PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Junior Del Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francis Featherstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior Del Rio has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Del Rio
vs
Featherstone

182 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Balco Boys - Hilo
Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Junior Del Rio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francis Featherstone!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Del Rio fails to land the takedown.

Featherstone takes the fight into the clinch.
Featherstone misses with an elbow strike.
Featherstone stalling.
The crowd are getting on Featherstone's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Featherstone prevents a takedown attempt there.
Featherstone lands a nice shot to the body.
Featherstone tries a knee to the head but Del Rio blocks it.
Del Rio blocks an elbow strike.
Featherstone lands with a light punch inside.
Del Rio has Featherstone pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Featherstone manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Del Rio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still in the clinch, Featherstone scores with a nice short uppercut.

Featherstone pulls Del Rio into guard.
Featherstone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Del Rio manages to get himself to full guard.
Del Rio keeping moving, preventing Featherstone from controlling successfully.
Featherstone makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Featherstone slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Featherstone trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Rio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Featherstone looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Featherstone content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Del Rio working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Featherstone has passed into half guard!
Del Rio is breathing heavily.
Featherstone is looking to take a break and control but Del Rio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Featherstone slows the pace down in half guard.
I looks like Featherstone might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Del Rio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Featherstone slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like Featherstone is going to stand back up.
Del Rio is trying to stand up here but Featherstone is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Del Rio is trying to control but can't.
Del Rio wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Featherstone wants to free his trapped foot but Del Rio is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Featherstone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Del Rio.

Featherstone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Featherstone raining down shots from the mount!
Featherstone lands with some strikes.
Featherstone landing strikes, looking to finish!
Featherstone cracks Del Rio with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Featherstone working for a submission but Del Rio is keeping him at bay.
Featherstone controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Featherstone can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Del Rio is looking to escape.
Featherstone landing punches.
Featherstone content just to control the position here.
Featherstone breaks from Del Rio's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Featherstone dominated that 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.

Featherstone misses with a double jab.
Junior Del Rio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Del Rio takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Featherstone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Featherstone trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Rio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Featherstone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Featherstone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Del Rio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Featherstone is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Featherstone stands and steps away. Del Rio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Featherstone shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Featherstone.
Featherstone works over Del Rio's head and body with a nice combination.
Del Rio shoots in but no luck this time.

Featherstone pushes Del Rio up against the cage in a clinch.

Featherstone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Featherstone shoots in and bounces Del Rio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Del Rio keeping full guard, as Featherstone tries to pass.
Del Rio keeping moving, preventing Featherstone from controlling successfully.
Featherstone throwing strikes from guard but Del Rio blocks nicely.
Del Rio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Featherstone trying to control but Del Rio is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Featherstone wants to stand but Del Rio is controlling his posture from full guard.
Featherstone is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Featherstone gets to his feet - Del Rio follows without any prompting.

Featherstone gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Featherstone keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Francis Featherstone just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Featherstone misses.

Featherstone shoots in and bounces Del Rio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Featherstone content to stall in guard here.
Del Rio throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Featherstone stays in close to Del Rio's body and controls the position.
Featherstone trying to control but Del Rio is working from the bottom.
Featherstone controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Featherstone lands a couple of digs.
Featherstone looking to pass the guard.
Featherstone wants to control from the top but Del Rio keeps moving.
Featherstone sitting in guard here, content to control.
Featherstone wants to control from the top but Del Rio keeps moving.
Featherstone working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Featherstone 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. This is the final round!

Del Rio wants to clinch.
Featherstone throws a right hand that Del Rio ducks under and follows up with a left that Del Rio also avoids with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Del Rio.
Del Rio looks for a takedown but Featherstone sprawls well.
Featherstone scoring well with a low kick there.
Featherstone lands a nice hook to Del Rio's body. Del Rio takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Featherstone closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Del Rio to the mat! Del Rio manages to get full guard.
Featherstone is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Featherstone pushes down on Del Rio's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis Featherstone has got the better of the ground game so far.
Del Rio wants to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Featherstone lands a nice short elbow.
Featherstone trying to pass the guard but Del Rio defending well.
Featherstone is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Del Rio!
Featherstone looking to control but Del Rio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Featherstone controlling the position easily from mount.
Del Rio can't escape the position.
Featherstone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Featherstone sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Featherstone working Del Rio over with strikes here.
Del Rio is looking to improve his position but Featherstone isn't that keen on the idea.
Featherstone content just to control the position here.
Featherstone landing strikes, looking to finish!
Del Rio keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Featherstone tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Featherstone looking to secure an arm triangle but Del Rio defends it well.
Del Rio keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Featherstone lands a heavy elbow.
Featherstone controlling the pace for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Francis Featherstone just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Featherstone connects with a right hand. Del Rio shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Featherstone shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Featherstone showed some decent athleticism there.
Featherstone is controlling the pace.
Del Rio is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Junior Del Rio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francis Featherstone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Del Rio misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis Featherstone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Featherstone 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Featherstone!