PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Lopez
vs
Worner

170 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
19
130 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sonny Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Worner!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Worner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Worner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses.

Lopez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Worner's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez stays in close to Worner's body and controls the position.
Lopez prevents Worner from getting back to his feet.
Lopez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lopez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Worner on the ground.
Worner has a closed guard, preventing Lopez from standing up.
Lopez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lopez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sonny Lopez just wasn't active enough.

Lopez darts in and clinches Worner up against the cage.

Lopez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Worner uses from the top position.
Worner working some strikes from top position.
Lopez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Worner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lopez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Worner throws a big elbow that misses.
Worner wants to get up but he can't break Lopez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lopez controlling the position.
Worner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lopez managing to control the position.
Worner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Worner working some strikes from top position.
Worner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Worner postures up and lands a big shot to Lopez's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Worner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Worner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Worner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Worner stands and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Worner throws a strike aimed at the side of Lopez's head but Lopez avoids it well.

Worner decides to stand back up.

Worner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lopez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Worner keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.
Lopez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez preventing the sweep.
Worner trying to control the position.
Lopez looking to pass the guard.
Worner is trying to control the position but Lopez postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lopez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Worner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Austin Worner.
Lopez keeps Worner at a distance using the push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.
Worner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lopez avoids it really well and circles away.
Worner feints a jab promting Lopez to slip. Worner then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lopez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Worner throws a leg kick

and Lopez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Worner's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Worner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Lopez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Worner, up you get!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Lopez looking to score a takedown here. Worner is defending well but Lopez drives through and ends up in Worner's guard.
Lopez throws a big right hand that misses.
Worner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Lopez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Worner throws a leg kick

and Lopez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Worner working a defensive guard but Lopez passes into half guard.
Worner trying to hold on to Lopez's head to control him but Lopez postures up.
Lopez is looking to advance position but Worner won't allow it.
Lopez lands with a punch from half guard.
Worner is looking to improve his position.
Worner regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lopez content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Worner is keeping the position for now.
Worner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lopez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lopez looking to pass the guard.
Lopez is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sonny Lopez just wasn't active enough.
Worner tried to score with a low kick but Lopez checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lopez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lopez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Worner defends it well.
Lopez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez thows a huge punch but Worner dodges it nicely.
Worner tries to roll over but Lopez keeps him under control.
Lopez is taking a breather. Worner says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Worner wants to improve his position but Lopez is controlling well.
Lopez is thwarting Worner's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Worner shoots in and drives through. Lopez sprawls well.
Worner has his takedown stuffed

and Lopez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sonny Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Worner.
Ground and pound from Lopez.
Lopez is pressing down on Worner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Worner is holding on for now.
Worner tries to roll over but Lopez keeps him under control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Lopez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Worner throws a leg kick
and Lopez counters with a thumping low kick.

Lopez instigates a clinch.
Worner trying to land knees to the body.

Lopez manages to pull guard.
Worner being controlled here momentarily.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Worner isn't so interested in that idea.
Worner throwing strikes but missing.
Sonny Lopez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lopez has momentary wrist control but Worner slips an elbow through the middle.
Lopez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Worner throwing strikes but missing.
Lopez has his hands on Worner's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Worner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Worner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Worner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Worner wants to stand and escape but instead Lopez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Worner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Worner wants to get back to his feet but Lopez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lopez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lopez is standing up over Worner. Worner looks to escape but Lopez dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Lopez stalls from top position.
Worner regains half guard.
Worner trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lopez manages to pass to mount!
Worner is working to get back to half guard.
Lopez lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez controlling his opponent.
Worner is working to get back to half guard.
Lopez controlling from the full mount.
Lopez lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez unloading with bombs!
BOOM! Lopez connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Lopez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Worner wants to hold on but Lopez pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez landing shots from mount.
Worner tries to hold on but Lopez pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Worner is working to get back to half guard.

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 Sonny Lopez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lopez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Lopez!
Sonny Lopez thanked the fans post fight for their support.