PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alfonso Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Maurizio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurizio comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mechina: Empyrean kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Lopez
vs
Maurizio

193 cm
21
207 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
33
210 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alfonso Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mick Maurizio!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez throws a body punch but Maurizio moves out of range.
Maurizio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.
Lopez moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maurizio chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lopez can pounce on him.
Lopez scoring well with a low kick there.
Lopez connects with a crisp jab.
Lopez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Maurizio doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Mick Maurizio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the liver by Lopez. Beautiful body shot.

Maurizio clinches with his opponent.
Maurizio tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maurizio takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short uppercut from Lopez.
Lopez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maurizio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez avoids the elbow strike from Maurizio, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Lopez.
Lopez just leaning against Maurizio, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurizio misses with a knee to the head.
Lopez landing knees to the body.
Lopez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lopez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maurizio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maurizio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maurizio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maurizio looks gassed!
A knee to the head by Lopez.
Lopez lands a knee to the head.
Maurizio working aggressively here.
Maurizio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lopez blocks it with crossed arms.
Lopez stalling the fight.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Lopez for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Maurizio looking to throw knees to the head but Lopez is blocking nicely.
Maurizio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez dodges an elbow strike from Maurizio.
Lopez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lopez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maurizio backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lopez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lopez blocks it with crossed arms.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lopez.
Lopez managing to block the knees to the body from Maurizio.
Maurizio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maurizio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez lands an uppercut.

Lopez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maurizio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alfonso Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Maurizio.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lopez!
Maurizio is trying desperately to land a takedown but Lopez is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Maurizio.
Lopez pushes Maurizio away with a front kick.
Lopez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Maurizio shoots in looking for a takedown. Lopez tries to sprawl out of it but Maurizio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lopez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lopez lands with a cross.
Lopez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lopez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Lopez. No joy for Maurizio on that attempt.
Lopez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lopez punishes Maurizio's body with a nice straight punch.
Lopez lands a nice shot that snaps Maurizio's head back.
Lopez throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lopez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
BAM! Lopez delivers a spinning backfist that drops Maurizio like a ragdoll! This is all oooooveeeer! He was out before he hit the ground!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Spinning Backfist). Alfonso Lopez!
An out of breath Alfonso Lopez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.