PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Salvacion (ranked 23780 p4p, 23923 weight class) and Gakus Amiga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Salvacion
vs
Amiga

182 cm
25
160
37 - 48 - 6

182 cm
25
160
35 - 50 - 3

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 48 - 6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Salvacion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 50 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gakus Amiga!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Salvacion tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Amiga defends well and Salvacion ends up having to push Amiga into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Amiga is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Amiga has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Salvacion regains guard immediately.
Salvacion is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvacion is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Amiga is positioning himself well to prevent Salvacion advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Amiga has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Salvacion is working away from the top position though.
Amiga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Amiga wants to control but Salvacion is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salvacion passes into side control, despite Amiga's attempt to control the position.
The ground and pound from Salvacion seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Amiga tries to improve position but can't.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salvacion tries for a takedown but Amiga circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Salvacion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Amiga has his takedown stuffed
and Salvacion counters with a big head kick but Amiga shrugs it off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Amiga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Salvacion avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rico Salvacion will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Amiga shoots in and drives through. Salvacion sprawls well.
Salvacion jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Salvacion stuffs the takedown attempt from Amiga. Amiga gets slowly back to his feet.
Salvacion throws a quick counter kick to the body but Amiga avoids it.
Amiga defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salvacion.
Amiga steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Salvacion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amiga misses with a takedown attempt
and Salvacion counters with a solid body kick.
Rico Salvacion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gakus Amiga.
Salvacion is trying hard to land a takedown here. Amiga sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amiga displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salvacion.
Amiga appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Salvacion shoots in looking for a takedown but Amiga manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salvacion's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Amiga defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salvacion.
Amiga pulls out of a head kick attempt.

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.
Amiga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salvacion shoots for a double leg takedown but Amiga sprawls well. He's pushed Salvacion's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And Amiga responds with a good body kick, but Salvacion manages to step out the way in time.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Salvacion enables Amiga to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Salvacion manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Salvacion is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion has control of Amiga's left arm, preventing Amiga from doing any damage.
Amiga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Amiga is fighting to break Salvacion's control of his arms but Salvacion is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Amiga 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.
Amiga is continuing to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Amiga drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gakus Amiga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Amiga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Salvacion avoids it really well and circles away.
Salvacion dives in and grabs Amiga's left leg, looking for a takedown. Amiga pushes down on Salvacion's head and hops out.
Amiga with the counter takedown but Salvacion avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amiga stuffs the takedown attempt from Salvacion. Salvacion gets slowly back to his feet.
Amiga throws a counter combo.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amiga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salvacion pinned against the cage. Salvacion gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Salvacion gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Amiga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Amiga showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Amiga is fighting to break Salvacion's control of his arms but Salvacion is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion wants to control the position but Amiga says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Salvacion controlling the position well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Amiga tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Salvacion defends well and Amiga ends up having to push Salvacion into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Salvacion jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Rico Salvacion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gakus Amiga.
Amiga tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salvacion sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Amiga somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gakus Amiga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Amiga 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gakus Amiga!