PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barry Banderman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banderman's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, On To The Next One. Figueroa has chosen Bring It Back Remix by Jae Millz feat. Fabolous , Jadakiss and Lil' Wayne as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Banderman
vs
Figueroa

190 cm
22
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Machina Clothing (Formerly Ares Combatwear)

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barry Banderman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Figueroa!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Figueroa fails to land the takedown.
Banderman shoots in but no luck this time.
Figueroa doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Banderman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banderman trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banderman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Figueroa is proving hard to escape from.
Banderman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Figueroa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banderman tries to stand but Figueroa is controlling from the bottom.
Banderman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Banderman wants to stand but Figueroa is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banderman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Figueroa is trying to keep Banderman in close.
Banderman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banderman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Figueroa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

and Banderman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banderman.
Barry Banderman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Figueroa.
Figueroa striking from the bottom here.
Banderman trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banderman prevents Figueroa from getting back to his feet.
Figueroa looks gassed!
Banderman wants to pass the guard but Figueroa is keeping the position.
Figueroa lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Banderman from controlling successfully.
Figueroa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Figueroa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banderman is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Banderman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Banderman.
Figueroa wants a takedown but no success here.
Banderman is looking to control Figueroa's arms but Figueroa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banderman has his back to the cage.
Banderman looking for a takedown.

Banderman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Figueroa uses from the top position.
Figueroa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Figueroa throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Banderman works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Figueroa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Figueroa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Banderman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Banderman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banderman tries to strike from the bottom.
Banderman tries to strike from the bottom.
Figueroa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Figueroa preventing the sweep.
Figueroa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Figueroa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Figueroa shoots in but Banderman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Banderman dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Banderman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Banderman wants to take a breather but Figueroa is having none of it.
Figueroa wants to get back to his feet.
Banderman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Banderman stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Figueroa to get to his feet.
Banderman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Figueroa misses with a takedown attempt

and Banderman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Banderman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Figueroa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Figueroa wants to control the position but Banderman says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banderman wants to work for an arm triangle but Figueroa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Banderman wants to control but Figueroa is keeping him busy.
Figueroa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Figueroa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Figueroa punching from the bottom.
Banderman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barry Banderman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Banderman works his foot free and advances to mount.
Banderman looking to control but Figueroa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two 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.
Banderman looking to finish Figueroa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Figueroa!
Banderman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Figueroa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Banderman working Figueroa over with strikes here.
Banderman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Figueroa wants to hold on but Banderman pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banderman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Figueroa?

Banderman looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Banderman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Figueroa has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Banderman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Figueroa is looking to escape.
Figueroa wants to control but Banderman is having none of it.

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.
Figueroa flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Figueroa regains half guard.

Banderman escapes and gets back to his feet.

Figueroa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Banderman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Banderman is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Figueroa has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Figueroa misses with the ground and pound.
Figueroa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Banderman some visible discomfort.
Figueroa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Banderman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Banderman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Banderman trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banderman throwing strikes from guard but Figueroa blocks nicely.
Banderman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Figueroa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Figueroa striking off his back but it's not causing Banderman any problems.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Banderman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Figueroa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banderman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Figueroa is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Figueroa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Banderman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Figueroa throws a jab when Banderman was well out of range.
Figueroa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Banderman but Banderman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Figueroa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Banderman is fending him off so far but Figueroa persists. Nope, Banderman circles away and we're back to standing.
Barry Banderman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Figueroa.

Banderman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Banderman showed some decent athleticism there.

Banderman stands up out of the half guard.
Banderman tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banderman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Banderman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Figueroa to his feet.
Banderman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Figueroa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banderman moves away.
Banderman looks for a takedown but Figueroa sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Banderman or perhaps it was just good defense by Figueroa which made him look bad.
No joy there for Figueroa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Figueroa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Figueroa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Figueroa looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banderman has his foot on Figueroa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Figueroa works his way back into a safe position though.
Figueroa works over Banderman with some ground and pound from guard.
Figueroa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Banderman's head.
Banderman trying to control the position.
Figueroa preventing the sweep.
Figueroa trying to control the position from guard on top but Banderman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banderman controls Figueroa momentarily but Figueroa frees himself.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banderman stuffs the takedown attempt from Figueroa. Figueroa gets slowly back to his feet.
Banderman misses with a hook to the body

and Figueroa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Banderman!
Figueroa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Banderman hang on?
Figueroa is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Banderman tries to reverse the position but Figueroa maintains control.
Banderman tries to hold on but Figueroa pushes him away.
Figueroa lands a big shot there that rocks Banderman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Figueroa putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Figueroa is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Marco Figueroa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barry Banderman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banderman tries to lock up and control but Figueroa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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 Barry Banderman.
Well Banderman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Banderman!