PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Salas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salas comes into the arena with You Are A Pirate blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Salas
vs
Blake

178 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikel Salas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rodney Blake!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blake throws a right hand that misses
and Salas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blake counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salas throws a series of punches but Blake moves out of range.
Blake misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Salas counters with a left to the body.
Nice shot lands for Blake.
Blake scores with a body shot.
Salas thows a body shot but no joy.
Blake takes a swing at Salas's ribcage but misses.
Salas moves in looking to clinch but Blake pushes him off.
Blake throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Blake counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Salas moves into range and connects with a jab.
Salas misses with an uppercut
and Salas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Danga de danga de dang - Salas scores with a four punch combination!
Blake lands a really nice looking cross but Salas seems unphased.
Salas moves away from the strike by Blake.
Blake misses the shot to the body.
Salas misses with a double jab
and Blake connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas swings away with a body shot that misses
and Blake counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salas throws a big shot that misses.
Blake fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salas manages to avoid it.
Salas just misses with a punch to the body.
Salas misses with a combination
and Blake counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Salas misses with a jab to the body
and Blake counters with a two punch combo.
Salas misses with a straight left.

Salas instigates a clinch.
Blake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blake.
Salas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salas leaning against his opponent.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Blake.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Salas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Salas blocks an uppercut.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
Blake lands a right hand that snaps the head of Salas backwards.
Blake working aggressively here.
Salas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blake swings wildly with an uppercut but Salas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salas has Blake pushed against the cage.
Salas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blake blocking some punches.
Salas blocking some punches.
Blake has a couple of punches blocked by Salas.
Salas controlling the action here for a moment.
Blake has a couple of punches blocked by Salas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Blake.
Blake has a couple of punches blocked by Salas.
Blake has a couple of punches blocked by Salas.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Salas leaning his opponent against the cage.
Salas scores with a hook to the body.
Salas throws a head punch that misses.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Salas has Blake pressed against the cage.
Blake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blake misses with some punches.
Salas pushes Blake back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Salas scores with a hook to the body.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
Blake misses with some punches.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
Salas throws a punch but it's blocked by Blake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A short right from Salas.
Blake has a couple of punches blocked by Salas.
Salas lands with a short shot to the head.
Blake tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Blake fails to land.
Salas leaning his opponent against the cage.
Blake blocking some punches.
Salas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blake misses with the head strike.
Blake misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salas digs a right hand underneath Blake's ribcage. Blake let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Blake misses with the head strike.
Blake lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Salas.
Salas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salas.
Blake lands a hook that snaps the head of Salas backwards.
Salas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
Blake throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Blake dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Salas closes the distance but Blake moves to the side
and Blake counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salas tries to close the distance and clinch but Blake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Blake just misses with a punch to the body.
Blake throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salas on the side of the head.
Blake tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salas was well out of range. Poor timing from Blake.
Blake scores with a nice strike.
Blake throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blake misses with a combination

and Salas counters by clinching up.
Blake being controlled against the cage.
Blake blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Blake swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Salas fails to land.
Salas presses Blake against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas blocks an uppercut.
Salas presses Blake against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Salas blocks an uppercut.
Salas keeps control of Blake as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Salas tries for a takedown but Blake manages to get underhooks.
Blake misses with some punches.
Blake misses with some punches.
Blake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salas is leaning against Blake and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right hand to the body from Salas.
Salas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Blake up against the cage.
Blake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Salas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Salas.
Salas tries to throw a body punch but Blake avoids it by throwing Salas back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salas.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Salas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salas.
Blake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Blake.
Salas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Salas.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Blake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blake.
Salas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Blake.
Blake scores with a nice hook to the head.
Blake lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Salas tries to throw a body punch but Blake avoids it by throwing Salas back against the cage.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Salas is working Blake over against the cage.
Salas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Salas lands a nice shot to the body.
Blake being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas goes for a takedown attempt but Blake pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Salas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rodney Blake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blake leaves Salas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Salas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blake ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salas moves away.
Blake scores with a body shot.
Blake throws out a loose jab but Salas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blake thows a body shot but no joy.
Blake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salas misses with the combination.

Salas rushes Blake and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake working aggressively here.
A hook to the body from Salas.
Blake lands a right hand.
Blake misses with some punches.
A short body shot lands from Salas as the two fighters clinch.
Blake lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Blake throws a head punch that misses.
Salas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blake's efforts to push away.
Salas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salas misses with an elbow strike.
Salas blocks an uppercut.
Blake throws a punch but it's blocked by Salas.
Blake swings wildly with an uppercut but Salas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salas.
Salas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Blake fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blake tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikel Salas dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Blake connects with a body shot.
Salas misses with a combination
and Blake counters with a left to the body.
Salas misses with a combination
and Blake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Blake throws the left hand but Salas avoids the punch easily.
Blake is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Salas rather than just go for the knockout.
Salas throws a right hand that Blake ducks under and follows up with a left that Blake also avoids with ease.
Salas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salas lands a right hook to the body.
Rodney Blake seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blake misses with a wild body shot.
Salas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Blake tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salas was well out of range. Poor timing from Blake.
Blake throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blake keeps the fight on the outside.
Blake throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salas misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas misses with a double jab
and Blake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blake lands a head shot.
Blake misses the shot to the body.
Salas throws the left hand but Blake avoids the punch easily.
Salas misses with a double jab
and Blake counters with a straight right hand.
Salas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blake.
Blake throws a lazy uppercut
and Salas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Salas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blake moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blake pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blake takes a swing at Salas's ribcage but misses.
Salas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blake throws a predictable looking body shot
and Salas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Blake dodges the punch combination from Salas.
Salas stuns Blake with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blake.
Salas misses with a jab to the body
and Blake counters with a nice body shot.
Mikel Salas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Some wild striking there from Salas.
Salas misses with an uppercut. Blake saw that one coming.
Blake ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salas moves away.
Salas lands with a hook. Blake tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Blake fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salas manages to avoid it.
Salas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salas swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Salas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blake scores with a hook to the body. Salas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Blake punishes Salas's body with a nice straight punch.
Mikel Salas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blake throws a hook to the side of Salas's head but Salas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blake.
Salas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Blake counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A shot to the body from Salas misses
and Blake makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Blake throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salas.
Blake swings away with a body shot that misses
and Salas counters with a left to the body.
Horrible takedown by Salas or perhaps it was just good defense by Blake which made him look bad.
Blake lands a slapping body shot.
Blake scores with a jab. Salas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Blake misses with a hook.
Blake shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Blake connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Salas moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salas misses with a double jab
and Blake counters with a nice body shot.
Salas avoids the body shot from Blake.
Blake missing with a left hand there. Salas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salas tries to clinch up.
Salas lands a nice hook to Blake's body. Blake takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Salas defending well as Blake loads up on a big left hand.
Blake misses the shot to the body.
Blake avoids a punch combination nicely.
Salas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Blake to counter with a crisp jab.
Blake lands with a straight right. Salas didn't see that one coming.
Salas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salas swings away with a body shot that misses
and Blake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blake tests Salas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Salas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Blake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blake 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Blake!