PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franky Yip (ranked 2195 p4p, 253 weight class) and Bornas Lopette (ranked 3231 p4p, 360 weight class). Lopette has chosen Root Of All Evil 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.

Yip
vs
Lopette

180 cm
36
185 lbs
13 - 7 - 3

190 cm
44
183 lbs
39 - 32 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Franky Yip!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 32 - 3, fighting out of New York, Bornas Lopette!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopette jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yip connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lopette momentarily.
Lopette tried to score with a low kick but Yip checks it.
A little feinted left hand from Yip on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lopette sizes up Yip with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lopette looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lopette throws a sloppy head kick
and Yip counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yip keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lopette misses with a hook
and Yip counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yip moves out of range of the leg kick from Lopette.
Yip throwing a counter right hand but Lopette manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopette looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lopette throws a head kick but Yip moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Yip on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lopette wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bornas Lopette seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopette swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yip checks a leg kick nicely.
Lopette takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Yip clinches up against the cage.
Yip changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lopette fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yip scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Yip staying out of range there.
Yip throws a shot to the body.
Yip avoids the body shot from Lopette.
Yip takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lopette throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopette throws a big shot that misses.
Yip takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A big left from Lopette misses.
Yip was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Yip fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yip walks into a stiff left hand from Lopette.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yip ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little feinted left hand from Yip on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lopette connects with an inside leg kick.

Yip moves into range and clinches up with Lopette.
Lopette has a couple of punches blocked by Yip.
Lopette lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Yip drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lopette gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yip is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lopette gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franky Yip. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopette can't find room to land a body shot as Yip controls the action.
Yip is working for takedown but Lopette is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lopette tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yip blocks an elbow strike from Lopette.
Yip is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lopette gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lopette is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yip managing to block the knees to the body from Lopette.
Lopette misses with an elbow over the top.

Yip works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Yip is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lopette keeping moving, preventing Yip from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yip throws a big right hand that misses.
Yip trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yip is really struggling to control Lopette but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Yip pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lopette is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lopette throws a hook to the side of Yip's head but Yip sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lopette misses with a hook. Yip ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Yip wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lopette throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yip.
Lopette throws a poor cross that misses
and Yip counters with a stiff right hand.

Yip rushes Lopette and presses him up against the cage.

Yip gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Lopette kicks Yip off and gets back to his feet.
Lopette misses with an uppercut. Yip saw that one coming.
Yip throws a big counter combination but Lopette scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lopette throws an off balance right hand
and Yip counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yip moves out of range of the leg kick from Lopette.
Lopette scores with a body shot.
Lopette misses with a kick to the body
and Yip counters with a nice uppercut.
Lopette takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice defenses there by Yip.
Bornas Lopette seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopette swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lopette with a hook.
Lopette fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yip is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Yip misses the target.
Lopette looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lopette misses with a left hand
and Yip counters with a nice body shot.
Yip avoids a kick to the body.
Yip is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lopette misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yip.
Yip tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lopette throws the left hand but Yip avoids the punch easily.

Yip closes the distance and pushes Lopette back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yip lands a right hand.
Lopette gets underhooks to prevent Yip's takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Yip tries to score a body lock takedown but Lopette shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lopette lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Lopette on the inside.
Yip can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franky Yip. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yip has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Lopette clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Yip's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Lopette looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Lopette defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopette defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Yip scores with strikes from the back.

Yip is looking for the choke from the back position but Lopette is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lopette covering up well and avoiding damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yip is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lopette has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Yip connects with a big shot to the side of Lopette's head.

Lopette is having to fend off submission attempts from Yip, who is looking to sink in the choke. Yip doesn't have the hooks in though and Lopette manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Yip looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lopette is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Franky Yip will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lopette fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Yip has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Yip ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yip tried to score with a low kick but Lopette checks it.
Lopette throws a lazy body kick
and Lopette takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Lopette throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yip tests Lopette's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopette misses with a body kick.
Lopette tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yip slips a straight right by Lopette.
Yip slips under a jab from Lopette.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopette misses with a low kick.

Yip closes the distance and clinches.
Lopette misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lopette tries to throw a body punch but Yip avoids it by throwing Lopette back against the cage.
Yip has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lopette avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lopette lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Yip has Lopette pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lopette manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Yip can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franky Yip. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopette lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Franky Yip has been cut.
A body shot lands from Lopette.
Lopette tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yip's elbow.
Yip drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lopette pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopette throws a body kick that misses.
Yip fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lopette scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopette fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yip is out of range.
Yip moves out of range of the leg kick from Lopette.
A quick step to the side and Yip tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lopette misses with a leg kick
and Yip counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yip blocks a head kick by Lopette.
Lopette throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yip counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
Lopette throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yip steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lopette.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yip darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Yip checks a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Yip misses the target.
Lopette fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yip blocks the body kick.
Lopette bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yip's head backwards.
Yip throws a body punch but Lopette moves out of range.
Lopette pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little feinted left hand from Yip on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Yip tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopette swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yip slips under a jab.
Lopette throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lopette throws a head kick that misses.
Lopette throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yip sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lopette bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yip's head.
Lopette throws a low kick, looking for Yip's leg but Yip calmly moves out of range.
Yip went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopette fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Yip has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lopette.
Lopette missing with a left hand there. Yip was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yip is looking for a counter combo.
Lopette tries to land a body kick
and Yip counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lopette misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yip.
Yip blocks a head kick by Lopette.
Yip uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopette.
Yip checks the leg kick.
Yip connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lopette's hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yip doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopette circles away.
Lopette throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bornas Lopette comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lopette 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bornas Lopette!
Our winner, Bornas Lopette, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.