PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rock Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Salcedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Johnson
vs
Salcedo

196 cm
28
273 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

182 cm
23
275 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Dangerous knees
Intelligent

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rock Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Salcedo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a leg kick but Salcedo checks it.
Salcedo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Johnson lands a right hook to the body.
Salcedo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Salcedo tries to clinch up.
Johnson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Salcedo misses with a head kick.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salcedo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Salcedo.
Salcedo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Salcedo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson looking to control.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Salcedo wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Salcedo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Salcedo landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Salcedo trying to move into half guard but instead Johnson has managed to sweep!

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salcedo is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is in close to Salcedo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Salcedo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Salcedo is keeping the position.

Salcedo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Salcedo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johnson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has given up his back here. Will Salcedo look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Salcedo lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Salcedo is trying to stick to Johnson's back but Johnson is turning into Salcedo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Salcedo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Johnson.
Salcedo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Salcedo is striking from the bottom but Johnson uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Salcedo won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salcedo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Salcedo wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Salcedo is working away.

Salcedo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Salcedo tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Salcedo misses with a leg kick
and Salcedo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Salcedo circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Salcedo dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson staying out of range there.
Johnson scores with a shot to the body.
Johnson throws a leg kick
and Salcedo counters with a leg kick.
Johnson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Salcedo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Salcedo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson pulls Salcedo in to control the position.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salcedo is one step ahead there.
Salcedo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salcedo looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Salcedo landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Salcedo looking to pass the guard.
Salcedo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Salcedo stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Salcedo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Salcedo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Salcedo working the ground and pound but Johnson is defending the strikes.
Salcedo working the ground and pound but Johnson is defending the strikes.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Salcedo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Salcedo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
Salcedo tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Salcedo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!
Salcedo is breathing heavily.
Salcedo is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson controlling the position.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Salcedo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Salcedo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Johnson's best efforts.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Jose Salcedo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Salcedo is defending the position.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson is pressing down on Salcedo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Salcedo is holding on for now.
Salcedo tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Salcedo throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Salcedo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salcedo misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Salcedo circles away.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Salcedo slips under a jab.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Salcedo circles away.
Johnson looks for the body kick but Salcedo saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salcedo has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salcedo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson misses with a low kick as Salcedo jumps back.
Johnson throws a head kick but Salcedo moves out of range.
Johnson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Salcedo.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Salcedo sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Salcedo is having none of it.
Salcedo moves into full guard.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Salcedo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salcedo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Salcedo looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salcedo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Salcedo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salcedo stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Salcedo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Salcedo is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Salcedo is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Salcedo.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Salcedo is controlling well.
Salcedo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salcedo.
Salcedo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salcedo sprawls well. Salcedo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Salcedo tries to clinch but Johnson moves away
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rock Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight for Rock Johnson!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Rock Johnson!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Rock Johnson!

Rock Johnson wins by unanimous decision!