PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tapad Amiga (ranked 23739 p4p, 23589 weight class) and Rico Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico Salvacion acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Amiga
vs
Salvacion

182 cm
27
160
35 - 70 - 5

182 cm
27
160
49 - 58 - 6

BJJ Blue 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 35 - 70 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tapad Amiga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 49 - 58 - 6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Salvacion shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Amiga manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Amiga seems keen to control Salvacion's posture.
Salvacion showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Salvacion being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Salvacion controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Amiga has his hands on Salvacion's head, controlling the position.

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

Amiga closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Salvacion's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amiga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Salvacion wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Amiga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion is trying to keep Amiga in close.
Amiga is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Salvacion controlling Amiga's posture.
Salvacion is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Amiga is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Amiga shoots in for a double leg but Salvacion sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Salvacion with a lazy takedown attempt
and Amiga counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Salvacion is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Amiga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salvacion swivels and escapes.

Amiga shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Salvacion napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Salvacion's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tapad Amiga dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown attempt by Amiga or perhaps it was just good defense by Salvacion, which made it look bad.
Salvacion shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Amiga defends it nicely.
Amiga thinks about countering with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salvacion is defended easily by Amiga.
Amiga jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tapad Amiga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Salvacion.
Amiga stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Amiga wants it to stay on the feet.
Amiga jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Salvacion stuffs the takedown attempt from Amiga. Amiga gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Salvacion with a lazy takedown attempt
and Amiga counters with a low kick, right behind Salvacion 's knee.
Salvacion shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Amiga is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salvacion sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Salvacion misses.

Amiga gets caught napping as Salvacion dives in and scores a takedown. Amiga manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amiga keeping moving, preventing Salvacion from controlling successfully.
Amiga doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Amiga has his hands on Salvacion's head, controlling the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Salvacion controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Amiga controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Salvacion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Salvacion defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Amiga.
Salvacion changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Amiga tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salvacion sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Amiga somewhat.
Salvacion steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amiga shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salvacion as he jumps to the side.
Amiga moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSalvacion.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tapad Amiga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salvacion gets a double leg takedown into Amiga's guard.
Salvacion trying to control the position from guard on top but Amiga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Amiga is controlling Salvacion's posture.
Salvacion not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amiga looking to control.
Salvacion content to stall in guard here.
Amiga trying to control the position here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amiga trying to keep a closed guard but Salvacion is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Salvacion feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Salvacion content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amiga wants to sweep but no luck.
Salvacion controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Salvacion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Salvacion 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Salvacion!