PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Salvia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaru Hirai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Salvia might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Body Count - Body muthafuckin' count. Masaru Hirai has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Salvia
vs
Hirai

188 cm
19
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Francisco Salvia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaru Hirai!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hirai connects with a high kick.

It looks like Francisco Salvia has been cut.

Salvia fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hirai sprawls well initially but Salvia persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Salvia is keen to just control but Hirai is a slippery customer.
Hirai is trying to stand back up but Salvia is controlling him
Hirai is refusing to be controlled, as Salvia sits in half guard.
Salvia moves into full mount! Hirai won't be happy about that!
Hirai is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Salvia looking to control but Hirai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Salvia jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hirai is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hirai and Salvia has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Salvia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hirai is trying to buck Salvia off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hirai is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Salvia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Salvia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Salvia prevents Hirai from escaping the position.

Salvia tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvia just content to control the position.
Hirai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salvia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hirai is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Salvia has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Salvia advances nicely into full mount.

Salvia working for a submission but Hirai is keeping him at bay.

Salvia looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvia content just to control the position here.

Salvia has hold of Hirai's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hirai manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Salvia is working for a guillotine from mount but Hirai frees his head quite easily.
Hirai tries to buck Salvia off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salvia is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hirai can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Salvia takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hirai wants to try and get back to his feet.

Salvia wants to finish this one by submission but Hirai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salvia.
Hirai is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
Salvia trying to control but Hirai is having none of it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Salvia is really struggling to control Hirai but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hirai wants to try and get back to his feet.
Salvia wants to control the pace but Hirai is squirming around nicely.
Hirai wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Salvia takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Salvia jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hirai manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's six 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.
Hirai is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Salvia asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Salvia controls the position from side control.

Salvia tries for a kimura but Hirai is defending well.
Salvia trying to control the position but Hirai is working away.

Salvia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hirai has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hirai is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Salvia has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hirai tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Salvia trying to control but Hirai is having none of it.
Hirai wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Salvia controlling the pace for now.
Hirai wants to get back to his feet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Salvia trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Salvia is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hirai to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hirai shrugs it off.
Salvia trying to control but Hirai is having none of it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Francisco Salvia just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hirai fails to land with a series of punches.

Salvia throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hirai was covering up waiting for the punch and Salvia finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Salvia wants to pass the guard but Hirai is keeping the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Salvia wants to control from the top but Hirai keeps moving.
Salvia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hirai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hirai can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Salvia controls the pace.
Salvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salvia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hirai is keeping the position for now.
Salvia controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hirai has his feet on Salvia's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Salvia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francisco Salvia's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Salvia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hirai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Salvia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Salvia tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hirai's legs.

Salvia is trying to get an arm triangle but Hirai is defending well.
Hirai tries to escape but Salvia is in control.
Francisco Salvia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Salvia wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hirai, who protects the arm well.
Salvia takes a little break here. Hirai wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvia is looking to take a break and control but Hirai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hirai prevents Salvia from improving position.
Hirai is not content to let Salvia control the position.
Hirai wants to get back to his feet but Salvia drags him back down.

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.

Salvia is trying to get an arm triangle but Hirai is defending well.
Hirai is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Salvia is controlling him well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Salvia circles away from the clinch attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Salvia.
Hirai misses with a low kick as Salvia jumps back.
Horrible takedown by Salvia or perhaps it was just good defense by Hirai which made him look bad.
Hirai tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salvia.
Salvia avoids the head kick by Hirai.
Salvia lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hirai pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirai checks a leg kick.
Hirai thows a body kick. Salvia tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hirai tries to land a leg kick but Salvia saw it coming and moves away.
Salvia checks the leg kick.
Hirai leaves Salvia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hirai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Salvia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Salvia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hirai's guard.
Salvia moves nicely into side control.
Salvia prevents Hirai from escaping the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Salvia is trying to get an arm triangle but Hirai is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvia passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hirai!
Salvia trying to control but Hirai is having none of it.
Hirai is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Salvia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hirai is looking to escape.
Hirai wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Salvia is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hirai has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hirai!
Hirai trying to control the position from guard on top but Salvia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hirai wants to stand but Salvia is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hirai trying to control the position from guard on top but Salvia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hirai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Salvia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hirai manages to get himself to full guard.
Hirai wants to stand and escape but Salvia is having none of it.
Salvia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hirai is keeping the position for now.
Salvia is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Salvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Salvia passes Hirai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Salvia prevents Hirai from standing back up.
Salvia wants to control but Hirai is keeping him busy.
Hirai won't allow Salvia to pass to mount.

Salvia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hirai is trying to stand back up but Salvia is controlling him
Salvia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Salvia frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Salvia wants to control the pace but Hirai is squirming around nicely.
Hirai is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Salvia controlling the position easily from mount.
Salvia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hirai is looking to escape.

Salvia is working for a guillotine from mount but Hirai frees his head quite easily.

Salvia jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hirai manages to avoid the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Salvia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salvia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Francisco Salvia!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Francisco Salvia!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Francisco Salvia!

Francisco Salvia wins by unanimous decision!