PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phil Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asiong Salonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Stewart has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stewart
vs
Salonga

180 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Phil Stewart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Asiong Salonga!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stewart wants to clinch up but Salonga keeps it at a distance.

Salonga throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stewart was covering up waiting for the punch and Salonga finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Stewart working for a triangle but Salonga defends it easily.
Salonga lands a couple of digs.
Stewart pulls Salonga in close to his closed guard and prevents Salonga from doing any damage or advancing position.
Salonga trying to control but Stewart is working from the bottom.
Stewart really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Salonga engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Stewart striking off his back but it's not causing Salonga any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Salonga. No joy for Stewart on that attempt.

Salonga looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Salonga throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stewart to regain full guard.
Stewart has momentary wrist control but Salonga slips an elbow through the middle.
Stewart is trying to keep Salonga in close.
Salonga stays in close to Stewart's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salonga trying to control but Stewart is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stewart trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Asiong Salonga.
Stewart shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salonga pinned against the cage. Salonga gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
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!

Stewart tries to keep at a distance but Salonga has taken the fight into the clinch.

Salonga decides to pull guard.

Salonga has his feet on Stewart's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Salonga fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Salonga changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stewart looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga with the ground and pound but Stewart regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Salonga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stewart tries to get to full guard but Salonga has control of the leg.
Salonga is trying to control. Stewart wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Salonga thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stewart's head.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Asiong Salonga was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Salonga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stewart is fending him off so far but Salonga persists. Nope, Stewart circles away and we're back to standing.
Stewart tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Salonga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Salonga dives in and scores a takedown into Stewart's guard.
Stewart is breathing heavily.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salonga lands a couple of digs.
Salonga throwing strikes from guard but Stewart blocks nicely.
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!
Stewart keeping full guard, as Salonga tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stewart trying to keep a closed guard but Salonga is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stewart shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Salonga defends it nicely.
Asiong Salonga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salonga connects with a single shot there.
Salonga is looking to clinch.
Salonga misses with a takedown attempt - Stewart sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Salonga scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stewart is trying to control but Salonga manages to pass to mount!
Salonga breaks from Stewart's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Stewart regains half guard.
Salonga thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga is keen to just control but Stewart is a slippery customer.
Salonga thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stewart's head.
Salonga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stewart throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Salonga seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Salonga is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Salonga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stewart trying to control but Salonga postures up.
Stewart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart is refusing to be controlled, as Salonga sits in half guard.
Salonga thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stewart taking some punishment here, with Salonga in his half guard.
Salonga not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Salonga seems to be looking for submissions.

Stewart kicks Salonga off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salonga shoots in but Stewart avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Salonga shoots in looking for a takedown. Stewart tries to sprawl out of it but Salonga keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stewart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Phil Stewart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Asiong Salonga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart shoots in but no luck this time.
Salonga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Salonga manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stewart on his heels. He'll look to pass Stewart's guard now, I'm sure.
Asiong Salonga has got the better of the ground game so far.

Salonga drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stewart manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Salonga has Stewart in his guard.
Salonga being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart wants to control from the top but Salonga keeps moving.
Salonga can't keep his opponent in guard - Stewart advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Salonga tries to roll over but Stewart keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salonga keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asiong Salonga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stewart throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salonga's waist but Salonga gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stewart off to one side.
Horrible takedown by Stewart or perhaps it was just good defense by Salonga which made him look bad.

Stewart rushes Salonga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stewart missing with knees to the body.

Stewart escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salonga shoots in but no luck this time.

Salonga drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stewart wants to control but Salonga postures up.
Stewart is working to avoid the ground and pound but Salonga connects with a decent elbow.
Stewart is trying to get back to half guard.
Salonga working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salonga is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stewart knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salonga happy to just control the position for now.
Salonga lands a decent elbow from side control.

Salonga stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Salonga looks to land a combination but Stewart avoids it well.
Stewart tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonga circles away from the clinch attempt.
Salonga tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stewart manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Salonga has taken the fight to the clinch.

Salonga gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stewart regains guard.
Salonga would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stewart manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salonga manages to get himself to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salonga controls Stewart momentarily but Stewart frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart throwing strikes but missing.
Salonga tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Salonga can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stewart wants to control from the top but Salonga keeps moving.

Salonga is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stewart is aware though and is defending well.
Stewart wants to stand but Salonga has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonga trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salonga tries to bum rush Stewart with a series of wild strikes but Stewart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Stewart instigates a clinch.
Salonga is pressed up against the cage. Stewart has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Salonga down to the mat. Salonga avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Stewart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Stewart. No joy for Salonga on that attempt.

Salonga fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stewart sprawls well initially but Salonga persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salonga throwing shots but Stewart is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stewart manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Phil Stewart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Asiong Salonga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asiong Salonga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Salonga winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asiong Salonga!