PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Matters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Figueroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Matters might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lose Yourself - Eminem. Figueroa has chosen Mountain of Power Procession as his entrance music. Rafael Figueroa struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Matters
vs
Figueroa

168 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marshall Matters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Figueroa !
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Matters or perhaps it was just good defense by Figueroa which made him look bad.
Matters shoots for a takedown but Figueroa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Figueroa does no damage.
Matters lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Figueroa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Matters takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Matters avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Figueroa tries to close the distance and clinch but Matters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Figueroa swinging wilding here.
Matters avoids a punch combination nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matters checks a leg kick.
Matters will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Matters. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matters is looking to clinch.
Figueroa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Figueroa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matters swats away the attempt to clinch by Figueroa .
Figueroa lands a jab to the nose.
Matters shoots for a takedown but Figueroa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matters shoots in but Figueroa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Donk. Matters catches Figueroa right on the button with a cross.
Matters shoots in but Figueroa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Figueroa lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matters circles away from the clinch attempt

so Matters counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Figueroa trying to strike off his back.
Matters wants to control from the top but Figueroa keeps moving.
Matters won't allow Figueroa to sweep him here.
Matters trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.
Figueroa looking for a sweep. Not yet Figueroa , not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matters looking to pass the guard.
Figueroa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matters.
Matters controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matters shoots in and drives through. Figueroa sprawls well.
Matters scores with a leg kick.
Matters shoots in and drives through. Figueroa sprawls well.
Figueroa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

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.
Figueroa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Figueroa tries to avoid it but Matters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Figueroa to the ground. Figueroa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Figueroa tries to clinch up.

Matters feints and as Figueroa raises his hands in defense, Matters changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matters controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Figueroa working a defensive guard here.
Figueroa wants to sweep here but Matters controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matters will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marshall Matters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matters shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Figueroa pinned against the cage. Figueroa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Figueroa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Figueroa stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Matters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Figueroa wants to clinch.
Matters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matters scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Matters regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Figueroa 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Matters is looking for a triangle but Figueroa pushes his legs off easily.
Figueroa wanted to stand there but Matters had control of the position.
Matters wants to hit a switch here but Figueroa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Matters there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matters wants to hold on but Figueroa pushes him away.
Matters is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Figueroa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matters is trying to escape the mount.
Figueroa wants to control the pace but Matters is squirming around nicely.
Figueroa is trying to control here but Matters has managed to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matters actively working from the bottom here.
Matters trying to hold on to Figueroa 's head to control him but Figueroa postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Figueroa rushes Matters and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Matters tries to pull guard but Figueroa won't allow it.
Matters tries to score a body lock takedown but Figueroa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The is referee keeping an eye on Matters - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Figueroa wants to stall.
Figueroa is looking to break free of the clinch but Matters has double underhooks.
Matters misses with a punch on the inside.
Figueroa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Figueroa is breathing heavily.
Matters just leaning against Figueroa , taking a breather.
Matters tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Figueroa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matters jumps guard but Figueroa stands there with Matters around his waist. Matters gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Figueroa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Figueroa throws a nice looking combination but Matters bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matters fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Figueroa wants to land a leg kick but Matters is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Figueroa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Figueroa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matters.
Matters checks a low kick from Figueroa .

Matters looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matters in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matters slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matters passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa is trying to get back to half guard.
Figueroa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matters throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Matters controlling the position.

That's two 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.

Matters is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Figueroa looks calm but he's in trouble here. Matters gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Figueroa is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Matters lets go of the hold and Figueroa can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marshall Matters!