PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joels Van Wijnbergen (ranked 500 p4p, 73 weight class) and Martez Lopez (ranked 1167 p4p, 163 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Van Wijnbergen
vs
Lopez

185 cm
34
210 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

178 cm
30
220 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joels Van Wijnbergen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martez Lopez!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lopez digs a good hook to Van Wijnbergen's body.
Van Wijnbergen swings widly with a right hand
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Lopez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lopez looks to throw the jab but Van Wijnbergen is out of range.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
Van Wijnbergen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lopez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Van Wijnbergen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nice body kick from Van Wijnbergen.
Lopez cracks Van Wijnbergen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lopez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a kick to the body.
Van Wijnbergen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Wijnbergen looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Van Wijnbergen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lopez finds it's way round the side to connect with Van Wijnbergen's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
A shot to the liver by Lopez. Beautiful body shot.
Lopez cracks Van Wijnbergen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Van Wijnbergen checks a leg kick.
Lopez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lopez moves out of range as Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Lopez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lopez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Van Wijnbergen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Martez Lopez has been cut.

Lopez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Van Wijnbergen sprawls well initially but Lopez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Van Wijnbergen defending well though.
Lopez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Van Wijnbergen taking some punishment here, with Lopez in his half guard.
Lopez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen is refusing to be controlled, as Lopez sits in half guard.
Lopez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lopez throwing shots but Van Wijnbergen is blocking nicely.
Van Wijnbergen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lopez.
Lopez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lopez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van Wijnbergen wants to control but Lopez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Van Wijnbergen is in trouble now - Lopez has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez lands a couple of good shots and Van Wijnbergen has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Lopez misses with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen holding on to Lopez's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Can Van Wijnbergen hold on?! Lopez is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Lopez missing with strikes.
Van Wijnbergen trying to control the hands but Lopez won't let him.
Lopez misses with punches from the back.

Lopez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Lopez throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen tries to escape but Lopez has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Lopez throwing sloppy strikes.
Lopez avoiding Van Wijnbergen 's attempts to control his hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Wijnbergen wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Lopez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lopez controlling from mount.
Lopez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lopez trying to control but Van Wijnbergen is having none of it.
Van Wijnbergen wants to control but Lopez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martez Lopez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martez Lopez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Wijnbergen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lopez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lopez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lopez blocks a head kick by Van Wijnbergen.
Lopez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Wijnbergen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lopez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Wijnbergen manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Van Wijnbergen misses the target.
Lopez scores with a jab. Van Wijnbergen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lopez misses with a low kick as Van Wijnbergen jumps back.
Van Wijnbergen throws a counter high kick but Lopez was just alert enough to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Wijnbergen misses the target.
Lopez swings for the body but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Lopez connects with a looping right hand.
We've been told by Van Wijnbergen's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lopez checks a leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lopez lands a nice looking body shot.
Lopez punishes Van Wijnbergen's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Van Wijnbergen tries to score with a low kick but Lopez moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez takes a swing at Van Wijnbergen's ribcage but misses.
Van Wijnbergen quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Van Wijnbergen throws the left hand but Lopez avoids the punch easily.
Lopez misses with a hook
and Van Wijnbergen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Van Wijnbergen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Van Wijnbergen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Wijnbergen throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
A countering left hand to the body from Lopez misses.
Lopez lunges at Van Wijnbergen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Van Wijnbergen's hand.
Lopez looks to land a left hand but Van Wijnbergen moved out of range nicely.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lopez.
Van Wijnbergen needs to keep his hands up - Lopez had a free shot at his head there.
Lopez wants to land a leg kick but Van Wijnbergen is out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lopez sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Lopez drives through and clinches with Van Wijnbergen against the cage.
Lopez is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Wijnbergen has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to chop away at Lopez's legs.
Van Wijnbergen slips a jab from Lopez.
Van Wijnbergen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A low kick from Lopez is predictable there
and Van Wijnbergen counters with an outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Wijnbergen throws a big shot that misses.
Van Wijnbergen lands a high kick!
Van Wijnbergen throws a wild body kick that Lopez sees coming a mile off.
Lopez throws out a counter right but Van Wijnbergen avoids it with no problem.

Lopez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Van Wijnbergen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lopez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lopez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Wijnbergen is pulling down on Lopez's head. It's preventing any offense from Lopez, at least for the moment.
Lopez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Wijnbergen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lopez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Wijnbergen's head.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Van Wijnbergen keeps moving.

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.
Lopez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Van Wijnbergen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lopez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lopez lands a nice forearm strike.
Lopez lands some shots froms side control.
Lopez throws an elbow but Van Wijnbergen slips to the side and avoids it well.
Lopez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Van Wijnbergen down.
Lopez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lopez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lopez working the ground and pound but Van Wijnbergen is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martez Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Martez Lopez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Wijnbergen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Martez Lopez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Wijnbergen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Wijnbergen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
It seemed like Lopez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lopez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Van Wijnbergen's hands.
Van Wijnbergen connects with the punch.
Lopez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van Wijnbergen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lopez connects with a jab.
Lopez looks to throw the jab but Van Wijnbergen is out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Van Wijnbergen is predictable there
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Van Wijnbergen.
Lopez jabs Van Wijnbergen right on the nose. Van Wijnbergen blinks but takes it well.
Lopez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Van Wijnbergen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lopez if he has to take too many more of those.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a looping right hand.
Van Wijnbergen just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Wijnbergen throws the left hand but Lopez avoids the punch easily.
Van Wijnbergen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Van Wijnbergen.
Joels Van Wijnbergen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lopez misses with a body shot.
Lopez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Van Wijnbergen quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Lopez checks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Lopez misses.

Lopez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Van Wijnbergen!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lopez throws a strike aimed at the side of Van Wijnbergen's head but Van Wijnbergen avoids it well.
Joels Van Wijnbergen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen tries to buck Lopez off but Lopez is having none of it.
Lopez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lopez lands an elbow.
Check out the look on Lopez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Lopez scores with punches from side control.
Lopez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Lopez landing strikes.
The strikes coming from Lopez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Van Wijnbergen parries the strikes from Lopez easily there. Lopez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Van Wijnbergen to escape.
Van Wijnbergen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lopez.
Lopez lands a few punches from side control.

Van Wijnbergen is rocked!
Lopez working the head and body with strikes.
Oh Van Wijnbergen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lopez lands a big elbow and you can see that really hurt Van Wijnbergen! Lopez senses the opportunity and scores with more strikes - he's put Van Wijnbergen out! The ref tackles him out of the way to prevent him landing more strikes - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Martez Lopez!
After winning the bout, Martez Lopez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.