PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Lester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Folganes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lester
vs
Folganes

177 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

179 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reggie Lester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Folganes!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Folganes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lester misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Folganes.
Folganes misses with a knee to the head.
Lester being controlled against the cage.
Lester throws a knee to the head but misses.

Folganes manages to break the clinch.

Folganes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lester tries to work over Folganes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Folganes breaks from the clinch.

Folganes pushes Lester up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Folganes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lester has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Lester ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lester no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Folganes content to stall in guard here.
Folganes wants to get up but he can't break Lester's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Folganes postures up.
Folganes wants to stand but Lester is controlling his posture from full guard.
Folganes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Folganes won't allow Lester to sweep him here.
Folganes wants to control from the top but Lester keeps moving.
Lester looking to hit a scissor sweep but Folganes is one step ahead there.
Lester throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Folganes gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Folganes moves into the clinch.
Lester jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Folganes walks away with a smile on his face. Lester gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lester tries to clinch up but Folganes circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Folganes takes the fight into the clinch.
Folganes has Lester pressed against the cage.
Folganes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lester lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lester fails to pull guard.

Folganes breaks from the clinch.
Folganes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Donk. Folganes catches Lester right on the button with a cross.

Folganes forces Lester back against the cage and clinches.
Folganes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lester tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Folganes just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Lester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Folganes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester avoids a wild elbow strike from Folganes.
Folganes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lester has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Folganes with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Folganes manages to break the clinch.

Folganes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lester, pushing him back against the cage.
Folganes is looking to control Lester's arms but Lester gets an underhook and turns him. Now Folganes has his back to the cage.
Folganes looks winded!

Lester breaks the clinch.

Folganes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lester, pushing him back against the cage.
Lester tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Lester pulls guard.
Folganes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Folganes won't allow Lester to get back to his feet.
Lester will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lester trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Folganes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lester, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Folganes closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Folganes tries to land a knee to the head but Lester blocks with his arms.
Lester avoids the elbow strike from Folganes, against the cage.
Folganes lands an uppercut.
Lester working aggressively here.
Folganes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lester fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Folganes has clasped his hands together around Lester's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Folganes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Folganes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Folganes wants it to stay on the feet.

Folganes moves into the clinch.
Lester takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Folganes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Folganes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Folganes.
Folganes digs a right hand underneath Lester's ribcage. Lester let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Folganes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lester lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lester tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Folganes lands a knee to the head.
Folganes tries a knee to the head but Lester blocks it.
Lester lands a nice uppercut.

Folganes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester throws an elbow that misses. Folganes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lester's guard. Nice move by Folganes!

Lester is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Folganes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Folganes trying to control but Lester is working from the bottom.
Folganes prevents Lester from getting back to his feet.
Lester looking for a sweep. Not yet Lester, not yet.
Lester wants to stand and escape but Folganes is having none of it.
Lester looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lester wants to get back to his feet but Folganes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lester throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Folganes prevents Lester from getting back to his feet.
Lester looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Folganes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Folganes decides to return to a standing position.

Folganes closes the distance and clinches.
Folganes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lester blocks it with crossed arms.
Folganes trying to stall but Lester improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lester jumps guard but Folganes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gustavo Folganes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lester scores with a nice hook to the head.
Folganes misses with a knee strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lester is trying to break free.
Lester tries to pull guard but Folganes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Folganes tries a knee to the head but Lester blocks it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lester fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Lester. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester blocks an elbow strike from Folganes.

Lester's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Folganes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lester.
An inside leg kick from Folganes misses.

Lester clinches with his opponent.
Folganes landing knees to the body.
Folganes tries a knee to the head but Lester blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lester as Folganes tries to tie him up.
Lester tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Folganes smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Lester.

Folganes clinches.
Lester lands a nice uppercut.
Lester is trying to pull guard but Folganes has him pressed against the cage.
Folganes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Folganes tries a knee to the head but Lester blocks it.
Lester fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Folganes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Folganes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Folganes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lester is defended easily by Folganes.

Folganes gets a clinch.
Lester using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Folganes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Folganes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lesters head.

Folganes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Lester's face as Folganes controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Folganes avoids the strikes from the bottom by Lester.
Folganes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Folganes stands up.

Folganes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lester, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Folganes trying to stall but Lester improves his position.
Lester tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lester tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Lester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Folganes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Folganes presses Lester against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lester takes an elbow to the temple.
Lester avoids the elbow strike from Folganes, against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lester - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lester jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Folganes walks away with a smile on his face. Lester gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Folganes.
Lester can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Folganes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lester keeps working.
Folganes in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Lester tries to buck Folganes off but Folganes is having none of it.
Lester misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Folganes decides to stand back up.

Folganes closes the distance and clinches.
Lester throws a head punch that misses.
Lester misses with a punch on the inside.
Lester managing to block the knees to the body from Folganes.
Folganes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Folganes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Folganes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lester checks it well.

Folganes scores with a takedown into Lester's guard.
Folganes wants to stand but Lester has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lester is looking to stand up but Folganes isn't so interested in that idea.
Folganes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lester is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lester lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Lester lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lester trying to control but Folganes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustavo Folganes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Folganes wants to get back to his feet but Lester is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lester wants to pass the guard but Folganes is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustavo Folganes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Folganes 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Folganes!