PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between TheNightmare Miocic (ranked 3878 p4p, 24687 weight class) and Clifford Val Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Miocic
vs
Salvacion

176 cm
25
300
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, TheNightmare Miocic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clifford Val Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miocic misses with a wild combination.
Salvacion is trying to counter with his kicks.
Miocic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.
Salvacion uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Miocic.
Salvacion steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Miocic.
Salvacion steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Salvacion showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Miocic.
Miocic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Salvacion is fending him off so far but Miocic persists. Nope, Salvacion circles away and we're back to standing.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miocic throws a shot from downtown. Salvacion moves away and avoids it.
Miocic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salvacion is trying to counter with his kicks.
Miocic misses with a jab, cross combination.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Miocic manages to step out the way in time.
Miocic throws a head kick that misses

and Salvacion counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miocic is keeping the position for now.
Salvacion is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Salvacion must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Miocic wants to stand and escape but Salvacion is having none of it.
Miocic is wriggling around but Salvacion manages to pass to half guard.
Miocic is trying to stand up here but Salvacion is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvacion takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
It looks like Salvacion might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Salvacion dives in and scores a takedown into Miocic's guard.
Miocic wants to stand but Salvacion is controlling the position.
Salvacion looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miocic wants to stand but Salvacion is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Salvacion avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice takedown defense from Salvacion. No joy for Miocic on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TheNightmare Miocic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salvacion staying out of range there.
Miocic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salvacion's waist but Salvacion gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Miocic off to one side.
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Miocic blocks it well.
Miocic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Salvacion circles away.
Salvacion tries a quick counter leg kick but Miocic is wise to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Salvacion drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miocic wants to get back to his feet but Salvacion is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Miocic is looking to stand back up but Salvacion counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Miocic.
Salvacion is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Miocic wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Salvacion in particular looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Clifford Val Salvacion dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Salvacion throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Miocic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Salvacion is in Miocic's guard.
Miocic wants to get back to his feet but Salvacion is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Salvacion engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Salvacion won't allow Miocic to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miocic throws a jab but it's blocked by Salvacion.
Miocic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salvacion.
Salvacion blocks a jab.
Salvacion blocks a jab.
Salvacion thinks about the counter body kick.
Miocic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Miocic manages to step out the way in time.
Miocic throws an ugly left hook that misses
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Salvacion counters with a nice body shot.
Miocic is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Salvacion's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Miocic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salvacion walks into a stiff left hand from Miocic.
TheNightmare Miocic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salvacion shoots in and gets a takedown into Miocic's guard.
Miocic wants to stand and escape but Salvacion is having none of it.
Salvacion controlling from the top position.
Miocic really is a fat lump.
Salvacion stops Miocic from standing up.
Salvacion seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Miocic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Miocic wants to stand up but Salvacion is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Miocic being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miocic throws a right hand that Salvacion ducks under and follows up with a left that Salvacion also avoids with ease.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Miocic manages to step out the way in time.
Salvacion walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Salvacion on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Miocic shoots in but no luck this time.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Miocic.
Miocic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
TheNightmare Miocic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miocic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Salvacion is fending him off so far but Miocic persists. Nope, Salvacion circles away and we're back to standing.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.
Miocic shoots in looking for a takedown. Salvacion tries to sprawl out of it but Miocic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salvacion manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TheNightmare Miocic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion defending well as Miocic loads up on a big left hand.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.

Salvacion shoots in and bounces Miocic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Salvacion showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Salvacion stops Miocic from standing up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that TheNightmare Miocic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Miocic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Miocic throws a lazy right hand but Salvacion sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Salvacion thinks about the counter body kick.
Miocic shoots and misses
and Salvacion counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Miocic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Miocic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miocic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Salvacion.

Salvacion drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miocic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Salvacion showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miocic is wriggling around but Salvacion manages to pass to half guard.
Salvacion content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Miocic wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Miocic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Salvacion counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Miocic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Salvacion is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Miocic is looking to stand back up but Salvacion counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Miocic.
Salvacion missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Miocic looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Salvacion showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Miocic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sloppy strikes from Miocic. Those never looked like landing.
Salvacion steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Salvacion moves out of range as Miocic strikes.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.
Miocic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salvacion sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TheNightmare Miocic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miocic shoots in looking for a takedown. Salvacion tries to sprawl out of it but Miocic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salvacion manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Miocic manages to step out the way in time.
Miocic with a poor takedown
and Salvacion counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Salvacion throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Miocic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Salvacion is in Miocic's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salvacion sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifford Val 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

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