PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaylon Figures (ranked 9470 p4p, 732 weight class) and Claudio Manzoni Jr (ranked 5457 p4p, 559 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Figures might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Standing in the rain. Manzoni Jr has chosen Wily wily- ghali as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Figures
vs
Manzoni Jr

180 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Can Moonwalk

Arcticus University: London
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaylon Figures!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Claudio Manzoni Jr!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manzoni Jr moves out of range of the leg kick from Figures.
Manzoni Jr shoots for a takedown but Figures saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Manzoni Jr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Figures moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Figures is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Manzoni Jr's half guard.

Manzoni Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Figures.
Figures controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manzoni Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Figures scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figures controlling the pace.

Manzoni Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Figures pulls his head out easily.
Manzoni Jr tries to roll over but Figures keeps him under control.
Figures working the head and body with strikes.
Figures sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Figures is nestled in close to Manzoni Jr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Figures seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Manzoni Jr wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Figures in particular looking to stall.
Figures knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Manzoni Jr on the ground.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Manzoni Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Figures pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Figures seems content to control.

Manzoni Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Manzoni Jr looks winded!
Figures controlling the action here.

Manzoni Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Manzoni Jr taking some punishment here, with Figures in his half guard.
Figures slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figures lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Figures controlling the action here.
Figures is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Figures content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Figures is working for a submission of some sort.
Figures keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.

Figures is working for a submission of some sort.
Figures stalling.

Manzoni Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Figures pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Figures keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaylon Figures dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manzoni Jr with a poor takedown

and Figures counters with a shoot takedown. Manzoni Jr fights it but they end up in guard.
Figures's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Our spies down at at VEGAS Top Team [$550/week][6 ELITE+3 Exceptional] inform us that Manzoni Jr has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Figures'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.

Manzoni Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Figures is aware though and is defending well.
Figures engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Figures has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Figures wants to pass the guard but Manzoni Jr is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manzoni Jr has momentary wrist control but Figures slips an elbow through the middle.
Jaylon Figures overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Manzoni Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Figures engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figures working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Manzoni Jr has a closed guard, preventing Figures from standing up.

Manzoni Jr has his foot on Figures's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Figures works his way back into a safe position though.
Manzoni Jr is breathing heavily.
Figures with a nice head shot there.
Figures controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Figures seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Manzoni Jr for as long as he can get away with.

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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Figures's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Figures with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Manzoni Jr can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Figures controls the pace.
Figures with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Manzoni Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Figures doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Figures manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Figures tries to stand but Manzoni Jr is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figures's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Manzoni Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Figures looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Manzoni Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Figures doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Figures manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Figures slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four 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.
Figures with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Figures showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Figures got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manzoni Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Figures has managed to get both his arms back between Manzoni Jr's legs - danger averted.
Figures engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Figures is in close to Manzoni Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Manzoni Jr has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Figures is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Manzoni Jr.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaylon Figures dominated that second round.
That's time! Figures's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Manzoni Jr goes for a double leg but Figures avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Figures continues to drive forward.
Claudio Manzoni Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Figures misses with an uppercut. Manzoni Jr saw that one coming.

Figures gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Manzoni Jr is fighting off a takedown attempt but Figures is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Manzoni Jr to the mat. Manzoni Jr regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Figures wants to pass the guard but Manzoni Jr is keeping the position.
Figures is in close to Manzoni Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Manzoni Jr looking for subs off his back but Figures has passed one foot through into half guard.
Figures is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manzoni Jr can do to turn this around?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Manzoni Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Manzoni Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Figures drops an elbow to the side of Manzoni Jr's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figures content to control rather than advance.

Manzoni Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Figures slows the pace down in half guard.
Figures uses his free foot to push down on Manzoni Jr's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Manzoni Jr.
Figures landing strikes, looking to finish!
Figures scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Manzoni Jr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Figures looking to control and managing it successfully.
Figures continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figures fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Figures connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Figures controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manzoni Jr gets back to half guard.
Manzoni Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Manzoni Jr has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Figures escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Figures!
Manzoni Jr is trying to escape the position but Figures is controlling the position.
Figures advances to mount.
Figures cracks Manzoni Jr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Figures controlling the position easily from mount.
Manzoni Jr is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Figures takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Figures cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Manzoni Jr takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Figures tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Figures lands a heavy elbow.

Manzoni Jr is rocked!
Figures dominating with strikes here.
Manzoni Jr is still in real trouble! Can Figures finish him?
Manzoni Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.
Figures lands a heavy elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Figures scoring with strikes but Manzoni Jr is staying in there.
A big strike lands for Figures! That's really hurt Manzoni Jr and he's turned his back - Figures keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Figures jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jaylon Figures!
A very excited looking Jaylon Figures made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Claudio Manzoni Jr was interviewed post fight and said 'I can do better, shit can happened. Torcida gimme a Rematch plz'.