PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Salas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Kikui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mikel Salas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Salas
vs
Kikui

178 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikel Salas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hiro Kikui!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikui shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Salas defends it nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kikui is defended easily by Salas.

Kikui scores a takedown into full mount!
Kikui tries to control but Salas wriggling away.
Kikui avoids the attempt from Salas to control.
Kikui looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kikui tries to control but Salas wriggling away.
Salas is working to get back to half guard.
Salas is squirming around, avoiding Kikui's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikui tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hiro Kikui wasn't active enough on the ground.
Salas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Salas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kikui avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kikui is defended easily by Salas.
Mikel Salas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Kikui.
Kikui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salas pinned against the cage. Salas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salas scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kikui doesn't seem bothered though.
Salas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Salas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kikui, pushing him back against the cage.

Salas jumps guard.
Salas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Salas being controlled here, momentarily.
Salas trying to strike off his back.
Kikui pushing down on Salas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kikui trying to control the action but Salas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kikui there.
Kikui wants to take a breather but Salas is having none of it.
Kikui is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Salas is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kikui tries to pass to full mount but Salas defends it.
Salas trying to control but Kikui postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Kikui hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salas.
Salas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kikui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salas pinned against the cage. Salas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikui with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Salas to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice body punch from Salas.
A left and a right from Salas both land. Nice combination.
Kikui fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kikui looks gassed!
Kikui shoots in and drives through. Salas sprawls well.
Kikui changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salas tries to avoid it but Kikui manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salas to the ground. Salas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Salas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mikel Salas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Salas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Salas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Salas prevents the takedown attempt.
Salas lands a body punch.
Salas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kikui backwards.
Salas lands a nice uppercut.
Salas is trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikel Salas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Salas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Salas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Salas drives through and clinches with Kikui against the cage.
Kikui tries to score a body lock takedown but Salas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kikui is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Salas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Salas trying to control the position but instead, Kikui has worked for underhooks and has pushed Salas into the cage.
A short right from Salas.
Kikui can't get the takedown.
Mikel Salas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Kikui.
Salas lands a body punch.
Kikui is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Salas wants to get back to striking at distance but Kikui won't allow it.
Salas stalls.
Kikui is breathing heavily.
Salas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Salas is looking to control Kikui's arms but Kikui gets an underhook and turns him. Now Salas has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas lands a shoulder strike.
Salas looking to slow down the pace here.
Salas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Salas is pushing Kikui up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Salas lands with a light punch inside.
Kikui blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kikui walks away with a smile on his face. Salas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Salas scores with a jab to the jaw.
No luck for Kikui with that takedown attempt.

Salas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kikui prevents Salas from getting back to his feet.
Salas trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikui's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kikui trying to control the position from guard on top but Salas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hiro Kikui was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Salas swinging wildly here.
Kikui shoots in but Salas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kikui misses with a takedown attempt - Salas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown by Kikui or perhaps it was just good defense by Salas which made him look bad.
No joy there for Salas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A jab from Salas does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas tries to clinch

and Kikui counters with a takedown into side control.
Salas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kikui wants to control but Salas is keeping him busy.
Salas is trying to get back to half guard.
Salas is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Salas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikui tries to move into full mount but can't pass Salas's legs.

Kikui is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Salas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Salas wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Salas is not content to let Kikui control the position.
Salas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kikui asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiro Kikui will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Salas looks to land a combination. Kikui sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Salas throws a nice looking combination but Kikui bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kikui shoots in looking for a takedown. Salas tries to sprawl out of it but Kikui keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kikui shoots in but Salas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kikui takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Salas darts in trying to clinch

and Kikui counters with a single leg into guard. Salas didn't expect that.

Kikui is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kikui stops Salas from standing up.
Kikui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikui trying to control the position from guard on top but Salas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salas managing to control the position.
Salas keeping moving, preventing Kikui from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Salas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kikui.
Salas jabs Kikui to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Salas scores with a jab to the body.
Salas misses with a wild combination.

Salas instigates a clinch.

Kikui gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salas wants to get back to his feet.
Kikui wants to take a breather but Salas is having none of it.
Kikui moves into full mount! Salas won't be happy about that!

Kikui is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Salas has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Salas!
Kikui bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salas's guard.
Salas throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Salas trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas working a defensive guard here.
Kikui is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Salas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kikui on the ground.

Kikui thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kikui stops Salas from standing up.
Salas is pulling down on Kikui's head. It's preventing any offense from Kikui, at least for the moment.
Kikui forces his way into half guard.
Hiro Kikui has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Salas is trying to get back to full guard.
Salas keeping control of the position.
Kikui perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Salas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Salas tries to get out of the position.
Kikui is trying to control. Salas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kikui fails to land the takedown.
Mikel Salas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Kikui.
Kikui shoots in but no luck this time.

Salas has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Kikui comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kikui 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Kikui!