PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyril Figgus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber comes to the cage accompanied by California Love. Urijah Faber has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Faber
vs
Figgus

168 cm
31
130 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

167 cm
26
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cyril Figgus!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber closes this distance looking for a takedown but Figgus circles away.
Cyril Figgus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Figgus closes the distance but Faber moves to the side

and Faber counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Faber.
Faber stopping the sweep attempt from Figgus.
Faber sitting in guard here, content to control.
Figgus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.
Faber is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

We're going to have a standup here because Urijah Faber wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Figgus tries to clinch but Faber moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figgus tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Faber counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Faber keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Faber works his way into side control.
Faber controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figgus is looking to reverse the position.
Faber content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Urijah Faber has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Figgus wants to clinch

and Faber counters with a takedown into side control.
Faber is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Figgus's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figgus struggling a bit here.
Faber is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Figgus's shoulder. That is not cool.
Figgus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Faber is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Figgus's shoulder. That is not cool.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Urijah Faber wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Figgus clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figgus gets underhooks to prevent Faber's takedown attempt.
Faber is working for takedown but Figgus is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Figgus comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Faber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Figgus is pressed up against the cage. Faber has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Figgus down to the mat. Figgus avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Figgus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Faber doesn't seem bothered though.

Figgus pushes Faber up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Figgus content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Figgus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Figgus using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Figgus is looking to clinch.
Faber fails to land the takedown.

Figgus rushes Faber and presses him up against the cage.
Figgus prevents a takedown attempt there.
Figgus is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber takes an elbow to the forehead.
Faber is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Figgus is defending well.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Faber takes an elbow to the forehead.
Figgus is trying to stall.
Figgus is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Figgus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Faber is working for takedown but Figgus is calmly controlling the position for now.
Figgus is pressed up against the cage. Faber has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Figgus down to the mat. Figgus avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Figgus connects with a right hand. Faber shakes it off.

Figgus drives through and clinches with Faber against the cage.
Faber is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Figgus pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Figgus controlling the action here for a moment.
Faber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Figgus using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faber has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Figgus after a bit of a struggle.
Faber takes an elbow to the forehead.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Figgus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faber wants a takedown.
Figgus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Figgus creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Faber's defenses.
Figgus stalling.
Figgus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Figgus stalling.
Figgus comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Figgus lands an elbow inside.
Figgus lands an elbow inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber tries to score a body lock takedown but Figgus shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Faber has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Figgus avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Faber has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Figgus after a bit of a struggle.
Figgus crunches a lovely knee into Faber's ribcage.
Figgus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Faber.
Cyril Figgus seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Figgus.
Figgus lands a damaging elbow.
Figgus landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Figgus stops a takedown attempt from Faber.
Faber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Figgus leaning his opponent against the cage.
Figgus unloads a knee to the mid-section. Faber lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Figgus displaying some good clinch control by pressing Faber up against the cage.
Figgus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figgus lands a nice knee to the body.
Figgus wants to stall.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Faber has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Figgus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Figgus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Figgus is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Faber takes an elbow to the forehead.
Figgus lands an elbow inside that Faber shrugs off.
Figgus landing knees to the body.
Faber is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Figgus gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Figgus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Figgus working Faber over with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Figgus.
Figgus lands a nice elbow.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Figgus taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyril Figgus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Figgus doesn't manage to clinch there - Faber circles away.

Figgus pushes Faber up against the cage in a clinch.
Faber is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Figgus is defending well.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Figgus leaning against his opponent.
Faber takes an elbow to the forehead.
Figgus lands an elbow that stopped Faber in his tracks for a moment.
Figgus gets underhooks to prevent Faber's takedown attempt.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Faber goes for a takedown in the clinch but Figgus prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber goes for a takedown in the clinch but Figgus prevents it.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faber avoiding damage as Figgus throws knees to the body.
Figgus tries to land knees in the clinch but Faber avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figgus trying to stall but Faber improves his position.
Faber tries for a takedown but Figgus manages to get underhooks.
Faber drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Figgus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Faber takes an elbow to the forehead.
The referee calls for Figgus to work.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Figgus gets underhooks to prevent Faber's takedown attempt.
Faber wants to take the fight to the mat but Figgus manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Figgus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Figgus lands an elbow just above Faber 's eye.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Figgus lands a good knee to the midsection. Faber won't want to take too many of those.
Figgus lands an elbow inside that Faber shrugs off.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Figgus obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figgus will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Faber up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Figgus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Figgus avoiding damage.
Figgus lands a damaging elbow.
Faber wants a takedown but no success here.
Figgus landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Faber goes for a takedown in the clinch but Figgus prevents it.
Figgus lands an elbow that stopped Faber in his tracks for a moment.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Faber takes an elbow to the temple.
Figgus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Figgus.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Faber is working for takedown but Figgus is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figgus creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Faber's defenses.
Figgus lands a good knee to the midsection. Faber won't want to take too many of those.
Figgus is struggling to control the position.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Figgus scores a nice knee to the body.
Figgus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Figgus.
Faber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Figgus comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Figgus lands a knee to the body.
Faber is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Figgus gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Figgus lands a nice elbow.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Figgus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Figgus creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Faber's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Figgus.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Faber as Figgus tries to tie him up.
Figgus lands an elbow inside that Faber shrugs off.
Figgus lands an elbow that stopped Faber in his tracks for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Figgus's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Knees to the body from Figgus.
Figgus lands an elbow inside.
Faber is working for takedown but Figgus is calmly controlling the position for now.
Faber wants a takedown but no success here.
Figgus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Figgus lands an elbow just above Faber 's eye.
Figgus landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Figgus lands a nice elbow.
Come on Figgus - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Figgus is pressed up against the cage. Faber has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Figgus down to the mat. Figgus avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cyril Figgus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Figgus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyril Figgus!
Cyril Figgus looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'That's what you get! You people out there should have seen what this guy did to the bathroom pre-fight. It was like a war crime!'.