PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Lindblad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Starq Lopes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lindblad
vs
Lopes

174 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gunnar Lindblad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Starq Lopes!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lindblad with a hook.

Lindblad tries to keep at a distance but Lopes has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lindblad lands a takedown into guard.

Lindblad drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lopes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lopes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lopes!
Lopes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lindblad keeps working.
Lindblad can't do much from the bottom here.
Lopes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Lopes decides to stand back up.
Lindblad looks for a takedown but Lopes sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Lopes. No joy for Lindblad on that attempt.
A head kick misses from Lopes.

Lindblad decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lindblad is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindblad perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Lindblad seems to be looking for submissions.
Lopes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lindblad. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lopes lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Lindblad is thwarting Lopes's attempts to control the position.
Lopes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lindblad kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lopes desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Lopes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lopes is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lindblad is looking to take a break and control but Lopes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Lindblad gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lopes trying to control but Lindblad is working from the bottom.
Lopes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lindblad is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lopes lands a couple of digs.

Lindblad looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindblad wants to hit a switch here but Lopes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Lindblad there!
Lindblad keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lopes lands a big shot there that rocks Lindblad but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lopes tries to control but Lindblad wriggling away.
Lindblad is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lindblad wants to control but Lopes is having none of it.
Lopes scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lindblad?
Lopes lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Lindblad wants to hold on but Lopes pushes him away.
Lopes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lopes punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Starq Lopes will probably get the nod.
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.

Lopes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lindblad with a poor takedown

and Lopes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lindblad's guard now.
Lindblad wants to sweep but no luck.
Lindblad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lopes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lindblad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Lindblad looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Lopes has picked Lindblad up and slammed him! Lindblad can't keep hold of the triangle and Lopes manages to pass to side control!
Lopes just content to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lindblad keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopes tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lindblad's legs.

Lopes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Lindblad has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gunnar Lindblad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopes misses with a takedown attempt

and Lindblad counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lopes!
Lindblad wants to control the pace but Lopes is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lindblad breaks from Lopes's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Starq Lopes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindblad trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Lindblad jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lopes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lopes and Lindblad has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Lindblad is trying to get an arm triangle but Lopes is defending well.
Lindblad working away.
Lindblad is looking to take a break and control but Lopes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindblad is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lopes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Lindblad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lindblad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lopes keeps working.
Lindblad is really struggling to control Lopes but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lopes moves into the clinch successfully.
Lindblad goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lopes prevents it.

Lopes jumps guard.
Lopes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lindblad trying to move into half guard but instead Lopes has managed to sweep!
Lindblad keeping moving, preventing Lopes from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Starq Lopes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Lindblad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lindblad doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Lopes counters with a shoot takedown. Lindblad fights it but they end up in guard.
Lopes wants to stand but Lindblad is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lopes trying to control but Lindblad is working from the bottom.
Lindblad is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lopes passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lindblad manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopes looking to pass the guard.

Lindblad is looking for a triangle but Lopes pushes his legs off easily.
Lopes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lindblad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lindblad tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lindblad is looking for a triangle but Lopes pushes his legs off easily.
Lopes chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lindblad looking for subs off his back but Lopes has passed one foot through into half guard.
Lindblad flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lindblad is trying to maintain the position but Lopes is very close to passing his half guard.
Lopes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lindblad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lindblad is looking for a sweep. Lopes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lopes wants to clinch.
Lindblad has his takedown stuffed
enabling Lopes to counter with a crisp jab.

Lopes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Lindblad looking for submissions off his back.
Lopes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lindblad is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindblad is pressing down on Lopes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lopes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lindblad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopes wants to pass the guard but Lindblad is keeping the position.

Lindblad looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lopes trying to control but Lindblad is working from the bottom.

Lindblad is working an open guard so Lopes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gunnar Lindblad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starq Lopes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lindblad throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lopes counters with a shoot takedown. Lindblad fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Starq Lopes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lopes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Starq Lopes!