PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Firnanda Talha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Talha
vs
Ferguson

170 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Firnanda Talha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ferguson.
Talha shoots in for a takedown but Ferguson shows good takedown defense.
Talha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ferguson.
A right-left combo lands from Ferguson.
Ferguson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Talha doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ferguson counters with a nice uppercut.
Ferguson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Talha avoids it really well and circles away.
Firnanda Talha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Ferguson.
Talha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt - Talha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown by Ferguson or perhaps it was just good defense by Talha which made him look bad.

Ferguson drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson postures up.
Ferguson won't allow Talha to sweep him here.
Talha controls Ferguson momentarily but Ferguson frees himself.
Talha wants to stand and escape but Ferguson is having none of it.
Talha throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ferguson stays in close to Talha's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Talha wants to sweep here but Ferguson controlling him for the moment.
Talha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Firnanda Talha wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A right-left combo lands from Ferguson.
Talha drops his hands momentarily and Ferguson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Talha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Talha is breathing heavily.

Talha looking to score a takedown here. Ferguson is defending well but Talha drives through and ends up in Ferguson's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Talha works over Ferguson with some ground and pound from guard.

Talha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ferguson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ferguson, not yet.
Talha throwing strikes from guard but Ferguson blocks nicely.
Talha wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talha throws a big right hand that misses.
Talha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Talha is controlling him.
Talha throws and elbow that misses. Ferguson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Talha's guard. Nice move by Ferguson!
Talha striking from his own guard.
Talha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Talha has his foot on Ferguson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ferguson works his way back into a safe position though.
Ferguson thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ferguson postures up and lands a big shot to Talha's brow.
Talha throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ferguson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ferguson being controlled here momentarily.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Talha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ferguson with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Ferguson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Talha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ferguson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Talha is fending him off so far but Ferguson persists. Nope, Talha circles away and we're back to standing.
A right-left combo lands from Ferguson.
Talha fails to land the takedown.
Ferguson leaves Talha with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ferguson shoots for a double leg takedown but Talha sprawls well. He's pushed Ferguson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ferguson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Talha circles away.
Firnanda Talha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Ferguson.

Ferguson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Talha quickly recovers to half guard.
Talha moves into full guard.
Ferguson landing some decent shots from guard.
Talha manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talha trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Talha dominating with strikes here.
Talha landing shots from mount.

Talha goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ferguson turns into him and now he's in Talha's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ferguson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha wants to sweep here but Ferguson controlling him for the moment.
Talha is working hard here to advance position.
Talha wants to stand up but Ferguson is controlling him.
Ferguson trying to control but Talha is working from the bottom.
Talha wants to sweep but no luck.
Talha keeping moving, preventing Ferguson from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tony Ferguson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ferguson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Talha counters by clinching up.
Ferguson looking for a takedown.

Talha has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ferguson regains guard immediately.
Talha would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ferguson keeping moving, preventing Talha from controlling successfully.
Ferguson wants to stand up but Talha is controlling him.
Talha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson wants to stand and escape but Talha is having none of it.
Talha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talha throwing strikes from guard but Ferguson blocks nicely.
Talha throws a strike but Ferguson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Talha keeping moving, preventing Ferguson from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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!
Talha 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.
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 Firnanda Talha will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Talha stuffs the takedown attempt from Ferguson. Ferguson gets slowly back to his feet.
Ferguson shoots for a double leg takedown but Talha sprawls well. He's pushed Ferguson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Ferguson with that takedown attempt.
Firnanda Talha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt - Talha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Talha slaps away a takedown attempt from Ferguson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown but Talha shows good takedown defense.
Ferguson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Talha keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ferguson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Talha counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ferguson won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talha trying to control the position but Ferguson is working away.
Talha working the head with strikes.
Talha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ferguson keeps working.
Talha in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talha working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Talha has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Talha postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ferguson looks a forlorn figure.
Talha is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ferguson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Talha dominating with strikes here.
Talha is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ferguson taking shots to the head.
Talha working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talha lands a nice shot to the head.

Ferguson is rocked!
Talha lands a big elbow - Ferguson is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Ferguson is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Firnanda Talha!
In his post fight interview, Firnanda Talha started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.