PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Riggs
vs
Lopez

200 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lopez closes the distance and pushes Riggs back into the cage.
Riggs fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Riggs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lopez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnny Riggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riggs fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lopez on the side of the head.

It looks like Mario Lopez has been cut.
Riggs lands a high kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lopez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Riggs.

Riggs drops Lopez with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Lopez looks back up at him and smiles so Riggs waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Riggs takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
Riggs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lopez swivels and escapes.
Riggs throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lopez counters with a left to the body.
Lopez tries to clinch up but Riggs circles away and keeps his distance.
Lopez works over Riggs's head and body with a nice combination.
Riggs tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Horrible takedown by Riggs or perhaps it was just good defense by Lopez which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs misses with a combination
and Lopez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Riggs thinking.
Riggs is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez misses with the combination.
Lopez looks for the body kick but Riggs saw that one coming.
Lopez lands a jab-cross combination.
Riggs clinches but Lopez breaks the clinch
and Lopez counters with a nice uppercut.
Lopez has a takedown stuffed.
Lopez moves out of range as Riggs throws a body kick.
Riggs tries for a takedown but Lopez circles away easily
and Lopez counters with a two punch combo.
Nice sprawl there from Riggs as Lopez shoots in.
Riggs throws a series of punches but Lopez moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Riggs shoots in for a double leg but Lopez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lopez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lopez throws a series of strikes that have Riggs backpedaling.
Lopez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Riggs.
A jab from Lopez finds it's way through Riggs's defenses.
Riggs lands a nice hook to Lopez's body. Lopez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lopez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Riggs closes the distance but Lopez moves to the side
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Riggs blocks a head kick by Lopez.

Riggs takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs lands a damaging elbow.

Riggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riggs misses with a hook to the body

and Lopez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lopez.

Riggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riggs scores with a jab to the body.
Lopez looks for a takedown but Riggs sprawls well.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Riggs wants to clinch
and Lopez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Riggs tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Riggs does no damage.
Riggs misses with an uppercut. Lopez saw that one coming.
Riggs takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Riggs throws a head kick that misses.
Lopez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lopez takes one to the side of the head.
Riggs wants to clinch but Lopez slips to the side

and Lopez moves into the clinch.

Riggs breaks the clinch.
Lopez slaps away a takedown attempt from Riggs, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riggs takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Riggs throws a leg kick but Lopez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Riggs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Lopez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lopez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lopez as he avoids it easily.
Riggs misses with a head kick.
Lopez scores with a three punch combo!
Riggs throws a head kick but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez throws a head kick but Riggs moves out of range.
Riggs throws a lazy right hand but Lopez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Riggs wants to clinch
and Lopez counters with a three punch combo that has Riggs backing up. Riggs nods at Lopez to acknowledge the strikes.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt - Riggs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopez misses with a combination

and Riggs moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs taking a breather.
Lopez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riggs tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lopez is able to avoid easily.
Riggs tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez thuds a left hand into Riggs's body.
Riggs misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Lopez.
Riggs misses with a combination
and Lopez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riggs is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Lopez connects with a looping right hand.
Lopez is working the combinations to good effect here.

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.
Riggs throws a shot to the body.
Riggs throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.
Riggs clinches but Lopez breaks the clinch
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Johnny Riggs is winning the standup battle so far.
Riggs needs to keep his hands up - Lopez had a free shot at his head there.
Riggs tries to clinch but Lopez moves away

and Lopez counters by clinching up.
Lopez is trying to break the clinch but Riggs has him pressed against the cage.
Lopez wants to get back to striking at distance but Riggs won't allow it.
Riggs presses Lopez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Riggs breaks the clinch.
A low kick from Riggs misses
and Lopez counters with a stiff right hand.
Riggs shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lopez defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a wild combination.
Nice jab there from Riggs.
Riggs tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lopez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Riggs tries a head kick but it misses.

Lopez moves into range and clinches up with Riggs.
Lopez trying to control the position but instead, Riggs has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lopez into the cage.

Riggs manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lopez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lopez swinging wildly here.
Riggs misses with an uppercut.
Riggs wants to clinch.
Riggs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lopez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Riggs takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mario Lopez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riggs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riggs throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lopez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lopez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Riggs as he avoids it easily.
Riggs looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Riggs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lopez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Riggs somewhat.
Lopez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Riggs gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riggs wants to clinch but Lopez slips to the side
and Lopez counters with a nice uppercut.

Lopez rushes Riggs and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lopez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Riggs has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lopez tries to break the clinch but Riggs is controlling the position.
Lopez managing to block the knees to the body from Riggs.

Riggs drags the fight down to the ground.

Riggs looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lopez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lopez postures up.

Riggs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
Riggs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Riggs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lopez looking to sit in guard and control but Riggs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Riggs content to stall in guard here.
Riggs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lopez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riggs gets to his feet - Lopez follows without any prompting.
A jab from Riggs misses.
Riggs lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Riggs shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopez sprawls well. He's pushed Riggs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopez misses with a double jab.
Lopez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Riggs instigates a clinch.
Riggs lands a knee to the body.
Riggs is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez tries to land a front kick but Riggs steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Riggs throws a jab when Lopez was well out of range.
Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Riggs counters with a straight right hand.
Riggs swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lopez counters with a two punch combo.
Riggs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Riggs misses with a body shot
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggs closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lopez counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johnny Riggs.
I think Riggs 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mario Lopez!