PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeffrey Molina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Pyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pyle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bate Pesadão. Richard Pyle has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Molina
vs
Pyle

168 cm
20
150 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

177 cm
30
146 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeffrey Molina!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Pyle!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pyle closes the distance and clinches.
Pyle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Molina has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pyle regains guard immediately.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Molina throws a strike but Pyle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Molina is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Brazilian Top Team that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Molina wants to improve his position but instead Pyle has moved into half guard.
Molina is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molina trying to control from the bottom.
Molina gets full guard.
Molina looking to control.
Pyle being controlled here momentarily.
Pyle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jeffrey Molina.
Molina circles away from the clinch attempt

and Molina counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Molina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pyle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pyle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Molina manages to break the clinch.
Pyle looks to clinch

and Molina moves into the clinch.
Molina is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pyle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Molina working hard to break the clinch.
Pyle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Molina takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Molina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pyle tries to clinch up

and Molina holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Molina tries to pull guard but Pyle holds him up against the cage and eventually Molina drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffrey Molina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Molina wants to get back to striking at distance but Pyle won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Molina breaks the clinch.
Molina shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pyle sprawls well. Pyle wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Molina gets slowly back to his feet.
Pyle tries to clinch up

and Molina holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Molina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Molina can't find room to land a body shot as Pyle controls the action.
Pyle gets underhooks to prevent Molina's takedown attempt.
Pyle blocks an uppercut.
Pyle tries a body shot but Molina blocks it.

Molina turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Molina manages to end up in side control.
Molina throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Molina stands up and beckons Pyle to his feet.
Molina circles away from the clinch attempt

and Molina counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pyle won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Molina trying to control the action but Pyle is working from the bottom.
An elbow from Molina crashes against the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Molina throws an elbow but Pyle slips to the side and avoids it well.
Molina in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Molina dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pyle is looking to clinch.
Pyle defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Molina.
Pyle moves to clinch but Molina breaks away

and Molina counters with a shoot takedown. Pyle fights it but they end up in guard.
Molina has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Molina throws a big right hand that misses.
Molina working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Molina accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Molina throws a strike but Pyle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Molina looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molina looking to control.

Molina is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pyle stops Molina from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Molina wants to improve his position but instead Pyle has moved into half guard.
Molina is concentrating on defense, preventing Pyle from advancing position.
Molina trying to control here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Molina tries to kick Pyle off but Pyle keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jeffrey Molina.

Molina shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pyle's guard.
Molina with a flurry of punches that miss.
Molina controls from within his opponent's guard.
Molina throws a big elbow that misses.
Molina trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Molina wants to control from the top but Pyle keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Molina throwing strikes but missing.
Pyle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pyle wants to stand and escape but Molina is having none of it.
Molina postures up and lands a big shot to Pyle's brow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molina content to stall in guard here.
Molina postures up in Pyle's guard and throws a big left but Pyle blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Molina dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Molina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pyle tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Molina counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pyle has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Molina not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Molina throws a strike but Pyle avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Molina keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pyle's head.
Molina missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Molina is looking to work some ground and pound but Pyle has wrist control.
Molina working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Molina pushing down on Pyle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ground and pound from Molina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molina sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pyle defending well though.
Molina looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Molina throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Molina keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pyle regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Molina.
Molina throwing strikes but missing.
Molina working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pyle's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pyle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Molina throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Molina trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pyle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Molina.

Molina stands and steps away. Pyle gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pyle wants to clinch but Molina slips to the side

and Molina counters by clinching up.
Molina drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pyle gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Molina is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pyle can do to turn this around?

Molina has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pyle regains guard immediately.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molina throws a big right hand that misses.
Molina wants to control from the top but Pyle keeps moving.
Pyle is looking to stand up but Molina isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Molina with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molina trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Molina chips away with some ground and pound.
Molina slips nicely into half guard.
Pyle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Molina.
Molina lands strikes from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Molina thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pyle's head.
Molina missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Molina clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pyle tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Molina counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Molina.
Molina prevents a body shot from Pyle.
Molina goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pyle prevents it.
Molina is working for takedown but Pyle is calmly controlling the position for now.
Molina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Molina drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffrey Molina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Molina stalls.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Molina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molina jumps guard but Pyle turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pyle tries a body shot but Molina blocks it.
Molina dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Molina escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pyle looks to clinch
and Molina counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pyle darts in trying to clinch

and Molina counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Molina tries for a takedown but Pyle manages to get underhooks.
Pyle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina can't get the takedown.
Molina wants to break free but Pyle has control.

Molina turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Molina manages to end up in side control.
Molina working the head with strikes.
Pyle wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Molina misses with the ground and pound.
Jeffrey Molina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Molina creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pyle sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Pyle bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pyle looks to clinch
and Molina counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Molina gets tackled into the cage by Pyle. Pyle maintains the clinch.

Molina's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pyle moves in looking to clinch but Molina pushes him off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Molina is defended easily by Pyle.
Pyle leaves Molina with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Molina shoots in looking for a takedown. Pyle tries to sprawl out of it but Molina keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pyle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pyle moves to clinch but Molina breaks away

and Molina counters with a nice double leg into guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Molina looking to sit in guard and control but Pyle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Molina is trying to keep Pyle in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Molina wriggles free and stands up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pyle tries to clinch up.
Pyle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pyle tries to clinch up

and Molina counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Molina had his way with Richard Pyle in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pyle tries to clinch up

and Molina holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Molina leaning against his opponent.
Pyle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Molina.

Molina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Molina has closed the distance and engaged Pyle in a clinch.
Pyle misses with a hook to the ribs.
Molina taking a breather.
Molina goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pyle prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Molina lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Molina takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Molina misses with a head shot. Pyle uses the momentum to regain guard.
Molina postures up in Pyle's guard and throws a big left but Pyle blocks it.
Molina with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pyle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pyle wants to stand but Molina is controlling the position.
Molina throws a big right hand that misses.
Molina is in close to Pyle's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Molina trying to control the position from guard on top but Pyle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Molina scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molina throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Molina throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pyle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Molina throws a strike but Pyle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Molina wants to hit a switch here but Pyle passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Molina there!
Molina tries to lock up and control but Pyle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molina is desperately trying to improve his position but Pyle has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molina wants to hold on but Pyle pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeffrey Molina showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Molina, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 50:45
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 50:45
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffrey Molina!
Jeffrey Molina retains his featherweight title!
Jeffrey Molina decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.