PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emong Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Neeson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salvacion's entrance music is Till I Collapse. A fine choice. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Salvacion
vs
Neeson

178 cm
24
158 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
31
146 lbs
11 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emong Salvacion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liam Neeson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salvacion tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Neeson was well out of range. Poor timing from Salvacion.
Salvacion looks to throw the jab but Neeson is out of range.

Salvacion shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Salvacion was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Neeson can't do much from the bottom here.
Salvacion looks up at the clock and then as Neeson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Salvacion smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The strikes coming from Salvacion are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Salvacion fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Neeson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Salvacion tries to move to mount but Neeson blocks the move with his legs.
A lull in the action here as Salvacion stalls from top position.
Salvacion lands some shots froms side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Neeson is trying to improve his position.
We've been hearing that Salvacion has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Neeson down.
Salvacion landing strikes.
Neeson is looking to reverse the position.

Salvacion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Salvacion is working Neeson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Neeson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Neeson is trying to improve his position.
Salvacion working the ground and pound.

It looks like Liam Neeson has been cut.
Salvacion trying to control the position but Neeson is working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neeson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neeson is looking to reverse the position.
Salvacion lands a few punches from side control.

Salvacion looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Salvacion working the head with strikes.
Salvacion scoring with punches from side control.
Neeson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salvacion is chipping away with strikes.
Salvacion scoring with punches and elbows.
Salvacion works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Salvacion cracks Neeson with a big elbow.
Salvacion working the head and body with strikes.
Salvacion lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neeson keeps working.
Neeson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Salvacion scores with punches from side control.
Neeson taking a bit of punishment here - Salvacion scoring with strikes.
Neeson can't do much from the bottom here.
Neeson is looking to reverse the position.
Salvacion tries to advance to mount but can't.
Neeson manages to get back to half guard.
Salvacion tries to pass the half guard into mount. Neeson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Salvacion working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Salvacion has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Salvacion stops Neeson from getting back to his feet.
Salvacion seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salvacion sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Neeson trying to hold on to Salvacion's head to control him but Salvacion postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Salvacion lands a nice short elbow.
Neeson is trying to stand.
Salvacion trying to control from Neeson's half guard. Neeson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Neeson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salvacion defends it easily.
Salvacion content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Neeson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salvacion trying to control but Neeson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emong Salvacion dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Liam Neeson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Salvacion keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Salvacion misses with a wild body shot.

Salvacion looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Salvacion wants to control from the top but Neeson keeps moving.
Neeson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salvacion trying to control the position from guard on top but Neeson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salvacion pushes down on Neeson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Salvacion working over Neeson with some ground and pound. Neeson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Salvacion is keen to just control but Neeson is a slippery customer.
Neeson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Neeson wants to get back to his feet.
Salvacion scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Neeson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Salvacion pulls his head out easily.
Salvacion trying to control from half guard but Neeson is working away.
Salvacion looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Emong Salvacion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Salvacion is nestled in close to Neeson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Salvacion working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Salvacion.
Neeson wants to improve his position but Salvacion is controlling well.
Salvacion working over Neeson with some ground and pound. Neeson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salvacion takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion passes to side control.
Neeson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Salvacion in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Salvacion lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvacion is chipping away with strikes.
Salvacion lands a nice forearm strike.
Salvacion lands a few punches from side control.
Salvacion scoring with punches from side control.
Salvacion is looking to take a break and control but Neeson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salvacion working the head with strikes.
Salvacion is putting a hurting on Neeson here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion in side control lands a decent elbow.
Salvacion gets to mount! Neeson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Salvacion breaks from Neeson's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Neeson is rocked!
Neeson regains half guard.
Neeson is still in real trouble! Can Salvacion finish him?
Ground and pound from Salvacion.

Salvacion is working for a kimura but Neeson is defending it quite comfortably.
Neeson seems to have recovered his senses.
Salvacion is nestled in close to Neeson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Salvacion missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salvacion frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Neeson can't escape the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Neeson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salvacion goes for an armbar but Neeson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Neeson.
Neeson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salvacion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Neeson keeps trying to improve his position.
Neeson trying to control but Salvacion is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salvacion pulls Neeson in close to prevent any damage.

Neeson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Salvacion is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Salvacion has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emong Salvacion dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Liam Neeson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Salvacion is trying hard to land a takedown here. Neeson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Salvacion stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salvacion wants it to stay on the feet.
Salvacion is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Neeson can do to turn this around?

Salvacion closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Salvacion thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Neeson's head.

Neeson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neeson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salvacion.
Neeson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neeson is staying active underneath Salvacion, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Salvacion works his way into full mount!
Salvacion lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neeson is looking to improve his position but Salvacion isn't that keen on the idea.
Neeson is squirming around, avoiding Salvacion's attempts to control the action.
Neeson is working to get back to half guard.
Salvacion lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Salvacion with good strikes from the mount here!
Salvacion trying to control but Neeson is having none of it.

Salvacion is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Neeson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Neeson shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion is in the full mount, landing strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salvacion wants to control the pace but Neeson is squirming around nicely.
Salvacion lands with some strikes.
Salvacion lands a nice shot to the head.
Neeson tries to hold on but Salvacion postures up.
Salvacion with the ground and pound from mount.
Neeson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Salvacion working the head and body with strikes.
Salvacion wants to advance to full mount but Neeson doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Salvacion loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion stopping the sweep attempt from Neeson.
Salvacion trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Neeson looking for a sweep. Not yet Neeson, not yet.
Liam Neeson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salvacion looking to pass the guard.
Neeson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salvacion is looking to work some ground and pound but Neeson has wrist control.
Salvacion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Neeson is keeping the position for now.
Salvacion controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salvacion wants to control from the top but Neeson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion landing some decent shots from guard.
Salvacion missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Salvacion trying to control but Neeson is working from the bottom.
Neeson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Salvacion got a little sloppy there for a moment and Neeson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salvacion has managed to get both his arms back between Neeson's legs - danger averted.
Neeson keeping moving, preventing Salvacion from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salvacion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Neeson is keeping the position for now.
Emong Salvacion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emong Salvacion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salvacion 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emong Salvacion!
In his post fight interview, Emong Salvacion gave a big smile as he said 'Well what can I say man... He's a good fighter but I train harder than anyone in this division. I worked hard to be the champ and I'm not going to give this belt away that easy. Anyone who thinks I'm an easy fight should think twice.'.