PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott Riley has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Virgil Figueroa's chin.

Figueroa
vs
Riley

185 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Virgil Figueroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Riley!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Figueroa but Figueroa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Figueroa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Riley.

Riley moves into the clinch.

Riley jumps guard.
Riley working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Figueroa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley wants to sweep here but Figueroa controlling him for the moment.
Figueroa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley is trying to hold Figueroa in close to prevent damage but Figueroa has managed to pass into half guard.
Figueroa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Riley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Riley wants to improve his position but Figueroa is controlling well.

Riley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Riley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Figueroa, pushing him back against the cage.
Figueroa tries to pull guard but Riley holds him up against the cage and eventually Figueroa drops back down to his feet.
Riley is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Figueroa pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riley just stands there and leans against the cage.
Figueroa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Figueroa gets control of Riley's arms and successfully pulls guard. Figueroa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Figueroa is pulling down on Riley's head. It's preventing any offense from Riley, at least for the moment.
Riley trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riley showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Figueroa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa looking to control.
Riley throwing strikes from guard but Figueroa blocks nicely.
Riley wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Figueroa 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.
Riley throws a series of punches but Figueroa moves out of range.

Riley forces Figueroa back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa jumps guard.
Riley trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riley looking to sit in guard and control but Figueroa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Figueroa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Riley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Figueroa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Figueroa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Scott Riley will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Riley gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Riley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Figueroa after a bit of a struggle.
Figueroa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Riley smiles and moves away.

Riley moves into the clinch.
Figueroa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Riley walks away with a smile on his face. Figueroa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Figueroa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Figueroa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley shoots in but no luck this time.

Riley moves into the clinch successfully.
Riley tries to pull guard but Figueroa holds him up against the cage and eventually Riley drops back down to his feet.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Riley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley displaying some good clinch control by pressing Figueroa up against the cage.
Figueroa tries to break the clinch but Riley is controlling the position.

Riley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Riley wants to sweep here but Figueroa controlling him for the moment.
Figueroa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Riley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Figueroa wants to get up but he can't break Riley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Riley working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Figueroa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riley trying to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Riley clinches with his opponent.
Figueroa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Figueroa tries to pull guard but Riley holds him up against the cage and eventually Figueroa drops back down to his feet.

Riley manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa stands up and waves to Riley to follow him.
Figueroa wants to clinch.
Riley throws a right and a left that both miss.
Riley lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nice body kick from Riley.
Riley scores with a nice strike.
Riley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Scott Riley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Figueroa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Riley.
As Riley tries to get set, Figueroa tries to push him back and clinch up but Riley manages to avoid the attempt.
Riley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Figueroa tries to counter by clinching up but Riley breaks away and moves out of range.
Riley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riley is breathing heavily.
Riley shoots and misses

and Figueroa counters by moving into the clinch.

Figueroa pulls guard.
Figueroa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Riley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Riley darts in and clinches Figueroa up against the cage.
Riley tries for a takedown. No joy.
Figueroa tries to pull guard but Riley forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Figueroa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riley tries to pull guard but Figueroa holds him up against the cage and eventually Riley drops back down to his feet.

Figueroa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Figueroa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Riley stays in close to Figueroa's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Figueroa seems keen to control Riley's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riley trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley is pushing down on Figueroa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Figueroa is fighting to maintain full guard but Riley has managed to sneak the leg through.
Figueroa is concentrating on defense, preventing Riley from advancing position.
Riley missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Riley trying to advance position but Figueroa counters by regaining guard.
Riley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Figueroa managing to control the position.

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.
Figueroa's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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

Riley has taken the fight to the clinch.
Riley lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Riley tries for a takedown but Figueroa manages to get underhooks.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Riley.

Riley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Scott Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Figueroa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Virgil Figueroa has been cut.
Riley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Figueroa avoids it really well and circles away.
Figueroa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Riley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley gets tackled into the cage by Figueroa. Figueroa maintains the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Figueroa gets underhooks to prevent Riley's takedown attempt.

Riley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses.

Riley clinches with his opponent.

Figueroa drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.
Riley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Figueroa's guard.
Figueroa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Figueroa managing to control the position.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Virgil Figueroa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scott Riley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Figueroa looking for a guillotine here but Riley defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Riley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Riley winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Riley!