PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tito Acton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Figueroa 's entrance music is Samba Pa Ti by Carlos Santana. A fine choice. Rafael Figueroa is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Figueroa
vs
Acton

170 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

165 cm
20
140 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Figueroa !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tito Acton!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Acton takes the fight into the clinch.
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 Acton walks away with a smile on his face. Figueroa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Acton shoots for a takedown but Figueroa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Acton shoots for a double leg takedown but Figueroa sprawls well. He's pushed Acton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Figueroa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Acton to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Acton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Figueroa 's guard.

Figueroa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figueroa controls Acton momentarily but Acton frees himself.
Acton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Figueroa is proving hard to escape from.

Figueroa has his foot on Acton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Acton works his way back into a safe position though.
Figueroa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Figueroa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Acton is trying to defend but Figueroa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Acton tries to kick Figueroa off but Figueroa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Figueroa is trying to control the action in half guard but Acton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Figueroa wants to free his trapped foot but Acton is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Acton manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa misses with an uppercut. Acton saw that one coming.
Figueroa lands a jab to Acton's midsection.
Acton looks gassed!
Acton moves out of range of the body kick from Figueroa .

Acton moves into range and clinches up with Figueroa .
Figueroa working aggressively here.
Figueroa lands with a left to the head.
Acton throws an elbow but it misses.

Figueroa manages to break the clinch.
Acton needs to keep his hands up - Figueroa had a free shot at his head there.
Figueroa throws a solid leg kick but Acton takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Figueroa .
Figueroa cracks Acton with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Acton is defended easily by Figueroa .
Rafael Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tito Acton.
Acton takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Figueroa lands a right hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Figueroa lands with an uppercut that bounces Acton off the cage and back into rage.
Figueroa lands a nice hook to Acton's body. Acton takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Figueroa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Acton knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Figueroa controlling the action here.
Acton is trying to escape back to his feet but Figueroa uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Acton is pushing Figueroa 's head away, looking to escape. Figueroa manages to hold on to the position though.
Figueroa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

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 grinds an elbow into Acton's temple.
Figueroa wants to control but Acton is keeping him busy.
Figueroa in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Figueroa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Acton keeps working.
Figueroa is putting a hurting on Acton here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Figueroa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Figueroa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Acton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Figueroa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Acton.
Tito Acton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Acton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Figueroa .
Figueroa throws an overhand right that lands on Acton's shoulder, as Acton tries to avoid the shot.

Acton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Figueroa gets full guard.
Acton tries to stand but Figueroa is controlling from the bottom.
Figueroa pulls Acton in close to his closed guard and prevents Acton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Acton is breathing heavily.
Figueroa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Acton wants to get up but he can't break Figueroa 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Figueroa controlling Acton's posture.
Acton wants to get up but he can't break Figueroa 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Acton walks into a left hand.
Figueroa misses with a wild combination.
Acton looks for a takedown but Figueroa sprawls well.
Figueroa connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acton fails with the takedown
and Figueroa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Acton thinking.
Acton moves forwards but Figueroa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Acton takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Figueroa lands with an overhand left.
Acton takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Figueroa scores with a jab to the body.
Figueroa connects with a body shot.

Figueroa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Figueroa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Figueroa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Figueroa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Acton is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Figueroa has taken his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Figueroa 's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Acton holding both Figueroa 's hands and preventing any damage.
Figueroa is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Figueroa tightening his grip on Acton, looking for the choke.

Acton manages to escape to his feet.

Figueroa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Acton!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Figueroa is looking to work his way around to Acton's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Figueroa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Figueroa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Acton was well out of range. Poor timing from Figueroa .
Figueroa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Acton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Figueroa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Acton somewhat.
Acton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Figueroa .
Figueroa just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Figueroa , who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Acton darts in and clinches Figueroa up against the cage.

Figueroa 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Acton gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rafael Figueroa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Acton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Figueroa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Acton is squirming around, avoiding Figueroa 's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acton is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Figueroa moves to take his opponent's back.
Figueroa trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Rafael Figueroa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Acton wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Figueroa scores with punches and elbows.
Figueroa trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Acton grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Acton wants to get back to his feet.
Figueroa tries to keep control of the position but Acton is staying busy.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Figueroa controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Figueroa is punishing Acton with strikes - can he finish him?!
Figueroa gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Acton defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Acton controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Figueroa controls the action.

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.
Acton is trying to stand back up.

Acton wants to get back to his feet. He's half way up but Figueroa drags him back down with a jolt, managing to get his forearm deep under Acton 's chin! Acton is in real trouble! His face is turning bright red and he's forced to tap! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rafael Figueroa !