PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alcides Salonica (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Eagle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salonica comes to the cage accompanied by "Mundian To Bach Ke" by Panjabi MC. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Salonica
vs
Eagle

194 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

205 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alcides Salonica!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen Eagle!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eagle scores with a three punch combo!

Salonica gets a takedown into half guard.
Salonica is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Eagle wants to get back to his feet.
Salonica missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salonica working over Eagle with some ground and pound. Eagle looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Eagle scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Salonica manages to mount him!
Salonica lands with some strikes.
Salonica connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Salonica can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Eagle is looking to escape.
Eagle is looking to improve his position but Salonica isn't that keen on the idea.
Eagle looks gassed!
Salonica lands a big elbow.
Salonica punishing his opponent with strikes.
Eagle taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salonica landing punches.
A nice elbow there by Salonica.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonica in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Salonica blocks Eagle's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salonica looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Salonica unloading with bombs!
Eagle can't escape the position.
Salonica content just to control the position here.
Salonica raining down shots from the mount!
Eagle takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Salonica scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Eagle?
Eagle in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Salonica controlling the pace for now.
Salonica is landing with some decent strikes but Eagle is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eagle is working to get back to half guard.
Salonica has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Eagle's face.
Eagle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Salonica with shots to the head and body - Eagle looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonica controlling the pace for now.
BOOM! Salonica connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Eagle is in a horrible position here. Salonica smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Salonica is landing with some decent strikes but Eagle is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salonica pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Salonica lands a big shot there that rocks Eagle but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Eagle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Salonica punishing his opponent with strikes.
Salonica lands a heavy elbow.
Salonica lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Eagle hang on?
Eagle is working to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Salonica connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Salonica putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Eagle is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Eagle is looking to get to half guard.
Salonica working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Eagle swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Salonica controlling from the full mount.
Eagle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Salonica cracks Eagle with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Salonica controlling from the full mount.
Salonica is landing with some decent strikes but Eagle is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Salonica cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Eagle can't escape the position.
Eagle taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonica looking to finish Eagle with some ground and pound. This is bad for Eagle!
Salonica prevents Eagle from getting the reversal.
Salonica is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Eagle can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Salonica landing punches.
Eagle is squirming around, avoiding Salonica's attempts to control the action.
Salonica fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
A nice elbow there by Salonica.
Eagle is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Salonica landing strikes from the mount and Eagle is in trouble!
Eagle is wriggling around trying to escape.
Eagle is mounted but he's throwing punches.
Eagle is looking to get to half guard.
Salonica connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Salonica dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eagle tries to reverse the position but Salonica maintains control.
Eagle is trying to stand.
Salonica putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alcides Salonica dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Salonica throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Salonica drives through and clinches with Eagle against the cage.

Salonica gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Salonica wants to control but Eagle is keeping him busy.
Eagle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Salonica's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Salonica's back!
Salonica turns into Eagle and is now in his guard.
Salonica wants to control from the top but Eagle keeps moving.

Salonica avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Salonica lands a couple of digs.
Eagle wants to stand up but Salonica is controlling him.
Eagle looking for a sweep. Not yet Eagle, not yet.
Salonica working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Eagle is breathing heavily.
Eagle is looking to stand up but Salonica isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Salonica closes the distance and clinches.
Eagle wants to get back to striking at distance but Salonica won't allow it.
Salonica lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salonica gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Eagle actively working from the bottom here.
Salonica seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Salonica wants to pass the guard but Eagle is defending well.
Eagle looks like he's trying to stand up.
Eagle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Eagle thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Salonica has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Salonica prevents Eagle from getting back to his feet.
Eagle keeping full guard, as Salonica tries to pass.
Salonica might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Salonica throws a right and a left that Eagle avoids nicely.
Salonica is looking to slow Eagle down with leg kicks.

Salonica instigates a clinch.
with the fighters clinched against the cage, Salonica creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Salonica fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Eagle, pushing him back against the cage.
Salonica is working Eagle over against the cage.
Salonica landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Salonica with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salonica tries for a takedown. No joy.
Salonica prevents Eagle from breaking the clinch.

Eagle manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eagle has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jab from Eagle.
Eagle tries for a takedown but Salonica circles away easily

and Salonica counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Salonica takes a little break here. Eagle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Salonica scoring with punches from side control.
Salonica wants to control but Eagle is keeping him busy.
Salonica works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Salonica is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eagle can do to turn this around?
Salonica creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Eagle is trying to buck Salonica off.
Salonica is putting a hurting on Eagle here, landing some big shots from side control.
Salonica is working Eagle over with some ground and pound from side control.
Eagle regains half guard.
Salonica trying to pass the guard but Eagle defending well.
Eagle gets back to full guard.
Salonica trying to control but Eagle is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Salonica puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Alcides Salonica overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eagle taking some punishment here, with Salonica in his half guard.
Salonica lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Salonica working over Eagle with some ground and pound. Eagle looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Salonica tries to pass to full mount but Eagle defends it.
Eagle wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Salonica connects with a nice short shot to Eagle's temple.
Salonica perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Salonica slips a nice elbow through Eagle's hands, connecting with Eagle's forehead.
Salonica working the head and body with strikes.
Eagle taking some punishment here, with Salonica in his half guard.
Eagle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Salonica prevents Eagle from standing back up.
Salonica is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Salonica takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Eagle wants to improve his position but Salonica is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eagle moves into full guard.
Salonica trying to control the position from guard on top but Eagle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salonica throwing strikes but missing.

Eagle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Salonica is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Salonica tries to free his leg and advance position but Eagle is retaining full guard.
Salonica works over Eagle with some ground and pound from guard.
Eagle can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Salonica controls the pace.
Salonica stops Eagle from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salonica stopping the sweep attempt from Eagle.

Eagle looking for a guillotine here but Salonica defends easily.
Eagle wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Salonica manages to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alcides Salonica dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Salonica is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Salonica takes the fight into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Salonica.
Eagle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eagle tries for a takedown. No joy.
Salonica keeps control of Eagle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Salonica stalling in the clinch.

Salonica has Eagle pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Salonica pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Eagle tumbling to the mat - Salonica dives into Eagle's guard.
Eagle keeping full guard, as Salonica tries to pass.
Eagle looking for a sweep. Not yet Eagle, not yet.
Salonica slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Salonica working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salonica postures up in Eagle's guard and throws a big left but Eagle blocks it.
Salonica won't allow Eagle to sweep him here.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonica is looking to work some ground and pound but Eagle has wrist control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Salonica keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A combination from Eagle does no damage.

Salonica gets the takedown into side control.
Salonica in side control lands a decent elbow.
Salonica wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eagle keeps working.
Salonica lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Salonica is chipping away with strikes.
Salonica content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Salonica fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Eagle sneaks back into half guard.
Salonica is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Salonica is looking to take a break and control but Eagle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eagle wants to get back to full guard.
Salonica seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Salonica there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Salonica.
Salonica is controlling the pace.
Eagle wants to get back to his feet.
Eagle flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Eagle is not content to let Salonica control the position.
Salonica is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Eagle is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Salonica landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Eagle is refusing to be controlled, as Salonica sits in half guard.
Eagle gets full guard.
Salonica stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eagle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salonica working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Eagle's head.
Salonica trying to control but Eagle is working from the bottom.
Salonica advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle gets back to full guard.
Eagle keeping moving, preventing Salonica from controlling successfully.
Salonica trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Eagle looking for a guillotine here but Salonica defends easily.
Eagle is looking to stand up but Salonica isn't so interested in that idea.
Eagle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salonica manages to get himself to full guard.
Salonica preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Eagle wants to get up but he can't break Salonica's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Eagle wants to pass the guard but Salonica is keeping the position.

Eagle is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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.
Salonica not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eagle has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Salonica is proving hard to escape from.
Eagle preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Salonica misses with a combination

and Eagle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Eagle tries to pull guard but Salonica holds him up against the cage and eventually Eagle drops back down to his feet.
Alcides Salonica has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Eagle.
A body shot lands from Eagle.
Salonica misses with a body punch.
Eagle is trying to break free.
A knee to the head by Salonica.
Eagle wants to get back to striking at distance but Salonica won't allow it.

Eagle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salonica is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Eagle.
Eagle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Salonica counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salonica throwing strikes but missing.
Eagle keeping moving, preventing Salonica from controlling successfully.
Salonica controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stephen Eagle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salonica advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alcides Salonica showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Salonica, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alcides Salonica!