PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riki Maru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maru has chosen Chris Brown - Ayo as his entrance music. Riki Maru acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Figueroa
vs
Maru

185 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riki Maru!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Figueroa moves into the clinch.
Figueroa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Figueroa wants the takedown. Maru is fighting it off but Figueroa persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Maru's guard against the cage.
Figueroa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maru on the ground.
Figueroa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Figueroa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maru working a defensive guard here.

Figueroa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Figueroa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Figueroa stopping the sweep attempt from Maru.

Figueroa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maru is trying to keep Figueroa in close.
Maru wants to stand but Figueroa is controlling the position.
Maru is trying to control the position but Figueroa postures up.
Figueroa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maru is trying to hold Figueroa in close to prevent damage but Figueroa has managed to pass into half guard.
Maru misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Maru darts in looking for a takedown but Figueroa gets double underhooks and turns Maru into the cage.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Maru closes the distance and clinches up with Figueroa, looking for a takedown. Maru pushes Figueroa against the cage but Figueroa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two 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.
Maru misses with a takedown

and Figueroa moves into the clinch.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riki Maru.
Maru tries to throw a body punch but Figueroa avoids it by throwing Maru back against the cage.

Figueroa jumps guard.
Figueroa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maru.
Maru trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maru is fighting to break Figueroa's control of his arms but Figueroa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maru wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.
Maru sitting in guard here, content to control.
Figueroa is pulling down on Maru's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maru throws a head kick but Figueroa moves out of range.
As Maru tries to get set, Figueroa tries to push him back and clinch up but Maru manages to avoid the attempt.
A head kick by Maru misses
and Figueroa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maru throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Figueroa's waist but Figueroa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maru off to one side.

Figueroa moves into range and clinches up with Maru.
Maru can't break the clinch.

Figueroa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Maru lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maru gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maru throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Figueroa's waist but Figueroa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maru off to one side.
Figueroa connects with a high kick.

Maru closes the distance and clinches.
Maru tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Figueroa's elbow.

Figueroa gets control of Maru's arms and successfully pulls guard. Figueroa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Maru advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maru looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maru has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maru dives in and grabs Figueroa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Figueroa pushes down on Maru's head and hops out.

Figueroa moves into the clinch successfully.
Figueroa jumps guard but Maru turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Figueroa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maru smiles and moves away.
A head kick misses from Maru.
Figueroa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Maru fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Maru.
Maru throws a sloppy head kick and Figueroa moves out of range easily.
Figueroa appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Figueroa tries a head kick but it misses.
Maru avoids the head kick by Figueroa.

Figueroa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maru, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa is trying to pull guard but Maru has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Virgil Figueroa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Figueroa fails to pull guard.

Figueroa jumps into guard, dragging Maru to the mat.
Maru trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.
Figueroa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Maru from controlling successfully.
Virgil Figueroa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maru advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Figueroa won't allow Maru to pass to mount.
Maru not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Figueroa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Figueroa moves into the clinch successfully.
Figueroa is trying to pull guard but Maru turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Figueroa pulls guard.
Maru missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maru postures up in Figueroa's guard and throws a big left but Figueroa blocks it.
Maru is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maru in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa controls Maru momentarily but Maru frees himself.
Figueroa has Maru pulled in close to control his posture.
Maru keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Figueroa's head.
Maru trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.
Maru passes into half guard.
Maru throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maru thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Figueroa's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Maru is looking to take a break and control but Figueroa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Figueroa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maru.
Maru shoots in looking for a takedown. Figueroa tries to sprawl out of it but Maru keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Figueroa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maru dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Figueroa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maru.
Maru attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Virgil Figueroa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A slow jab from Maru misses its intended target.
Maru tries to work over Figueroa's front leg with a kick but Figueroa checks it.
Maru fails with the takedown

and Figueroa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Figueroa fails to pull guard.
Figueroa jumps guard but Maru turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Maru can't get the takedown.

Figueroa drags the fight down to the ground.
Maru is looking to stand up but Figueroa won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maru loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Figueroa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Maru advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maru missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maru wants to control but Figueroa is keeping him busy.
Maru wants to pass the guard but Figueroa is defending well.
Figueroa is not content to let Maru control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maru is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Figueroa won't allow Maru to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Figueroa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maru scores with a couple of nice shots.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Maru connects with a nice short shot to Figueroa's temple.
Maru is nestled in close to Figueroa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maru trying to control the action but Figueroa is working from the bottom.

Maru is trying to work for a kimura but Figueroa is defending well.
Figueroa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Maru.
Maru postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maru trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maru is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maru postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Riki Maru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maru has a takedown stuffed.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riki Maru.
Maru misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Virgil Figueroa is winning the standup battle so far.

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.
Maru shoots in looking for a takedown. Figueroa tries to sprawl out of it but Maru keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Figueroa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Figueroa throws a sloppy head kick and Maru moves out of range easily.
Figueroa stuffs the takedown.
Maru takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Maru clinches with his opponent.

Figueroa pulls Maru into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Figueroa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Figueroa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Virgil Figueroa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maru throws a big elbow that misses.

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 Virgil Figueroa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Figueroa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Virgil Figueroa!
In defeat, Riki Maru stepped up to the mic, saying 'I Will Come Back.'.