PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Les Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pernell Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pernell Whitaker has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Figueroa
vs
Whitaker

151 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Les Figueroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pernell Whitaker!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Figueroa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Figueroa really is a fat lump.
Figueroa throws a nice looking combination but Whitaker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whitaker misses with a takedown attempt

and Figueroa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Figueroa is controlling the pace.
Whitaker trying to hold on to Figueroa's head to control him but Figueroa postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Figueroa is taking a breather. Whitaker says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Figueroa is thwarting Whitaker's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Figueroa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Whitaker for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Whitaker shoots for a takedown but Figueroa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Les Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pernell Whitaker.

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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Whitaker pulls guard successfully.

Figueroa gets to his feet - Whitaker follows without any prompting.
Whitaker has a takedown stuffed.
Whitaker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Figueroa counters with a takedown into side control.
Whitaker being controlled for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa in side control lands a decent elbow.

Figueroa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Whitaker regains half guard.
Figueroa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Whitaker preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four 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.
Whitaker looks like he's trying to stand up.
Whitaker is looking to control Figueroa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Whitaker avoid being mounted?
Whitaker is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Figueroa is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Figueroa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Whitaker drives through and clinches with Figueroa against the cage.
Whitaker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Whitaker drags the fight down to the ground.
Whitaker trying to control the position here.
Whitaker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Figueroa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa misses with a takedown attempt - Whitaker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Whitaker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Figueroa did well to prevent Whitaker getting side control.
Figueroa is trying to stand up here but Whitaker is controlling him well.
Figueroa is not content to let Whitaker control the position.
Whitaker wants to stand up but Figueroa is controlling the position.
Figueroa wants to control but Whitaker is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figueroa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Figueroa pushes Whitaker off looking to stand but Whitaker dives back in and keeps control.
Figueroa is staying active underneath Whitaker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker closes the distance and clinches.
Figueroa leaning against his opponent.

Figueroa breaks from the clinch.

Whitaker pushes Figueroa up against the cage in a clinch.
Whitaker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Figueroa to keep the fight standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Figueroa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Les Figueroa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whitaker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Figueroa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whitaker somewhat.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Whitaker is breathing heavily.

Figueroa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Whitaker is looking to stand back up but Figueroa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Whitaker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Whitaker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Figueroa is thwarting Whitaker's attempts to control the position.
Whitaker trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Figueroa controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitaker tries to hold on but Figueroa pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Les Figueroa will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Whitaker has a takedown stuffed.
Figueroa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Whitaker manages to circle out of the way.
Figueroa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whitaker tries to avoid it but Figueroa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whitaker to the ground. Whitaker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Figueroa shoots in and gets a takedown into Whitaker's guard.
Figueroa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Figueroa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Les Figueroa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Figueroa stands and throws Whitaker's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Whitaker is trying to control Figueroa's posture but Figueroa avoids it.
Figueroa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Figueroa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Whitaker, who protects the arm well.
Whitaker tries to improve position but can't.
Figueroa taking a breather here.
Whitaker wants to control but Figueroa postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Figueroa decides to stand up, so the ref orders Whitaker to his feet.
Whitaker with a lazy takedown attempt

and Figueroa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Whitaker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Figueroa content to stall in guard here.

Figueroa gets to his feet. Whitaker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Whitaker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Les Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pernell Whitaker.
Horrible takedown attempt by Figueroa or perhaps it was just good defense by Whitaker, which made it look bad.
Whitaker dives in and grabs Figueroa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Figueroa pushes down on Whitaker's head and hops out.
Whitaker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Figueroa looking to score a takedown here. Whitaker is defending well but Figueroa drives through and ends up in Whitaker's guard.
Whitaker wants to hit a switch here but Figueroa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Whitaker there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Les Figueroa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Figueroa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

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