PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Conor Woods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Figuera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Woods
vs
Figuera

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Conor Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Figuera!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woods defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Figuera.

Woods gets a clinch.

Woods has clasped his hands together around Figuera's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Figuera is looking for a sweep.

Woods tries for a kimura but Figuera is defending well.
Woods misses with the ground and pound.
Figuera can't do much from the bottom here.
Figuera manages to get back to half guard.
Figuera gets back to full guard.
Woods preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods prevents Figuera from getting back to his feet.
Woods throwing strikes from guard but Figuera blocks nicely.
Figuera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Woods trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Figuera working a defensive guard here.
Woods content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Figuera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Figuera looking for a sweep. Not yet Figuera, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Woods stands up and waves to Figuera to follow him.

Woods 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.

Woods stands up from Figuera's guard - Woods perhaps looking for a knockout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Figuera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Figuera is defended easily by Woods.
Woods displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Figuera throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figuera darts in trying to clinch

and Woods counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Figuera trying to control from the bottom.
Woods missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Figuera regains full guard. Nicely done.
Figuera is pulling down on Woods's head. It's preventing any offense from Woods, at least for the moment.
Figuera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Woods trying to control the position from guard on top but Figuera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woods controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Figuera trying to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Figuera tries for a takedown but Woods sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Conor Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Figuera.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Woods closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Figuera quickly recovers to half guard.
Woods throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Well, if Woods is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor Woods dominated that round.
That's time! Woods's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Figuera shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Woods counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Woods stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Figuera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Woods thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figuera looking for a sweep. Not yet Figuera, not yet.
Woods has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Figuera is looking to stand up but Woods isn't so interested in that idea.

Figuera is looking for a triangle here but Woods uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Woods has knee on belly momentarily but Figuera bucks him off and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figuera is looking to improve his position.
Figuera missing with punches from the bottom.
Woods tries to pass the half guard into mount. Figuera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Figuera manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods throwing strikes from guard but Figuera blocks nicely.
Woods showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Figuera trying to control the position.
Figuera might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Woods kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Figuera keeping full guard, as Woods tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods trying to control but Figuera is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Conor Woods.

Woods takes the fight into the clinch.

Woods escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Woods goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Figuera moves out of range as Woods strikes.
Figuera fails with the takedown

and Woods counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Woods won't allow Figuera to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figuera working a defensive guard but Woods manages to pass into side control anyway.
Figuera manages to work his way to half guard, despite Woods's best efforts.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Figuera is looking to control Woods's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Figuera avoid being mounted?
Figuera moves into full guard.

Woods decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Figuera dives in and grabs Woods's left leg, looking for a takedown. Woods pushes down on Figuera's head and hops out.
Conor Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Figuera.
Figuera shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor Woods dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Figuera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Woods pinned against the cage. Woods gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Woods looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Woods is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Figuera defends it well.
Woods tries to pass the half guard into mount. Figuera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Woods is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Figuera!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods blocks Figuera's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Woods avoids the attempt from Figuera to control.
Figuera bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Figuera from controlling successfully.

Woods looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Woods 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Woods wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Figuera is now in half guard.
Figuera is keen to just control but Woods is a slippery customer.
Figuera sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Woods has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Figuera is working away from the top position though.
Figuera wants to take a breather but Woods is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Woods misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Figuera trying to control the action but Woods is working from the bottom.

Antonio Figuera has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Woods throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Woods fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Figuera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Woods's waist but Woods gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Figuera off to one side.
Figuera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Woods avoids it really well and circles away.
Conor Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Figuera.
Woods circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figuera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Woods is looking to score with low kicks.
Woods keeps the fight on the outside.
Figuera misses with a looping left.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Figuera.
Figuera shoots and misses

and Woods counters with a shoot takedown. Figuera fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Woods sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Woods is sitting in close to Figuera's body. Figuera has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Woods is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Woods is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Figuera.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Antonio Figuera!