PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asiong Salonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza has chosen Sympton Of The Universe - Black Sabbath as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Salonga
vs
Souza

220 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Asiong Salonga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Souza!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salonga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Souza pinned against the cage. Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souza looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
No luck for Salonga with that takedown attempt.
Salonga tries to clinch up but Souza circles away and keeps his distance.
Souza thows a leg kick but Salonga checks it
and Salonga counters with a nice body shot.
Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Salonga sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Souza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Souza wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asiong Salonga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Salonga lands a big head kick that sends Souza tumbling to the mat! Salonga takes a step backwards and waves Souza back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Souza is rocked!

It looks like Rafael Souza has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Salonga 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.
Souza is still in real trouble! Can Salonga finish him?
Salonga trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salonga sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza seems to have recovered his senses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Asiong Salonga just wasn't active enough.

Salonga has managed to clinch.
Salonga really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Salonga tries for a takedown but Souza manages to get underhooks.

Salonga jumps guard and drags Souza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Salonga trying to strike off his back.
Souza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Salonga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Salonga controlling Souza's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza won't allow Salonga to get back to his feet.
Salonga keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salonga is on top in guard.
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!
Souza keeping moving, preventing Salonga from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Asiong Salonga just wasn't active enough.
Salonga scores with a crisp jab that stopped Souza in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Salonga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salonga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Souza swivels and escapes.
Souza throws a hook but Salonga blocks it.
Souza is looking to clinch but Salonga is avoiding it.
Souza takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Salonga wants to clinch.

Salonga scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Souza keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Souza tries to improve his position but instead Salonga has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asiong Salonga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Souza's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Salonga is looking to clinch.
Salonga shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Souza sprawls well. Souza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salonga gets slowly back to his feet.
Salonga shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Souza eats them both and turns towards Salonga to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Souza slaps away a takedown attempt from Salonga, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Salonga ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Salonga fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asiong Salonga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza slaps away a takedown attempt from Salonga, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Asiong Salonga is winning the standup battle so far.
Salonga shoots in looking for a takedown but Souza manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salonga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga shoots in looking for a takedown but Souza manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salonga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Salonga with a poor takedown

and Souza moves into the clinch.

Souza is trying to trip Salonga. He has hold of a leg but Salonga is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Souza persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Salonga looking for a sweep. Not yet Salonga, not yet.
Souza controlling from the top position.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Souza throws a strike but Salonga rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Souza controls Salonga momentarily but Salonga frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salonga got a little sloppy there for a moment and Souza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salonga has managed to get both his arms back between Souza's legs - danger averted.
Salonga trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.

Salonga stands up from Souza's guard - Salonga perhaps looking for a knockout.
Salonga looks for a takedown but Souza sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Salonga tries to clinch up but Souza circles away and keeps his distance.
Souza tries to clinch up but Salonga circles away and keeps his distance.
Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salonga sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souza somewhat.

Salonga gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Salonga gets control of Souza's arms and successfully pulls guard. Salonga will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Asiong Salonga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

Salonga looking for a guillotine here but Souza defends easily.
Souza lands a couple of elbows.
Souza postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salonga keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza looking to sit in guard and control but Salonga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asiong Salonga dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Souza's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Souza shoots in for a double leg but Salonga sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Salonga moves in looking to clinch but Souza pushes him off.
Souza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Salonga closes the distance and clinches.
Salonga pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Salonga with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Salonga manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Salonga controls Souza momentarily but Souza frees himself.

Salonga looking for a triangle here. Souza is fighting it but it looks tight! Salonga pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Souza is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Asiong Salonga!