PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Putin (ranked 3877 p4p, 492 weight class) and Frank Lopez (ranked 3265 p4p, 429 weight class). Putin comes to the cage accompanied by IAMX - Happiness. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Putin
vs
Lopez

183 cm
27
175 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

185 cm
36
187 lbs
18 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vlad Putin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Putin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lopez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Putin moves into range and clinches up with Lopez.
Our sources have told us that Putin has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Putin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lopez is defending well for now.
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Putin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lopez is defending well for now.
Putin pushes off an throws an elbow but Lopez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Putin working Lopez over with knees to the body.
Putin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Putin.
Putin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Frank Lopez has been cut.
Putin missing with knees to the body.
Putin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lopez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Putin or not.
Lopez tries to stall but Putin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lopez struggles to land a body shot inside as Putin controls his hands.
Putin tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Putin lands a nice knee to the body.
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!
Putin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lopez is defending well for now.
Putin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Lopez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin closes the distance but Lopez moves to the side
letting Lopez counter with a right hand.
Putin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lopez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lopez was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Putin clinches up with Lopez and pushes him back against the cage.
Lopez avoids a wild elbow strike from Putin.
Nice elbow from Putin.
Lopez misses with a body punch.
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Putin lands an elbow that stopped Lopez in his tracks for a moment.
Lopez misses with an elbow over the top.
Lopez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Putin or not.
Putin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lopez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Putin crunches a lovely knee into Lopez's ribcage.
Putin blocks an elbow strike.
Putin tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Putin managing to block the knees to the body from Lopez.
Lopez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Putin avoids it.
Putin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lopez's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Putin working Lopez over with knees to the body.
Lopez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lopez blocks an elbow strike.
Putin dodges an elbow strike from Lopez.
Lopez leaning against his opponent.

Lopez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Putin wants to clinch.
Putin tries to clinch up but Lopez circles away and keeps his distance.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lopez misses with a body shot.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Putin darts in trying to clinch
and Lopez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez looks to land a body kick but Putin moved away.
Putin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Putin wants to clinch up but Lopez keeps it at a distance.
Putin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lopez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Putin has time to react.

Putin has Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Putin trying to land knees to the body.
Putin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lopez is defending well for now.
Putin tries to land a knee to the head but Lopez blocks with his arms.
Putin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lopez tries to work over Putin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lopez blocks an elbow strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Putin obliges.
Lopez is trying to push Putin away but Putin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lopez swings wildly with an uppercut but Putin uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Putin throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez working hard to break the clinch.
Putin takes an elbow to the temple.
Putin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Putin misses with an elbow over the top.
Lopez tries a body shot but Putin blocks it.
Putin managing to block the knees to the body from Lopez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Putin obliges.
Putin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lopez's face.
Putin lands an elbow just above Lopez 's eye.
Putin lands a damaging elbow.
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Putin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lopez tries to break the clinch but Putin is controlling the position.
Putin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Putin misses with a knee strike.
Putin connects with a knee to the head.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Putin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Putin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lopez avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Putin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Lopez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lopez counters with an inside leg kick.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lopez is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Putin tries to clinch up but Lopez circles away and keeps his distance.
Lopez is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Putin with a body shot.
Lopez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Putin tries to clinch up.
Lopez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Putin tries to clinch but Lopez moves away
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Putin rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Putin is looking to clinch.
Putin has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Lopez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
Lopez let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Putin tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez throws out a counter right but Putin avoids it with no problem.
Lopez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Putin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?
Putin tries to clinch up.
Putin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jab by Lopez.
Putin is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Putin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lopez is looking to control Putin's arms but Putin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lopez has his back to the cage.
Lopez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Putin in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vlad Putin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Putin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Putin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lopez avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lopez's efforts to push away.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Putin obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Putin obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Putin obliges.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Putin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.

Putin gets a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Putin throws an elbow but misses.
Putin misses with a knee strike.
Lopez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Lopez.
Putin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lopez dodges an elbow strike from Putin.
Lopez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Putin lands an elbow inside that Lopez shrugs off.
Putin keeps control of Lopez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lopez tries to land knees in the clinch but Putin avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Putin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lopez's brow.
Lopez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Putin's elbow.
Putin dodges an elbow strike from Lopez.
Putin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Putin has Lopez pressed against the cage, preventing Lopez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lopez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Putin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lopez is defending well for now.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Putin tries to clinch up.
Lopez now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Putin wants to clinch.
Lopez digs a good body shot into Putin's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lopez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lopez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Putin is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Vlad Putin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Putin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Putin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vlad Putin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Putin moves in looking to clinch but Lopez pushes him off.
Putin tries to clinch but Lopez is having none of it.

Putin clinches up with Lopez and pushes him back against the cage.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopez connects with an inside leg kick.
Lopez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lopez counters with a two punch combo.
Frank Lopez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Putin scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frank Lopez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Frank Lopez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lopez tests Putin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Putin.
It seemed like Lopez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Putin closes the distance but Lopez moves to the side
and Lopez counters with a three punch combo that has Putin backing up. Putin nods at Lopez to acknowledge the strikes.
Putin tries to clinch but Lopez moves out of range.
Putin tries to clinch there but Lopez circles away.
Despite the aggression on Lopez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lopez throws a body punch but Putin moves out of range.
Putin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lopez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Putin doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Putin rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.
Putin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lopez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lopez managing to block the knees to the body from Putin.
Putin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lopez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Putin.
Lopez looking to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lopez.
Putin misses with an elbow strike.
Putin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez tries to circle away but Putin has him pinned against the cage.
Putin misses with an elbow over the top.
Putin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That has opened up Frank Lopez's cut even more.
Putin lands a damaging elbow.

Lopez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Putin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Putin lands a nice knee to the body.
Putin lands a nice elbow.
Putin scores with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Putin lands a nice elbow.
Lopez misses with an elbow over the top.
Putin lands a nice knee to the body.
Putin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Putin.
Putin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lopez throws an elbow but it misses.
Putin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lopez's efforts to push away.
Putin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Putin blocking some punches.
Putin trying to land knees to the body.
Lopez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lopez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Putin up against the cage.
Putin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lopez.
Putin tries a knee to the head but Lopez blocks it.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Lopez is blocking nicely.
Putin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Putin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lopez avoids it.
Putin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lopez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Putin working Lopez over with knees to the body.

Lopez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lopez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lopez tries to land a leg kick but Putin saw it coming and moves away.
Putin wants to clinch up but Lopez keeps it at a distance.
Putin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lopez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Putin thinking.
Putin tries to clinch up
and Lopez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lopez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lopez throws a nice outside leg kick.

Putin rushes Lopez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez tries to circle away but Putin has him pinned against the cage.
Putin tries to land knees in the clinch but Lopez avoids the damage to the body.
Lopez working hard to break the clinch.
Putin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lopez blocks it with crossed arms.

Lopez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Putin tries to clinch but Lopez moves away
and Lopez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lopez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Putin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Putin is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Putin is looking to clinch but Lopez is avoiding it.
Lopez keeps the fight on the outside.
Putin connects with a solid leg kick.
Putin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Putin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Putin 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vlad Putin!
Post fight, Vlad Putin stared into the camera and said 'I am not surprised, motherf**ker!'.