PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Crash Holly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holly's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Slow Death. Figueroa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Samba Pa Ti by Carlos Santana. 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.

Holly
vs
Figueroa

175 cm
18
148 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

[JMFC] Slaughterhouse Nutrition
[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition Q156 RECOVERY!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Crash Holly!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Figueroa !
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Figueroa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holly.
Holly takes a swing at Figueroa 's ribcage but misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Figueroa .
Figueroa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holly keeps working.
Holly is looking for a sweep.
Holly is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Figueroa off and has taken his back!
Holly has the hooks in. Figueroa is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Holly misses with punches from the back.
Holly is looking to control Figueroa but Figueroa is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Holly working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Figueroa tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Figueroa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holly working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Figueroa wants to control but Holly is having none of it.

Holly looking to secure an arm triangle but Figueroa defends it well.
Figueroa is in all sorts of trouble here.
Figueroa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Holly is working for a guillotine from mount but Figueroa frees his head quite easily.
Holly prevents Figueroa from getting the reversal.

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.
Figueroa bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Figueroa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Holly has control of Figueroa 's left arm, preventing Figueroa from doing any damage.
Figueroa trying to control but Holly is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Holly wants to pass the guard but Figueroa is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa is looking to control Holly's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Figueroa avoid being mounted?

Holly is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Figueroa is not content to let Holly control the position.
Holly keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Figueroa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Holly controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Figueroa looking for a sweep. Not yet Figueroa , not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Figueroa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holly trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holly advances to half guard.
Figueroa preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holly is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figueroa is in trouble now - Holly has advanced to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Figueroa is looking to get to half guard.
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 Crash Holly will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Holly lands a jab to Figueroa 's midsection.
Holly swings for the body but Figueroa moves out of range.
Holly moves in looking to clinch but Figueroa pushes him off.
Holly avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Some wild striking there from Holly.
Figueroa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Figueroa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Holly working a defensive guard here.

Holly escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Figueroa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Figueroa trying to control the position from guard on top but Holly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Figueroa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holly swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Holly throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Holly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Figueroa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Figueroa wants to pass the guard but Holly is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holly has his hands on Figueroa 's head, controlling the position.

Holly looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Figueroa passes into side control.
Holly tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Figueroa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Holly manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Figueroa is defending against the submission attempts here by Holly.
Figueroa controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holly is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Figueroa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holly.
Figueroa tries to get to full guard but Holly has control of the leg.

Holly is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Figueroa sees it coming and defends easily.
Figueroa trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Figueroa is refusing to be controlled, as Holly sits in half guard.

Holly is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Holly fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Figueroa manages to avoid it.
Good exchange - Holly coming out on top.
Figueroa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Holly stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Figueroa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Holly circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holly 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holly lands a jab to the nose.
Figueroa misses with a wild combination.
Holly connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Figueroa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Figueroa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Holly uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Figueroa .
Holly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A combination from Figueroa does no damage.
Figueroa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Holly lands with a cross.
Figueroa scores with a three punch combo!
Holly tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holly uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Figueroa .
Rafael Figueroa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A leg kick checked by Holly.

Figueroa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Figueroa content to control rather than advance.
Holly trying to hold on to Figueroa 's head to control him but Figueroa postures up.
Figueroa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holly slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Figueroa wants to control from the top but Holly keeps moving.
Holly is trying to keep Figueroa in close.
Holly keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Holly is trying to control the position but Figueroa postures up.
Figueroa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holly is keeping the position for now.

Holly has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Figueroa should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Holly has tightened it up now! Figueroa should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Crash Holly!
Crash Holly retains his featherweight title!