PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeffrey Molina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Lamas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamas comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Run This Town kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Molina
vs
Lamas

168 cm
19
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Bad Man Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeffrey Molina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Lamas!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lamas feints and as Molina raises his hands in defense, Lamas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Molina is pulling down on Lamas's head to control his posture.
Molina utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lamas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Molina has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lamas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Molina working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lamas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lamas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lamas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Lamas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lamas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lamas tries to free his leg and advance position but Molina is retaining full guard.
Molina is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Brazilian Top Team that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Molina working for a triangle but Lamas defends it easily.
Lamas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Molina looking to control.

Lamas drops back, looking for a kneebar! Molina looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Molina looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Molina!
Molina postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Molina trying to control the action but Lamas is working from the bottom.
Molina creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lamas sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Molina.
Molina knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lamas on the ground.

Molina is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lamas has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lamas struggling a bit here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Molina cracks Lamas with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Molina cracks Lamas with a big right hand but Lamas just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lamas gets back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lamas wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Molina lands a nice short elbow.

Molina is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Molina not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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. Molina connects with a nice short shot to Lamas's temple.
Lamas gets back to full guard.
Molina looking to sit in guard and control but Lamas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Molina keeping moving, preventing Lamas from controlling successfully.
Lamas told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molina wants to sweep here but Lamas controlling him for the moment.
Molina is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lamas dives into side control.
Molina is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lamas off and has taken his back!
Lamas trying to control the position but Molina manages to sink in the hooks.

Molina is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
I really don't envy Lamas right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Molina looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Molina dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Molina closes the distance and clinches.
Molina will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lamas up against the cage.
Molina is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lamas to keep the fight standing.
Lamas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Molina wants a takedown.

Lamas successfully pulls guard.

Lamas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Molina scoring with some ground and pound.
Molina throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lamas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamas keeping moving, preventing Molina from controlling successfully.
Molina throwing strikes but missing.
Lamas controls Molina momentarily but Molina frees himself.
Molina makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Molina throws a strike but Lamas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Molina bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lamas's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lamas wants to stand but Molina is controlling the position.
Lamas has momentary wrist control but Molina slips an elbow through the middle.

Lamas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Molina can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Molina preventing the sweep.
Molina throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Molina controlling from the top position.
Molina wants to control from the top but Lamas keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamas has momentary wrist control but Molina slips an elbow through the middle.
Molina throws a big elbow that misses.
Molina wants to control from the top but Lamas keeps moving.
Molina has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lamas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Molina working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lamas controls Molina momentarily but Molina frees himself.
Lamas trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lamas closes the distance and clinches up with Molina, looking for a takedown. Lamas pushes Molina against the cage but Molina circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Molina shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lamas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Molina postures up in Lamas's guard and throws a big left but Lamas blocks it.
Molina makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Molina controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lamas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Molina dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lamas shoots and misses

and Molina counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Molina pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lamas misses with a wild combination.
Lamas tries for a takedown but Molina circles away easily

and Molina counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Molina.
Molina working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Molina gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lamas.
Jeffrey Molina has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Lamas.

Molina manages to break the clinch.

Molina darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Molina stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamas tries to kick Molina off but Molina keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lamas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Molina slips a nice elbow through Lamas's hands, connecting with Lamas's forehead.
Jeffrey Molina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lamas wants to improve his position but Molina is controlling well.
Molina is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Molina is keen to just control but Lamas is a slippery customer.
Molina lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Molina drops an elbow to the side of Lamas's head.
Lamas has hold of Molina's hands but Molina slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina controlling the action here.
Molina scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lamas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Molina landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Molina thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lamas's head.
Molina is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Molina seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Lamas has recovered full guard.
Molina lands a couple of digs.
Molina with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lamas trying to control the position.
Molina won't allow Lamas to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molina keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lamas's head.
Molina with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Molina stands up from Lamas's guard - Molina perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ricardo Lamas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Molina shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Molina content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Molina seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Molina stands up and waves to Lamas to follow him.
Jeffrey Molina is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Molina shoots in and bounces Lamas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeffrey Molina showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Molina 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffrey Molina!
A victorious Jeffrey Molina thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Ricardo Lamas had this to say: 'I know what I gotta do to get that W. '.