PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emong Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cam Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Salvacion might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Till I Collapse. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Salvacion
vs
Lawson

178 cm
22
158 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
150 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Knockout power

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emong Salvacion!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cam Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Donatello Bradman and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salvacion shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lawson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salvacion misses with a takedown attempt
and Lawson counters with a body kick.
Salvacion swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salvacion is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Salvacion slips under a jab.
Salvacion fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emong Salvacion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donk. Salvacion catches Lawson right on the button with a cross.
Salvacion keeps the fight on the outside.
Salvacion throws a lazy right hand but Lawson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Salvacion changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lawson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Salvacion sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lawson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Salvacion controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lawson prevents Salvacion from improving position.
Salvacion wants to control but Lawson is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Salvacion are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Salvacion tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Salvacion tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Salvacion has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Salvacion working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Lawson regains half guard, as Salvacion was trying to land strikes.
Salvacion missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salvacion looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lawson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Salvacion thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lawson's head.
Salvacion sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lawson defending well though.
Salvacion not doing much here.
We've been hearing good reports from Salvacion's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Salvacion is working for a kimura but Lawson is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion prevents Lawson from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Salvacion lands a nice short elbow.
Salvacion missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salvacion.
Salvacion not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lawson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Salvacion is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lawson's head.
Salvacion with the ground and pound but Lawson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Salvacion postures up.
Salvacion makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Salvacion from controlling successfully.
Salvacion trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Lawson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salvacion pulls Lawson in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lawson slips under a jab.

Lawson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Salvacion tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lawson is in Salvacion's guard.
Salvacion has a closed guard, preventing Lawson from standing up.
Lawson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Salvacion wants to sweep here but Lawson controlling him for the moment.
Salvacion lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lawson!
Salvacion throwing strikes here but Lawson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion punishing his opponent with strikes.
Lawson is squirming around, avoiding Salvacion's attempts to control the action.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound.
Lawson suckers Salvacion into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Lawson is now in Salvacion's guard!
Salvacion is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lawson won't allow Salvacion to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lawson manages to get himself to full guard.
Salvacion is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lawson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lawson wants to stand and escape but Salvacion is having none of it.
Salvacion postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Emong Salvacion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Salvacion from controlling successfully.

Salvacion avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salvacion slips nicely into half guard.
Salvacion missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Salvacion is looking to take a break and control but Lawson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salvacion landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Salvacion is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Salvacion not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Salvacion tries to pass to full mount but Lawson defends it.
Salvacion throwing shots but Lawson is blocking nicely.
Salvacion not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salvacion missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salvacion looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Salvacion 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.
Salvacion with the ground and pound but Lawson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emong Salvacion dominated that second round.
That's time! Salvacion's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lawson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Salvacion counters with a shoot takedown. Lawson fights it but they end up in guard.
Salvacion throws a big right hand that misses.
Salvacion lands a couple of digs.
Salvacion lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Salvacion with a nice head shot there.
Lawson keeping moving, preventing Salvacion from controlling successfully.
Salvacion throws a strike but Lawson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion controlling the position.
Lawson stops Salvacion from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Emong Salvacion wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Salvacion looking to score a takedown here. Lawson is defending well but Salvacion drives through and ends up in Lawson's guard.
Salvacion trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Salvacion works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Salvacion throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Salvacion is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Salvacion prevents Lawson from standing back up.
Salvacion lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Salvacion is trying to control the action in half guard but Lawson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Salvacion is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Salvacion there.
Lawson 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.
Lawson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Salvacion is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Salvacion thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Salvacion not doing much here.
Salvacion looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lawson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion is just content to waste time from the top position. Lawson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Salvacion trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Salvacion throws a strike but Lawson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Salvacion is trying to control the position but Lawson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emong Salvacion clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Salvacion shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Salvacion showed some decent athleticism there.
Lawson won't allow Salvacion to pass to mount.
Lawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salvacion.
Lawson wants to control but Salvacion is keeping busy.
Lawson tries to kick Salvacion off in order to stand up. Salvacion Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Check out the look on Salvacion's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Salvacion in side control, throwing shots but Lawson defends.

Salvacion working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Salvacion throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Salvacion throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Lawson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Salvacion trying to control from half guard but Lawson is working away.
Salvacion throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson is refusing to be controlled, as Salvacion sits in half guard.
Salvacion scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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. Salvacion connects with a nice short shot to Lawson's temple.
Salvacion is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lawson can do to turn this around?
Salvacion is looking to advance position but Lawson won't allow it.
Salvacion with the ground and pound but Lawson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Salvacion pushes down on Lawson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Salvacion tries to pass to full mount but Lawson defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion is looking to pass Lawson's guard but actually Lawson recovers to full guard.
Salvacion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lawson is keeping the position for now.
Salvacion passes into half guard.
Salvacion drops an elbow to the side of Lawson's head.
Salvacion thows a huge punch but Lawson dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson has hold of Salvacion's hands but Salvacion slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lawson wants to get back to full guard but Salvacion has mounted him!
Salvacion unloading with bombs!
Salvacion landing strikes from the mount.

Lawson is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salvacion unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Lawson wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Salvacion celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Emong Salvacion!
Emong Salvacion is the new featherweight champion!
Emong Salvacion decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.