PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Noah Mayo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asiong Salonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mayo
vs
Salonga

215 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Noah Mayo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Asiong Salonga!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salonga closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mayo's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mayo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Salonga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Salonga wants to get up but he can't break Mayo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Salonga looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Salonga must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Asiong Salonga has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Salonga looking to score a takedown here. Mayo is defending well but Salonga drives through and ends up in Mayo's guard.
Salonga wants to get up but he can't break Mayo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Mayo working for a triangle but Salonga defends it easily.
Salonga content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Asiong Salonga was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mayo tries to clinch but Salonga moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Salonga lands with a cross.
Mayo moves in looking to clinch but Salonga pushes him off.

Salonga shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mayo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mayo keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
Mayo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mayo keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mayo looking for a guillotine here but Salonga defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mayo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salonga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salonga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mayo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Salonga wants to stand but Mayo is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salonga misses with the combination.
Mayo doesn't manage to clinch there - Salonga circles away.
Salonga lunges at Mayo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mayo's hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Salonga.
Salonga wants to stand but Mayo has his arm trapped.
Mayo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayo tries to buck Salonga off but Salonga is having none of it.
Mayo is not content to let Salonga control the position.
Salonga is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Mayo's shoulder. That is not cool.
Salonga tries to stand but Mayo is controlling his head.
Salonga connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Mayo some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonga is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Mayo's shoulder. That is not cool.
Mayo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Salonga off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Salonga's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Salonga manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mayo's guard. Nice work there by Salonga.
Mayo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Salonga.
Mayo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Salonga has gone for a leg lock! Mayo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Salonga's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayo throwing strikes from guard but Salonga blocks nicely.
Mayo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Salonga working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mayo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mayo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mayo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Salonga is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mayo is controlling him.
Salonga is breathing heavily.
Mayo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Salonga looking for a guillotine here but Mayo defends easily.
Mayo preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonga is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Salonga working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mayo.
Mayo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mayo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salonga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mayo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mayo working Salonga over with strikes.
Mayo lands strikes from half guard.
Mayo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mayo 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.
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!
Mayo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Asiong Salonga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Salonga throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mayo was covering up waiting for the punch and Salonga finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Salonga would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Salonga wants to control from the top but Mayo keeps moving.
Mayo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Salonga puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Salonga wants to control but Mayo is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga is controlling the pace.

Asiong Salonga has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Mayo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Salonga tries to buck Mayo off but Mayo is having none of it.
Mayo throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Mayo decides to stand back up.
Salonga misses with the combination.
Salonga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Salonga moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salonga ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Salonga no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mayo postures up and lands a big shot to Salonga's brow.
Mayo throws an elbow that misses. Salonga uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mayo's guard. Nice move by Salonga!
Salonga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mayo is keeping the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salonga trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mayo's guard.

Mayo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Salonga is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mayo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Mayo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Salonga wants to stand but Mayo has his arm trapped.
Mayo is looking to regain half guard here but Salonga keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonga controlling the position.
Salonga wants to stand but Mayo has his arm trapped.
Mayo is not content to let Salonga control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asiong Salonga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salonga has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

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