PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Salwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nero Padilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Padilla has chosen Dead by Dawn by Deicide as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Gabriel Salwa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Salwa
vs
Padilla

184 cm
30
198 lbs
24 - 7 - 0

190 cm
28
190 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

BeastMode
Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Salwa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nero Padilla!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Padilla.
A low kick from Padilla is predictable there
and Salwa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salwa lands an overhand right.
Salwa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Nice shot lands for Salwa.
Padilla bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Padilla throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Salwa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Padilla misses.
Good work by Salwa as he checks the leg kick.
Salwa was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Salwa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Salwa went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Salwa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Padilla was well out of range. Poor timing from Salwa.
Salwa misses the shot to the body.
Padilla takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salwa blocks a head kick by Padilla.
Salwa scores with a sloppy right hand. Padilla should have avoided that one.
Padilla connects with a jab.
Padilla just misses with a punch to the body.
Nero Padilla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Salwa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Padilla.
Salwa misses with a straight left.
Salwa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Padilla.
Padilla looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Salwa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A good leg kick by Padilla.
Salwa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Padilla manages to avoid it.
Padilla throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Salwa, right into the meat.
We've been hearing reports that Salwa has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Salwa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Padilla's hands.

It looks like Nero Padilla has been cut.
Salwa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salwa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Padilla throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salwa fakes the leg kick and cracks Padilla in the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Padilla tries to bum rush Salwa with a series of wild strikes but Salwa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Padilla connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Padilla wants to clinch.
Padilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Padilla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Padilla.
Padilla throws a big shot that misses.
Salwa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Padilla. That one must have hurt.
Salwa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Padilla lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla wants to clinch.
Salwa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A telegraphed right hand from Padilla misses the target.
Padilla throws a hook to the side of Salwa's head but Salwa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salwa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Padilla scores with a jab to the head.
Padilla lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Padilla throws a leg kick

and Salwa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Salwa.
Padilla keeping moving, preventing Salwa from controlling successfully.

Padilla looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Padilla is looking for a triangle but Salwa pushes his legs off easily.
Padilla keeping moving, preventing Salwa from controlling successfully.

Padilla throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Salwa forces his way into half guard.
Salwa prevents Padilla from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nero Padilla will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nero Padilla'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.

Padilla misses with a straight right.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Padilla lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Salwa defending well as Padilla loads up on a big left hand.
Salwa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Padilla has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Salwa throws a low kick but Padilla moves out of range easily.
Padilla misses with a head kick.
Salwa half committed to a counter leg kick.
Salwa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Padilla throws a sloppy head kick and Salwa moves out of range easily.
Salwa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Padilla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salwa.

Padilla closes the distance and clinches.
Salwa tries to work over Padilla's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salwa trying to stall but Padilla improves his position.
Padilla misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Salwa struggles to land a body shot inside as Padilla controls his hands.
Padilla has a couple of punches blocked by Salwa.
A head punch on the inside from Padilla fails to land.
Salwa misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Salwa - that landed with a thud.
Salwa tries to throw a body punch but Padilla avoids it by throwing Salwa back against the cage.
Salwa blocks an uppercut.
Padilla struggles to land a body shot inside as Salwa controls his hands.
Padilla has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Padilla.
Padilla throws a punch but it's blocked by Salwa.
Salwa trying to control the position but instead, Padilla has worked for underhooks and has pushed Salwa into the cage.
Padilla misses with the head strike.
Padilla lands a left hand.
Padilla working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Padilla blocks an uppercut.
Padilla lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salwa backwards.
Padilla misses with a punch on the inside.
Padilla misses with some punches.
Padilla lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Salwa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla misses with a punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Padilla as the two fighters clinch.
Padilla fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salwa blocks a body shot from Padilla.
Salwa lands a shoulder strike.
Nero Padilla seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salwa blocks an uppercut.
Salwa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Padilla backwards.

Padilla pulls Salwa into guard.
Salwa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salwa advances position into side control!
Salwa trying to control the position but Padilla is working away.

Salwa tries for a kimura but Padilla is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salwa wants to control but Padilla is keeping him busy.
Padilla is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Salwa goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Padilla has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Salwa but great work by Padilla.
Salwa manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Padilla is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Padilla wants to free his trapped foot but Salwa is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Padilla looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Salwa is looking to improve his position.
Padilla looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nero Padilla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nero Padilla's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Padilla lands an overhand right.
Gabriel Salwa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Padilla throws a series of punches but Salwa avoids them all with ease.
Padilla lands with an overhand left.
Padilla thuds his right hand into Salwa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Salwa takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Padilla throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salwa throws a hook but Padilla blocks it.
Padilla takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salwa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Padilla throws a leg kick but Salwa checks it.
Salwa throwing a counter right hand but Padilla manages to avoid it.
Salwa misses with an attempted mid kick.
Padilla tries to clinch up but Salwa circles away and keeps his distance.
Salwa just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Salwa.
Padilla tries to counter with a clinch but Salwa shakes him off and moves away.
Salwa fakes the leg kick and cracks Padilla in the body.
Salwa misses with a hook.
Padilla drops his hands momentarily and Salwa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A leg kick checked by Padilla.
Salwa moves out of range of the body kick from Padilla.
Salwa connects with a body shot that sends Padilla's belly button to the back.
Padilla throws a quick inside leg kick.
Padilla tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salwa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Padilla tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salwa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Padilla manages to avoid it.
Padilla is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla misses with a kick to the body
and Salwa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Padilla looks to land a right hand but Salwa moved out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salwa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Padilla wants to clinch up but Salwa keeps it at a distance.
Salwa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Padilla thumps Salwa with a low kick.
Padilla takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Padilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Padilla fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salwa manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Salwa misses the target.
Salwa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Padilla was well out of range. Poor timing from Salwa.
Salwa sets himself, and Padilla steps forward looking for the clinch! Salwa avoids it this time.
Salwa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Salwa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Padilla.
Padilla throws a push kick but Salwa slaps the foot to one side.
Padilla takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Padilla swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salwa throws a body kick that misses.
Padilla lands a nice leg kick that just misses Salwa's sensitive parts.
Nice cross by Padilla.
Salwa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Padilla lands a lovely overhand right.
Padilla swings for the body but Salwa moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Padilla - just one landing.
Padilla jabs Salwa right on the nose. Salwa blinks but takes it well.
Padilla throws a sloppy head kick and Salwa moves out of range easily.
Salwa tries to counter with a takedown but Padilla is quick to defend against it.
Salwa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Padilla tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salwa tries to move into range but Padilla moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Salwa looks to land a body kick but Padilla moved away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Padilla slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Padilla.
Salwa avoids the body shot from Padilla.
Padilla throws a jab when Salwa was well out of range.
It looked like Salwa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Salwa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Padilla forces Salwa back against the cage and clinches.
Salwa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Padilla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Still in the clinch, Salwa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Padilla tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Salwa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Padilla blocks a body shot from Salwa.
Salwa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Padilla backwards.

Padilla is rocked!
Salwa lands a hook that snaps the head of Padilla backwards.
Padilla is still on wobbly legs! Can Salwa finish him?
Salwa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Salwa misses with the head strike.
Padilla misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salwa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salwa prevents a body shot from Padilla.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nero Padilla comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Padilla winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Nero Padilla!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Nero Padilla!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Nero Padilla!

Nero Padilla wins by unanimous decision!
A determined Nero Padilla didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!