PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sabin Figaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Figaro might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Prospect - Warrior. Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica Enter Sandman. This should be fireworks!

Figaro
vs
Gracie

180 cm
34
180 lbs
31 - 10 - 0

190 cm
30
179 lbs
25 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sabin Figaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Holden Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gracie.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Figaro.
Gracie lands with a nice body kick.
Figaro has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Spetznaz Training Center in the buildup to the fight.
Figaro throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Figaro tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
Gracie misses with a kick to the body.
Figaro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie checks a low kick from Figaro.
Figaro throws a body kick that misses.
Gracie tries to clinch but Figaro is having none of it.
Figaro throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sabin Figaro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Figaro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Figaro throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gracie.
Figaro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Figaro buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figaro lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Figaro's head but Figaro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Figaro blocks the body kick.
Figaro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Figaro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Figaro.
We've been informed that Gracie has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Figaro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Figaro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Figaro looking to pass the guard.
Figaro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Figaro tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Figaro with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gracie to score with a decent uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Figaro pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and Figaro settles back down.
Figaro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Figaro throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Figaro.
Figaro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figaro misses with a body shot.
Figaro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Figaro tries to land a body kick
and Gracie counters with a nice body shot.
Figaro blocks a jab.
Figaro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie scores with a head kick.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Figaro, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Gracie lands with a thumping leg kick.
Figaro throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gracie throws a head kick but Figaro moves out of range.
Figaro lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a head kick but Figaro moves out of range.
Figaro scores with a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Figaro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Figaro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Figaro does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A low kick from Figaro is predictable there
and Gracie counters with a thumping low kick.
Gracie's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Figaro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gracie scrambles back to his feet.
Gracie looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Figaro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sabin Figaro will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie slips a jab from Figaro.
Figaro is looking to score with low kicks.
Figaro throws out a leg kick but Gracie moves out of range and Figaro only half commits.
Figaro misses with a looping left.
Good leg kick by Figaro there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Figaro wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Figaro takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Figaro feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick but Figaro moves out of range.
Gracie throws a push kick but Figaro slaps the foot to one side.
Gracie tries to clinch but Figaro is having none of it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
Figaro avoids the head kick by Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figaro digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Figaro tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Holden Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Figaro will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gracie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracie.
Figaro swings widly with a right hand
and Gracie counters with a body kick.
Figaro gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gracie checks a low kick from Figaro.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gracie.
Gracie lands a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figaro takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Figaro's front leg but catches the back leg as Figaro tries to avoid it.
Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.
Figaro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gracie needs to keep his hands up - Figaro had a free shot at his head there.
Figaro misses with a low kick.
Gracie takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Figaro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Figaro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Figaro.
Holden Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie clobbers Figaro with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws out a powerful jab.
Gracie throws a push kick but Figaro slaps the foot to one side.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Figaro.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Figaro misses with a low kick.
Gracie has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gracie tries to land a front kick but Figaro steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Figaro will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Figaro throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gracie, right into the meat.
Figaro shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Gracie - that will leave a mark!
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie connects with the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figaro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Figaro's elbow.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Figaro is controlling the position.
Figaro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Figaro fails to land.
Figaro lands a right hand.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Figaro.
Figaro lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Gracie lands with a left to the head.
Figaro throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holden Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gracie.
Figaro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Figaro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Figaro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Figaro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but Figaro moved away.
Figaro attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Figaro on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gracie throws a front kick aimed at Figaro's knee but Figaro avoids it well.
Gracie lands with a thumping leg kick.
Figaro throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.
Figaro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figaro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but Figaro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Figaro circles away.
Gracie cracks Figaro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Figaro swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Figaro.
Figaro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie walks into a stiff left hand from Figaro.
Donk. Gracie catches Figaro right on the button with a cross.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Figaro throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Figaro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Figaro throws out a leg kick but Gracie moves out of range and Figaro only half commits.
Gracie is looking to land body kicks.
Figaro throws a leg kick that misses.
Figaro shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Figaro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sabin Figaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick

and Figaro counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
Figaro prevents Gracie from getting back to his feet.
Figaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Figaro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figaro won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
Figaro slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Figaro is having none of it.

We're going to have a standup here because Sabin Figaro wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Figaro stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Figaro avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gracie tries to clinch but Figaro moves out of range.
Figaro throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figaro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Figaro throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Figaro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gracie turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Figaro shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gracie throws a body kick that misses.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Figaro is just out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Figaro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sabin Figaro.
I think Figaro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sabin Figaro!
Sabin Figaro was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.