PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicasio Salonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jack
vs
Salonga

175 cm
28
162 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

176 cm
26
162 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Dwayne Jack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicasio Salonga!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salonga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jack manages to avoid it.

Jack closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Jack thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Salonga's head.
Salonga has hold of Jack's hands but Jack slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Jack is working for a submission of some sort.
Salonga wants to improve his position but Jack is controlling well.
Salonga keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jack thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jack moves nicely into side control.
Jack trying to control the action but Salonga is working from the bottom.
Salonga is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Jack are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Jack with the ground and pound but Salonga regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Jack works his way into full mount!
Salonga is desperately trying to improve his position but Jack has a good base and remains in mount.
Salonga tries to hold on but Jack pushes him away.
Salonga just holding on.
Jack connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
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.
Jack scoring with strikes but Salonga is staying in there.
Salonga avoids a series of strikes thrown by Jack.
Jack punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salonga wants to hold on but Jack pushes him away.
Salonga is trying desperately to improve position.
Jack lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Jack looking to finish Salonga with some ground and pound. This is bad for Salonga!
Jack fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jack unloads with some shots from mount but Salonga bucks and avoids them well.

Jack goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Salonga is on top in guard.
Jack keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
Salonga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.
Salonga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jack keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
Salonga with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salonga is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salonga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jack keeping full guard, as Salonga tries to pass.
Salonga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jack works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salonga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salonga scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jack 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.

Dwayne Jack dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jack gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Salonga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salonga throws a big right hand that misses.
Jack keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
Salonga lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Salonga wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.
Salonga won't allow Jack to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jack keeping full guard, as Salonga tries to pass.
Salonga is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dwayne Jack overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jack not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salonga postures up in Jack's guard and throws a big left but Jack blocks it.
Salonga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salonga is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jack not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salonga throws a big elbow that misses.
Salonga throws a strike but Jack rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack wants to control from the top but Salonga keeps moving.
Jack loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jack's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jack postures up in Salonga's guard and throws a big left but Salonga blocks it.
Jack looking to sit in guard and control but Salonga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salonga wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.
Salonga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga throwing strikes from guard but Jack blocks nicely.
Salonga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jack works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salonga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salonga working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonga might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jack kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicasio Salonga wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jack throws a front kick aimed at Salonga's knee but Salonga avoids it well.
Jack misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salonga.
Jack thows a body shot but no joy.
Salonga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jack as he avoids it easily.
Jack swings for the body but Salonga moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jack misses with an uppercut. Salonga saw that one coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Salonga checks a leg kick.
Jack takes a swing at Salonga's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicasio 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!

Jack misses with a takedown attempt - Salonga sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Salonga uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jack.
Salonga slips a straight right by Jack.
Salonga shoots in for a takedown but Jack shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jack shoots in for a takedown but Salonga shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Salonga swings for the body but Jack moves out of range.
Jack shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jack shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Salonga counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Jack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salonga throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Salonga blocks the strikes from Jack.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Salonga thows a huge punch but Jack dodges it nicely.
Salonga scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jack makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jack.
Salonga throws a strike but Jack rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Salonga uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Salonga misses with a hook. Jack ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Salonga as Jack shoots in.
Jack shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Salonga defends it nicely.
Jack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salonga.
Salonga throws a jab when Jack was well out of range.

Salonga drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jack keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salonga with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga landing with the ground and pound.
Salonga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jack works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salonga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salonga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jack works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salonga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Salonga throwing strikes from guard but Jack blocks nicely.
Salonga landing with the ground and pound.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonga controlling from the top position.
Jack is trying to keep Salonga in close.
Salonga stands up over Jack, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salonga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Salonga is in close to Jack's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicasio Salonga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Salonga 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

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