PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sterling Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sterling Powers has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Figueroa
vs
Powers

185 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
27
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sterling Powers!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers throws a sloppy head kick and Figueroa moves out of range easily.
Figueroa feinted with a counter takedown.
A slapping leg kick lands for Figueroa.

Powers rushes Figueroa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Powers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Powers wants to pass the guard but Figueroa is keeping the position.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Powers has eaten all the pies!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Figueroa is keeping the position for now.
Powers trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Powers has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Figueroa is proving hard to escape from.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Powers's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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

Powers moves into the clinch successfully.
Powers trying to stall but Figueroa improves his position.

Figueroa jumps guard.
Powers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Figueroa managing to control the position.
Powers keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Figueroa's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Figueroa is keeping the position for now.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers postures up in Figueroa's guard and throws a big left but Figueroa blocks it.
Powers tries to free his leg and advance position but Figueroa is retaining full guard.
Powers controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Figueroa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Figueroa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Powers is chipping away with strikes.
Powers wants to control for a moment but Figueroa uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Powers not doing much here.
Powers takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Powers tries to stand but can't do so whilst Figueroa controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa trying to control from the bottom.
Figueroa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Powers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Powers is trying to control the action in half guard but Figueroa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Powers is looking to pass Figueroa's guard but actually Figueroa recovers to full guard.
Powers trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Powers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Figueroa haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Powers works over Figueroa with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck with that takedown attempt from Powers.
Figueroa connects with a body shot.
Powers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Figueroa defends it nicely.

Figueroa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Figueroa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.
Powers wanted to stand there but Figueroa had control of the position.
Figueroa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Powers controls the pace.
Figueroa is trying to control the position but Powers postures up.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Figueroa is keeping the position for now.
Figueroa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powers.
Sterling Powers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powers is looking to work some ground and pound but Figueroa has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Powers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Figueroa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
We've been informed that Powers has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Powers tries for a takedown but Figueroa circles away easily

and Figueroa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Powers's guard.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sterling Powers.
Figueroa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Figueroa wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
Powers wants to sweep but no luck.
Powers pulls Figueroa in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Powers seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Powers is looking to land body kicks.
Sterling Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Figueroa but Figueroa pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Powers has Figueroa up against the cage in a clinch.

Figueroa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Powers pushes Figueroa off but Figueroa dives into side control.
Powers is not content to let Figueroa control the position.
You can see the frustration on Powers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
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.

Virgil Figueroa dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Powers circles away from the clinch attempt.

Powers darts in and clinches Figueroa up against the cage.

Figueroa successfully pulls guard.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Powers wants to stand but Figueroa is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Figueroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Figueroa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Figueroa looking for a sweep. Not yet Figueroa, not yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Powers tries to free his leg and advance position but Figueroa is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Powers throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Figueroa was covering up waiting for the punch and Powers finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Figueroa wants to sweep but no luck.
Powers wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.
Powers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Powers controls from within his opponent's guard.
Powers looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers shoots in but no luck this time.
Powers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Figueroa as he avoids it easily.
Powers shoots in looking for a takedown. Figueroa tries to sprawl out of it but Powers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Figueroa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Virgil Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sterling Powers.
Figueroa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Powers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Figueroa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Powers somewhat.
Powers fails with a takedown attempt.
Powers throws a leg kick but Figueroa checks it.
Figueroa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Powers manages to circle out of the way.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Powers gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Figueroa working Powers over with knees to the body.
Powers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Figueroa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Powers pulls his leg out and moves away.

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 Virgil Figueroa.
I think Figueroa 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sterling Powers!
Sterling Powers decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.