PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenton Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Gracias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Figueroa
vs
Gracias

187 cm
19
214 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenton Figueroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fernando Gracias!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Figueroa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracias sprawls well. Gracias wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Figueroa gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracias looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Gracias walks into a left hand.
Gracias shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Figueroa sprawls well. Figueroa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracias gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracias blocks a head kick by Figueroa.

Figueroa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracias sprawls well initially but Figueroa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Figueroa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Figueroa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Figueroa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Figueroa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Figueroa is looking for a kimura here.

Figueroa seems to be looking for submissions.

Figueroa wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracias is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Figueroa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracias is trying to get back to full guard.
Figueroa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Figueroa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Figueroa there.
Figueroa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Figueroa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Figueroa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracias has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracias is looking to escape.

Figueroa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Figueroa is working for a kimura but Gracias is defending it quite comfortably.
Figueroa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Figueroa stops Gracias from getting back to his feet.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Figueroa.

Figueroa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracias is working to avoid the ground and pound but Figueroa connects with a decent elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Figueroa working the body and head with strikes.
Gracias can't do much from the bottom here.

Figueroa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenton Figueroa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Figueroa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Figueroa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Figueroa misses with an uppercut. Gracias saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Figueroa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracias is breathing heavily.
Gracias misses with a combination

and Figueroa counters by moving into the clinch.
Figueroa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracias can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa leaning his opponent against the cage.
Figueroa is struggling to control the position.
Figueroa seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Figueroa content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Figueroa breaks from the clinch.
Gracias throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Figueroa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gracias sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Figueroa somewhat.
Figueroa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracias avoids the head kick by Figueroa.
Figueroa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses.
Figueroa throws a sloppy head kick and Gracias moves out of range easily.

Figueroa closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Figueroa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Figueroa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracias blocks a head kick by Figueroa.
Gracias drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Figueroa defends it well.

Figueroa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gracias is trying to break free.
Gracias is trying to pull guard but Figueroa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracias fails to pull guard.
Figueroa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Figueroa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Figueroa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice defenses there by Gracias.
Good standup being displayed there by Figueroa as he connects with a hook.
Figueroa misses with a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Figueroa moves into the clinch.
Figueroa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Figueroa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenton Figueroa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Figueroa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gracias quickly recovers to half guard.

Figueroa is working for a submission of some sort.

Figueroa wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracias is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Figueroa is looking for a kimura but Gracias is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Figueroa to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Figueroa lands a nice short elbow.

Figueroa seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Figueroa lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Figueroa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracias has managed to free his arm - good work.

Figueroa is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Gracias to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Gracias is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Figueroa cracks Gracias with a solid left hand.
Figueroa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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 postures up in Gracias's guard and throws a big left but Gracias blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Figueroa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Figueroa works over Gracias with some ground and pound from guard.
Kenton Figueroa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracias is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Figueroa throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gracias utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracias.
Figueroa misses with a takedown attempt - Gracias sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracias misses with a takedown

and Figueroa moves into the clinch.
Gracias drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kenton Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Gracias.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Fernando Gracias has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Figueroa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracias!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracias, who protects the arm well.
Gracias gets back to half guard.
Figueroa throws a strike but Gracias avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracias looking to control.
Figueroa cracks Gracias with a solid left hand.
Kenton Figueroa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Figueroa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenton Figueroa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Figueroa 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenton Figueroa!