PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Boryslav Margera (ranked 4425 p4p, 4277 weight class) and Mauro Figueira (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.

Margera
vs
Figueira

175 cm
17
160
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Boryslav Margera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauro Figueira!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Margera cracks Figueira with an open hand slap.
Figueira moves away from the strike by Margera.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Margera enables Figueira to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Margera manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Figueira wants to control from the top but Margera keeps moving.
Figueira sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Margera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Margera is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Margera keeping moving, preventing Figueira from controlling successfully.
Figueira preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueira wants to control from the top but Margera keeps moving.
Margera wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Margera connects with a nice looking jab.
Figueira shoots in looking for a takedown but Margera manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Figueira's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Margera digs a good body shot into Figueira's ribs.
Figueira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Margera swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Figueira closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Figueira lands in his opponent's guard.
Margera controlling the position.
Figueira stopping the sweep attempt from Margera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margera keeping moving, preventing Figueira from controlling successfully.
Margera has control of Figueira's left arm, preventing Figueira from doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Margera wants to sweep here but Figueira controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Margera digs a good body shot into Figueira's ribs.
Nice uppercut there from Margera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera punishes Figueira's body with a nice straight punch.
Figueira is trying hard to land a takedown here. Margera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Margera looks to score with a jab to the body but Figueira is just out of range.
Figueira dives in and grabs Margera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Margera pushes down on Figueira's head and hops out.
Boryslav Margera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauro Figueira.
Margera cracks Figueira with a right hand to the side of the head.
Margera is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Figueira is looking to clinch.

Figueira pushes Margera up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Margera on the inside.
Margera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Margera with a knee to the head.
Margera connects with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Margera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Figueira looks winded!
Margera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Margera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margera digs a right hand underneath Figueira's ribcage. Figueira let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A knee to the head by Margera.
Margera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from Margera.
Margera digs a right hand underneath Figueira's ribcage. Figueira let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Margera digs a right hand into Figueira's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Figueira's gas tank.
Figueira takes a knee right on the jaw!
Margera softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Margera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Margera landing knees to the head.
Margera lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Figueira tries to pull guard but Margera forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Margera landing knees to the body.
Margera lands a hook to the side of the head.
Margera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Figueira blocks it with crossed arms.
Margera cracks Figueira with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Boryslav Margera 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.

Margera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Figueira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Margera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Figueira fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Margera.
Mauro Figueira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A thudding body kick lands there by Figueira!
Margera lands a jab to the nose.
Margera lands a right hook to the body.
Margera throws a jab but it's blocked by Figueira.
Figueira changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Margera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Figueira manages to avoid it.
Margera cracks Figueira with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Margera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Figueira bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Figueira wants to control but Margera is keeping him busy.
Figueira is breathing heavily.
Margera manages to work his way to half guard, despite Figueira's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Margera works his way to full guard. Good work.
Margera is adopting a defensive guard.
Margera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Margera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Margera working Figueira over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figueira taking some punishment here, with Margera in his half guard.
Figueira wants to get back to full guard.
Figueira is looking to control Margera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Figueira avoid being mounted?
Margera is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Margera lands with a punch from half guard.
Figueira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Margera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Margera working over Figueira with some ground and pound. Figueira looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Margera working over Figueira with some ground and pound. Figueira looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Margera drops an elbow to the side of Figueira's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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. Margera connects with a nice short shot to Figueira's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera winds up and cracks Figueira with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Figueira trying to control but Margera postures up.
Boryslav Margera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Margera slips a nice elbow through Figueira's hands, connecting with Figueira's forehead.
Figueira wants to get back to his feet.
Margera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Margera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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. Margera connects with a nice short shot to Figueira's temple.
Margera slips a nice elbow through Figueira's hands, connecting with Figueira's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Margera lands a nice short elbow.
Ground and pound from Margera.
Figueira on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Margera lands a nice short elbow.
Margera lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Margera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Figueira with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Margera lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Margera.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Margera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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. Margera connects with a nice short shot to Figueira's temple.
Margera drops an elbow to the side of Figueira's head.
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. Margera connects with a nice short shot to Figueira's temple.
Margera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Figueira with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Margera lands with a punch from half guard.
Margera drops an elbow to the side of Figueira's head.
Margera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Margera scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Margera lands a nice short elbow.
Margera scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Figueira taking some punishment here, with Margera in his half guard.

Figueira is rocked!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Boryslav Margera dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Margera there.
Margera swinging wildly here.
Figueira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Margera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Figueira avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Figueira uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Margera.
Figueira appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Figueira connects with a high kick.
Figueira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Margera is fending him off so far but Figueira persists. Nope, Margera circles away and we're back to standing.
Margera swats away the attempt to clinch by Figueira.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Figueira changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Margera tries to avoid it but Figueira manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Margera to the ground. Margera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Margera clinches up against the cage.
Figueira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Margera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Margera lands a nice knee to the body.
Margera crunches a lovely knee into Figueira's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera crunches a lovely knee into Figueira's ribcage.
Margera putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Figueira in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Margera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Boryslav Margera has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Margera scores with a shoulder strike.
Margera scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short left from Margera.
A knee to the head by Margera.
Margera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Margera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Margera can't find room to land a body shot as Figueira controls the action.
Figueira is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Margera to keep the fight standing.
Boryslav Margera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauro Figueira.
Margera lands a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Margera scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Margera misses with a knee strike.
Margera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Figueira can do to turn this around?
Margera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Figueira's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figueira is looking to control Margera's arms but Margera gets an underhook and turns him. Now Figueira has his back to the cage.
Figueira is trying to force a seperation but Margera has the dominant position.
Margera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Margera working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Margera lands a shot to the body.
Margera lands a good knee to the midsection. Figueira won't want to take too many of those.
Margera has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Margera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Margera.
Margera lands a nice shot to the body.
Margera cracks Figueira with a nice body shot.
Still in the clinch, Margera scores with a nice short uppercut.
Figueira fails to pull guard.
Figueira takes a shot to the head.
Margera scores with a shot to the side of Figueira's head.
Margera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Figueira backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Figueira backwards.
Margera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Margera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Margera connects with a knee to the head.
Margera lands a right hand.
Margera scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hand to the body from Margera.
Margera landing knees to the head.
Figueira wants a takedown but no success here.
Margera has Figueira pressed against the cage, preventing Figueira from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Margera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Figueira's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Margera.
Margera scores a nice knee to the body.
Margera lands a good knee to the midsection. Figueira won't want to take too many of those.
Figueira drops down looking for an ankle pick but Margera pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Margera drives through and clinches with Figueira against the cage.
Margera digs a right hand underneath Figueira's ribcage. Figueira let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Margera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Margera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Figueira takes a knee right on the jaw!
Margera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Boryslav Margera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Margera lands a nice uppercut.
Margera scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Margera.
Figueira is trying to force a seperation but Margera has the dominant position.
Margera lands a right hand.
Mauro Figueira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Figueira wants to get back to striking at distance but Margera won't allow it.
Margera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Figueira backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boryslav Margera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Margera has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boryslav Margera!
After winning the bout, Boryslav Margera thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.