PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Folignus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Bridges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Folignus kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Laces Out. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Leon Bridges enters the cage!

Folignus
vs
Bridges

186 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

184 cm
24
196 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Folignus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Bridges!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Folignus throws a head kick but Bridges moves out of range.
Folignus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bridges looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bridges trying to control but Folignus is working from the bottom.
Bridges must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Folignus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bridges's guard.
Folignus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bridges is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Folignus is working hard here to advance position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bridges can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bridges looking to hit a scissor sweep but Folignus is one step ahead there.

Folignus drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bridges looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bridges looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bridges!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Bridges is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Folignus knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Folignus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bridges throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Folignus to regain full guard.
Folignus keeping moving, preventing Bridges from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Folignus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bridges trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bridges wants to control from the top but Folignus keeps moving.
Bridges showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges wants to pass the guard but Folignus is keeping the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leon Bridges hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Folignus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Folignus has his takedown stuffed
and Bridges counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bridges. Folignus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Folignus tries for a takedown but Bridges circles away easily
and Bridges counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Folignus misses with a looping left.
Folignus throws a low kick but Bridges moves out of range easily.
Good work by Bridges as he checks the leg kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bridges scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Folignus slips under a jab.
Nice takedown defense from Bridges. No joy for Folignus on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Folignus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bridges shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Folignus keeping moving, preventing Bridges from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Bridges dominated that round.
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.

Bridges displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Folignus.
Folignus tries to clinch there but Bridges circles away.
Folignus lands a head kick!
Folignus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Folignus throws a leg kick but Bridges sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bridges tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Folignus was well out of range. Poor timing from Bridges.
Folignus connects with an inside leg kick.
Folignus looks to land a left hand but Bridges moved out of range nicely.
Leon Bridges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bridges drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bridges looking to sit in guard and control but Folignus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Folignus slips nicely into half guard.
Bridges is looking to control Folignus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bridges avoid being mounted?
Bridges is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bridges is trying to control but can't.

Bridges is defending against the submission attempts here by Folignus.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bridges manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bridges keeping moving, preventing Folignus from controlling successfully.
Bridges looking for a sweep. Not yet Bridges, not yet.
Folignus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bridges is keeping the position for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bridges looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bridges trying to keep a closed guard but Folignus is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bridges tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bridges looking to control.
Bridges has control of Folignus's left arm, preventing Folignus from doing any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leon Bridges wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bridges misses the body punch
and Folignus counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nice uppercut lands for Folignus. That snapped Bridges's head back.

Bridges gets a double leg takedown into Folignus's guard.
Folignus wants to sweep here but Bridges controlling him for the moment.
Bridges trying to control the position from guard on top but Folignus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bridges with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Folignus is trying to control the position but Bridges postures up.
Leon Bridges has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bridges throws a big elbow that misses.

Bridges stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Folignus has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Bridges manages to get his head free but now Folignus has transitioned to an armbar! Bridges grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Folignus! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Folignus!
A less than humble Nick Folignus misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.