass the guard but Tiote is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tiote is on top in guard.

Lopez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tiote pushes down on Lopez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tiote is looking to take a break and control but Lopez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Lopez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiote pulls his head out easily.
Lopez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tiote can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiote wants to pass to mount but Lopez is defending the position.
Tiote is looking to take a break and control but Lopez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lopez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tiote scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lopez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tiote is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tiote seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lopez holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiote is keen to just control but Lopez is a slippery customer.
Lopez tries to roll over but Tiote keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Feihck Tiote will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tiote shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lopez sprawls well. Lopez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tiote gets slowly back to his feet.
Tiote wants to clinch.
Lopez leaves Tiote with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Tiote shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lopez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez wants to sweep here but Tiote controlling him for the moment.

Lopez looking for a guillotine here but Tiote defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiote postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tiote sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lopez's guard.
Lopez wants to get back to full guard.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Tiote is controlling well.
Tiote is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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.
Lopez trying to control from the bottom.
Tiote seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lopez gets back to full guard.
Tiote sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lopez's guard.
Tiote stalling away here and it's allowed Lopez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tiote passes Lopez's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to maintain the position but Tiote is very close to passing his half guard.
Tiote passes the guard and advances to mount!
Tiote prevents Lopez from getting the reversal.
Tiote lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lopez hang on?
Tiote takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tiote looking to control but Lopez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is trying desperately to improve position.
Lopez wants to hold on but Tiote pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiote dominating with strikes here.
Tiote is trying to control here but Lopez has managed to regain half guard.
Tiote is trying to control the action in half guard but Lopez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Feihck Tiote comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tiote 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Feihck Tiote!
Feihck Tiote really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.