PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manny Paiwia (ranked 3191 p4p, 24340 weight class) and Rico Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico Salvacion has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Manny Paiwia's chin.

Paiwia
vs
Salvacion

170 cm
24
160
7 - 5 - 0

182 cm
20
160
9 - 22 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Paiwia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 22 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paiwia thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Paiwia blocks it well.
Salvacion takes one to the side of the head.
Paiwia slaps away a takedown attempt from Salvacion, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paiwia's corner calls for a 1-2. Paiwia obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Manny Paiwia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paiwia waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salvacion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvacion looks for a takedown but Paiwia sprawls well.
Salvacion takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Paiwia!
Paiwia throws a hook but Salvacion blocks it.
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Paiwia blocks it well.
Paiwia misses with a lunging right hand
and Salvacion counters with a body kick that stops Paiwia in his tracks momentarily.
A low kick from Paiwia is predictable there
and Salvacion makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Paiwia really felt that one!

Paiwia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Paiwia misses with a body punch.

Paiwia has hold of one of Salvacion's legs. Salvacion is fighting the takedown attempt but Paiwia gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Salvacion trying to keep a closed guard but Paiwia is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paiwia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salvacion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Paiwia'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.
Paiwia engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Paiwia drops back looking for a leg! Salvacion is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Salvacion manages to kick Paiwia off! Paiwia jumps back into Salvacion's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paiwia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salvacion is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Paiwia shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Salvacion is trying to defend but Paiwia finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Paiwia in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion has his hands clasped together around Paiwia's back. He's all about the action.
Paiwia works his way into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paiwia lands a lovely overhand right.
Paiwia lands with an overhand left.
Salvacion steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paiwia.
Salvacion is trying to counter with his kicks.
Paiwia moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Salvacion looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paiwia throws a body punch but Salvacion moves out of range.
Salvacion appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Salvacion moves out of range of the strikes.
Salvacion is looking for the big counter here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paiwia shoots in and gets a takedown into Salvacion's guard.
Paiwia engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Salvacion is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Paiwia wants to get up but he can't break Salvacion's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Paiwia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Paiwia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paiwia postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Paiwia's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Paiwia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Paiwia has closed the distance and engaged Salvacion in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paiwia has picked Salvacion up - he's going for a ride! Paiwia dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Paiwia trying to control the pace.
Salvacion is trying to maintain the position but Paiwia is very close to passing his half guard.
Paiwia is pressing down on Salvacion's thigh, looking to free his foot. Salvacion is holding on for now.
Paiwia is taking a breather. Salvacion says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manny Paiwia is winning the standup battle so far.
Paiwia scores with a crisp jab that stopped Salvacion in his tracks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Paiwia dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Paiwia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Salvacion thinks about the counter body kick.
Paiwia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salvacion.
Paiwia rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Salvacion counters with a nice kick to the body.
Paiwia has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paiwia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paiwia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion looking for a sweep. Not yet Salvacion, not yet.
Paiwia's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Salvacion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Paiwia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Paiwia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Paiwia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salvacion swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Paiwia misses with a straight right.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Paiwia shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Salvacion napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Paiwia moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Paiwia working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paiwia slows the pace down.
Paiwia's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Paiwia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rico Salvacion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paiwia prevents a takedown attempt there.

Salvacion is fighting off a takedown attempt but Paiwia is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Salvacion to the mat. Salvacion regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Paiwia showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Paiwia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Paiwia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Paiwia!
Manny Paiwia thanked the fans post fight for their support.