PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Les Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Hoolihan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Les Figueroa had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Figueroa
vs
Hoolihan

151 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 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, Bernard Hoolihan!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoolihan lands a head shot.

It looks like Les Figueroa has been cut.
Figueroa really is a fat lump.
Figueroa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hoolihan tries to avoid it but Figueroa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hoolihan to the ground. Hoolihan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hoolihan clinches with his opponent.

Hoolihan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hoolihan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Figueroa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hoolihan digs a good body shot into Figueroa's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoolihan misses with a takedown attempt

and Figueroa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hoolihan is looking to control Figueroa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hoolihan avoid being mounted?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoolihan is not content to let Figueroa control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoolihan trying to control here.
Hoolihan wants to improve his position but Figueroa is controlling well.
Figueroa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hoolihan tries to get to full guard but Figueroa has control of the leg.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Figueroa trying to mount his opponent but Hoolihan defends it.

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.

Figueroa is working for a kimura but Hoolihan is defending it quite comfortably.
Figueroa is keen to just control but Hoolihan is a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Figueroa slaps away a takedown attempt from Hoolihan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Les Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Hoolihan.
Hoolihan looks to throw a body kick

and Figueroa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hoolihan trying to control from the bottom.
Hoolihan wants to get back to his feet.
Hoolihan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Hoolihan tries to get to full guard but Figueroa has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Figueroa controlling the action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hoolihan closes the distance and clinches up with Figueroa, looking for a takedown. Hoolihan pushes Figueroa against the cage but Figueroa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Figueroa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hoolihan manages to circle out of the way.

Hoolihan moves into the clinch.
Hoolihan fails to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stalling in the clinch from Hoolihan.
Figueroa blocks a body shot from Hoolihan.
Figueroa trying to land knees to the body.
Hoolihan tries to pull guard but Figueroa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bernard Hoolihan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Les Figueroa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Figueroa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hoolihan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Figueroa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Figueroa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Figueroa slips a jab and a cross from Hoolihan.
Les Figueroa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Hoolihan misses.
Figueroa slaps away a takedown attempt from Hoolihan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoolihan slaps away a takedown attempt from Figueroa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hoolihan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoolihan.
Figueroa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Les Figueroa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Hoolihan.
Hoolihan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Figueroa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hoolihan is breathing heavily.
Hoolihan misses with the body kick

and Figueroa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hoolihan!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoolihan is trying to escape the position but Figueroa is controlling the position.

Figueroa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hoolihan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hoolihan is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa is looking to take a break and control but Hoolihan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Figueroa misses with the ground and pound.
Figueroa trying to control the position but Hoolihan is working away.
Hoolihan is looking to reverse the position.
Hoolihan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Figueroa has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Figueroa tries for a kimura but Hoolihan is defending well.
Figueroa scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa tries for a kimura but Hoolihan is defending well.
Figueroa wants to control but Hoolihan is keeping him busy.
Les Figueroa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hoolihan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hoolihan is being controlled here.

That's four 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 works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hoolihan tries to improve position but can't.

Figueroa stands up and beckons Hoolihan to his feet.
Bernard Hoolihan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hoolihan takes the fight into the clinch.

Hoolihan pulls guard effortlessly.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hoolihan wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Figueroa manages to pass to side control.
Hoolihan tries to roll over but Figueroa keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Figueroa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Les Figueroa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Figueroa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hoolihan was covering up waiting for the punch and Figueroa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Figueroa preventing the sweep.
Hoolihan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Figueroa stays in close to Hoolihan's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Figueroa won't allow Hoolihan to get back to his feet.
Hoolihan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Figueroa is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoolihan trying to control from the bottom.
Figueroa drops an elbow to the side of Hoolihan's head.
Figueroa prevents Hoolihan from improving his position.
Hoolihan trying to control but Figueroa postures up.
Hoolihan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Figueroa wants to take a breather but Hoolihan is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hoolihan tries for a takedown but Figueroa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hoolihan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Figueroa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hoolihan falls off balance throwing a combination

and Figueroa counters with a single leg into guard. Hoolihan didn't expect that.
Figueroa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoolihan can do to turn this around?
Figueroa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Figueroa preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Figueroa stands up from guard. Let's bang!
An inside leg kick from Figueroa misses.
Hoolihan is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Figueroa gets a double leg takedown into Hoolihan's guard.
Figueroa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hoolihan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Figueroa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa throws a big right hand that misses.
Figueroa wants to control from the top but Hoolihan keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Hoolihan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Figueroa passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Figueroa is staying tight to Hoolihan's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Les Figueroa showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

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