PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Big John has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Virgil Figueroa's chin.

Figueroa
vs
John

185 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Virgil Figueroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Big John!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Figueroa.
John misses with an attempted mid kick.
Figueroa tries a head kick but it misses.
John tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Figueroa swivels and escapes.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Figueroa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from John.
Figueroa is looking to counter with head kicks.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by John!
John shoots for a takedown but Figueroa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big John.
John lands a head shot.
John dives in and grabs Figueroa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Figueroa pushes down on John's head and hops out.
John looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Figueroa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
John has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
John throws a hook but Figueroa avoids it easily.
Figueroa throws a nice outside leg kick.
John swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

John closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Figueroa's guard.

Figueroa has his feet on John's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John throws a poor cross that misses
and Figueroa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

John takes the fight into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
John trying to stall but Figueroa improves his position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Figueroa.

John wants the takedown. Figueroa is fighting it off but John persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Figueroa's guard against the cage.
Figueroa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
John throws a strike but Figueroa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
John wants to get back to his feet but Figueroa passes into half guard.
Figueroa trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

John moves into the clinch.
Figueroa goes for a takedown attempt but John pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Figueroa moves out of range of the leg kick from John.
A quick step to the side and Figueroa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Big John seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Figueroa moves out of range of the leg kick from John.

Figueroa darts in and clinches John up against the cage.
Figueroa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
John with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa blocking some punches.

Figueroa successfully pulls guard.
John must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Figueroa controlling the position.
John wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.
John throws a strike but Figueroa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Figueroa is looking to stand up but John won't let him.
Figueroa trying to control but John is working from the bottom.
Figueroa won't allow John to get back to his feet.
John wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Figueroa manages to pass to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Figueroa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Figueroa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
John looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
John throws a push kick but Figueroa slaps the foot to one side.
Figueroa feinted with a counter takedown.
John throws an overhand right that lands on Figueroa's shoulder, as Figueroa tries to avoid the shot.
Figueroa drops down looking for a counter takedown but John sprawls and moves away.

John has taken the fight to the clinch.

John has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Figueroa is trying to keep an underhook but John manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Figueroa is trying to control but can't.
Figueroa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from John.
Figueroa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from John.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
John lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
John throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big John dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

John swinging wildly here.
Big John is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Figueroa rushes John and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Figueroa tries to pull guard but John won't allow it.
Figueroa is trying to pull guard but John turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
John with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Figueroa connects with a nasty looking knee right to John's face.
Figueroa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Virgil Figueroa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
John misses with an elbow over the top.
Figueroa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
John has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Figueroa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics John uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
John throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John is looking to work some ground and pound but Figueroa has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John throwing strikes from guard but Figueroa blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
John wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.
Figueroa trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
John in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

John shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
John misses with a head shot. Figueroa uses the momentum to regain guard.
John looking to sit in guard and control but Figueroa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John pushes Figueroa off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

John has closed the distance and engaged Figueroa in a clinch.

Figueroa decides to pull guard.
Figueroa working a defensive guard here.
John throws an elbow that misses. Figueroa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in John's guard. Nice move by Figueroa!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Figueroa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa prevents John from getting back to his feet.
John keeping moving, preventing Figueroa from controlling successfully.
John is looking to stand back up but Figueroa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by John.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Figueroa wants to lay and pray for a moment but John keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
John misses with a few strikes there.
John misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
No joy there for John, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
John throws a solid leg kick but Figueroa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at John.
Figueroa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A nice combination there by John.
John shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Figueroa as he jumps to the side.
John with a lazy takedown attempt

and Figueroa counters with a nice double leg into side control. John won't be happy with that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Figueroa misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
John bucks up and tries to throw Figueroa off but instead Figueroa has got his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big John 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Figueroa lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

John closes the distance and clinches.
Figueroa tries to pull guard but John holds him up against the cage and eventually Figueroa drops back down to his feet.

John lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Figueroa has one foot on John's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Figueroa tries to keep at a distance but John has taken the fight into the clinch.
John gets underhooks to prevent Figueroa's takedown attempt.
Figueroa is trying to drag John to the mat but John just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Virgil Figueroa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Figueroa blocks an elbow strike from John.
Figueroa prevents John from breaking the clinch.
Figueroa wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Figueroa decides to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
John trying to move into half guard but instead Figueroa has managed to sweep!

Figueroa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Figueroa throws a head kick but John moves out of range.
John misses with a lunging right hand
and Figueroa counters with an outside leg kick.
John throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Virgil Figueroa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
John throws a nice looking combination but Figueroa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
John swings and misses with a hook to the body.
John throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
No joy there for John, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some bone on bone action there as Figueroa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John moves into the clinch.

Figueroa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Figueroa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
John working some strikes from top position.
John postures up in Figueroa's guard and throws a big left but Figueroa blocks it.
Big John has got the better of the ground game so far.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John content to stall in guard here.
John makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
John content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
John throwing strikes but missing.
John postures up in Figueroa's guard and throws a big left but Figueroa blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
John throws a jab but it's blocked by Figueroa.
John scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
John misses with the combination.
John tries to land a front kick but Figueroa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Figueroa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
John is looking for the big counter here.
Figueroa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Figueroa blocks the body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Figueroa. No joy for John on that attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from John.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from John misses.
Big John seems to be getting the better of the standup.
John swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Figueroa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Figueroa.
Figueroa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as John walks away with a smile on his face. Figueroa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

John drives through and clinches with Figueroa against the cage.
John working aggressively here.
John wants to take the fight to the mat but Figueroa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
John tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Figueroa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics John uses from the top position.
John preventing the sweep.
John trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
John missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Virgil Figueroa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Big John is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
John working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Figueroa's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Big John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well John has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big John!