PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chips Salsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier McPherson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Salsa
vs
McPherson

185 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Rusty Cage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chips Salsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xavier McPherson!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McPherson leaves Salsa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salsa fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from McPherson. No joy for Salsa on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chips Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salsa is trying hard to land a takedown here. McPherson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McPherson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Salsa.

It looks like Chips Salsa has been cut.
A head kick misses from Salsa.
McPherson blocks a low kick nicely.
Salsa tries to close the distance and clinch up but McPherson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McPherson is looking to clinch but Salsa is avoiding it.
McPherson tries a head kick but it misses.
Salsa has a takedown stuffed.

Salsa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McPherson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
McPherson is pressing down on Salsa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

McPherson is looking for a triangle but Salsa pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa wants to stand but McPherson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Salsa preventing the sweep.
Salsa sitting in guard here, content to control.
McPherson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Salsa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

McPherson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salsa defends it easily.

McPherson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Salsa uses it to pass to side control.
McPherson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McPherson is looking to reverse the position.
A lull in the action here.
Salsa fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Salsa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McPherson, who protects the arm well.
Salsa wants to control but McPherson is keeping him busy.
McPherson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Salsa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salsa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McPherson is trying to get back to full guard.
McPherson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McPherson wants to sweep but no luck.

Salsa stands up from guard. Let's bang!
McPherson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McPherson avoids it really well and circles away.
McPherson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salsa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McPherson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
McPherson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Salsa throws a right and a left that McPherson avoids nicely.
McPherson tries a head kick but it misses.
McPherson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salsa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McPherson tries to avoid it but Salsa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McPherson to the ground. McPherson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Salsa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Xavier McPherson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salsa has a takedown stuffed.

Salsa pushes McPherson up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McPherson as Salsa tries to tie him up.
Salsa looking to throw knees to the head but McPherson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier McPherson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chips Salsa's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McPherson tries to close the distance and clinch but Salsa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Salsa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McPherson moves into full guard.
McPherson keeping full guard, as Salsa tries to pass.
Salsa advances position into side control!
McPherson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Salsa off and has taken his back!
Salsa manages to reverse the position and now he's in McPherson's guard. Nice work there by Salsa.

McPherson looking for a guillotine here but Salsa defends easily.
McPherson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salsa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Salsa scores with a hook.

Salsa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Salsa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McPherson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salsa's guard.
McPherson stopping the sweep attempt from Salsa.
Salsa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa is looking to stand up but McPherson isn't so interested in that idea.
McPherson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salsa is keeping the position for now.

McPherson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Salsa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McPherson, into his guard.
Salsa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa thows a big elbow that misses.
McPherson wants to improve his position but instead Salsa has moved into half guard.
McPherson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McPherson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salsa is one step ahead there.

McPherson is looking for a triangle but Salsa pushes his legs off easily.
Salsa preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Salsa stands up and waves to McPherson to follow him.
McPherson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Salsa blocks the body kick.
Salsa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salsa wants to clinch.
Salsa throws a head kick but McPherson moves out of range.
Salsa moves out of range as McPherson throws a body kick.
Salsa is looking to land body kicks.
Salsa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McPherson.
Salsa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chips Salsa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chips Salsa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McPherson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Salsa lands a head kick. McPherson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Salsa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Salsa closes the distance and clinches up with McPherson, looking for a takedown. Salsa pushes McPherson against the cage but McPherson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Salsa tries to clinch but McPherson moves out of range.
McPherson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McPherson wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chips Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPherson stuffs the takedown attempt from Salsa. Salsa gets slowly back to his feet.
Salsa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McPherson sprawls well. McPherson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salsa gets slowly back to his feet.
McPherson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McPherson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McPherson digs a good hook to Salsa's body.
McPherson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

McPherson rushes Salsa and presses him up against the cage.
McPherson just leaning against Salsa, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPherson tries a knee to the head but Salsa blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McPherson lands an elbow just above Salsa 's eye.
McPherson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salsa blocks an elbow strike.
Salsa tries to score a body lock takedown but McPherson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McPherson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Salsa avoids it.
Salsa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McPherson just stands there and leans against the cage.
McPherson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Salsa lands a takedown into guard.
Salsa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McPherson being controlled here, momentarily.
McPherson keeping moving, preventing Salsa from controlling successfully.
Salsa is looking to work some ground and pound but McPherson has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McPherson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Salsa preventing the sweep.
Salsa stands and throws McPherson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McPherson trying to remain calm as Salsa controls from the top position.
Salsa is looking to take a break and control but McPherson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salsa in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Salsa tries to move into full mount but can't pass McPherson's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa wants to control but McPherson is keeping him busy.
McPherson tries to buck Salsa off but Salsa is having none of it.
Salsa tries to advance to mount but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McPherson throws a nice head kick!
Salsa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McPherson sprawls well. McPherson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salsa gets slowly back to his feet.
Salsa tries to close the distance and clinch but McPherson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salsa takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPherson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salsa's head.
Salsa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McPherson sprawls well. McPherson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salsa gets slowly back to his feet.
McPherson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McPherson.
Salsa keeps the fight on the outside.
McPherson throws a head kick but Salsa moves out of range.
McPherson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salsa's head.
Salsa tries to score a power double leg takedown but McPherson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salsa somewhat.
Salsa takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McPherson connects with a looping right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier McPherson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McPherson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier McPherson!