PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Cruz comes into the arena with 50 cent P.I.M.P blaring out of the sound system. Lopez has chosen Vamos as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rafael Santa Cruz is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Santa Cruz
vs
Lopez

180 cm
38
170 lbs
32 - 26 - 2

181 cm
43
162 lbs
48 - 17 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Santa Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 48 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Miguel Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez misses with a hook. Santa Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Santa Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Despite the aggression on Lopez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lopez.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but Lopez moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lopez! But no joy.
Santa Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lopez's sensitive parts.
Lopez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lopez throws a body kick that misses.
Lopez's coach down at Midnight MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lopez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Santa Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Lopez.
A countering left hand to the body from Lopez misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
A nice side step and Lopez releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've been hearing reports that Santa Cruz has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Lopez misses with a two punch combination.
Lopez throws a head kick but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Lopez throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lopezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lopez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Lopez slips a straight right by Santa Cruz.
Lopez is looking for the big counter here.
Santa Cruz tries a low kick but Lopez avoids it.
Lopez is looking to score with low kicks.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santa Cruz lands an overhand right.
Lopez lunges at Santa Cruz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Santa Cruz's hand.
Santa Cruz misses with a looping left.
Lopez cracks a nice hook into Santa Cruz's ribs.
Lopez slips a straight right by Santa Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a wild body shot.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Lopez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Santa Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Lopez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Santa Cruz lands an overhand right.
Lopez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
Miguel Lopez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lopez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Santa Cruz. That did some damage!
Lopez needs to keep his hands up - Santa Cruz had a free shot at his head there.
Lopez defending well as Santa Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Lopez throws a fast counter high kick but Santa Cruz manages to duck under it in time.
Lopez throws out a leg kick but Santa Cruz moves out of range and Lopez only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Santa Cruz connects with a single shot there.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopez just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Lopez. Those never looked like landing.
Santa Cruz checks a low kick from Lopez.
Nice defenses there by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Santa Cruz tries to land a front kick but Lopez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lopez appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lopez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lopez missing with a left hand there. Santa Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Santa Cruz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A punch combination from Lopez misses.
It looked like Santa Cruz was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lopez.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook.
Lopez is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Santa Cruz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lopez slips under a jab.
Santa Cruz misses with an uppercut
and Lopez counters with an inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz throws the left hand but Lopez avoids the punch easily.
Lopez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez tries to work over Santa Cruz's front leg with a kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
Santa Cruz is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Santa Cruz motions for Lopez to come forward. Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz throws a one two combo.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lopez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Santa Cruz's calf.
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 Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santa Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santa Cruz dodges the punch combination from Lopez.
Santa Cruz avoids the head kick by Lopez.
Santa Cruz throws a hook to the side of Lopez's head but Lopez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Santa Cruz dives in and scores a takedown into Lopez's guard.

Lopez pushes Santa Cruz off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santa Cruz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lopez has time to react.
Santa Cruz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lopez throws out a counter right but Santa Cruz avoids it with no problem.
A slapping body kick lands there for Lopez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lopez in his tracks.
Lopez misses with a double jab.
Santa Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Santa Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lopez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lopez misses with a wild combination.
Lopez slips a straight right by Santa Cruz.
Lopez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Santa Cruz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Santa Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Lopez ducks down to avoid it.
Lopez throws a counter combo.
Lopez lands a slapping body shot.
Lopez throws a leg kick
and Lopez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz looks to throw a body kick
and Santa Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Miguel Lopez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lopez slips a jab from Santa Cruz.
Lopez throws a big shot that misses.
Santa Cruz throws a hook but Lopez avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Lopez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Santa Cruz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Santa Cruz thows a leg kick but Lopez checks it
and Lopez counters with a three punch combo that has Santa Cruz backing up. Santa Cruz nods at Lopez to acknowledge the strikes.
Lopez fakes the leg kick and cracks Santa Cruz in the body.
Lopez checks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Lopez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Lopez.
Lopez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lopez tries a head kick but it misses.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Santa Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Santa Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Lopez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santa Cruz throws a right hand that misses
and Lopez counters with a series of strikes. Santa Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Miguel Lopez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santa Cruz misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Lopez.
Santa Cruz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Santa Cruz looks to land a right hand but Lopez moved out of range.
Lopez with a nice cross.
A bone on bone clash there as Lopez blocks the leg kick.
Lopez throws a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santa Cruz. Lopez does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Lopez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lopez throws a push kick but Santa Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Santa Cruz appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lopez misses with a body kick.
Jab, jab by Santa Cruz - just one landing.
Lopez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Santa Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lopez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lopez checks a leg kick nicely.
Lopez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lopez jabs at Santa Cruz's body.
Lopez throws out a leg kick but Santa Cruz moves out of range and Lopez only half commits.
Lopez tries to bum rush Santa Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Santa Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopez lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Cruz dodges the punch combination from Lopez.
Santa Cruz is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lopez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Santa Cruz takes a step back to recover.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking body shot.
Lopez throws a body punch but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Santa Cruz misses with a straight right.
Lopez checks a leg kick nicely.
Santa Cruz misses with a body kick.
As Santa Cruz backs off Lopez throws a huge counter combo but Santa Cruz manages to avoid it all.
Santa Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santa Cruz thows a leg kick but Lopez checks it
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lopez throws a push kick but Santa Cruz slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a kick to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Santa Cruz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A head kick by Santa Cruz misses
and Lopez counters with a one-two to the body.
Lopez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lopez lands with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santa Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Lopez.
Santa Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Lopez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Santa Cruz throws a hook but Lopez avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz misses with a straight left.
Santa Cruz throws a body punch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez throws a hook but Santa Cruz avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lopez misses the shot to the body.
Lopez wants to land a leg kick but Santa Cruz is out of range.
Lopez moves out of range as Santa Cruz throws a body kick.
Santa Cruz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez moves out of range as Santa Cruz strikes.
A little jabbing left from Lopez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lopez moves away from the strike by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Santa Cruz misses with a straight left.
Santa Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Lopez throws a counter combo.
Santa Cruz is looking to chop away at Lopez's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Santa Cruz.
Lopez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lopez takes a swing at Santa Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Santa Cruz cracks Lopez with an open hand slap.
Lopez tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lopez.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lopez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Santa Cruz misses with an uppercut
and Lopez counters with a nice kick to the body.
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Santa Cruz.
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!
A good leg kick by Santa Cruz.
The crowd cheers as Lopez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santa Cruz doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miguel Lopez.
Well Lopez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Lopez!
Our winner, Miguel Lopez, 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.