PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin LaFleche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chips Salsa (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.

LaFleche
vs
Salsa

175 cm
21
180 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Martin LaFleche!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chips Salsa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salsa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as LaFleche throws out the jab.
LaFleche misses with an uppercut.
Salsa misses with a takedown attempt - LaFleche sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown by Salsa or perhaps it was just good defense by LaFleche which made him look bad.

LaFleche closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Salsa is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but LaFleche pulls his head out easily.
LaFleche wants to control but Salsa is keeping him busy.
LaFleche throws a strike but Salsa avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Salsa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
LaFleche trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salsa keeping full guard, as LaFleche tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
LaFleche trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
LaFleche throws a hook to the side of Salsa's head but Salsa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salsa wants to clinch up but LaFleche keeps it at a distance.
Salsa wants to clinch.
LaFleche walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Salsa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Salsa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from LaFleche.
A slow jab from Salsa misses its intended target.
LaFleche throws a right and a left that Salsa avoids nicely.

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.
Salsa tries for a takedown but LaFleche circles away easily

and LaFleche counters with a takedown into side control.
Martin LaFleche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chips Salsa.
LaFleche lands a decent elbow from side control.
LaFleche tries to score with some ground and pound. Salsa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
LaFleche in side control, throwing shots but Salsa defends.
Salsa tries to improve position but can't.
LaFleche misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
LaFleche is breathing heavily.
LaFleche misses with the ground and pound.
LaFleche working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice defenses there by Salsa.
Salsa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and LaFleche decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salsa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salsa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
LaFleche throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
LaFleche throwing strikes from guard but Salsa blocks nicely.
LaFleche has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as LaFleche accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
LaFleche stops Salsa from standing up.

Salsa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
LaFleche won't allow Salsa to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

LaFleche shoots in and bounces Salsa off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
LaFleche is in close to Salsa's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LaFleche postures up.
LaFleche wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Salsa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
LaFleche working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
LaFleche throws and elbow that misses. Salsa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in LaFleche's guard. Nice move by Salsa!
Salsa wants to stand but LaFleche has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
LaFleche striking off his back but it's not causing Salsa any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin LaFleche dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martin LaFleche's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

LaFleche throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
LaFleche with a lazy takedown attempt

and Salsa counters with a nice double leg into side control. LaFleche won't be happy with that.

Salsa stands up.
Chips Salsa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salsa misses with a takedown
and LaFleche counters with a nice low kick that buckles Salsa's knee momentarily.
Salsa moves out of range of the strikes.
Salsa wants to clinch
and Salsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salsa misses with a body kick.
Salsa throws out a loose jab but LaFleche uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salsa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as LaFleche throws out the jab.
LaFleche missing with a left hand there. Salsa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaFleche misses with a hook.
Salsa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and LaFleche counters with a nice double leg into side control. Salsa won't be happy with that.
Salsa tries to buck LaFleche off but LaFleche is having none of it.
Salsa parries the strikes from LaFleche easily there. LaFleche is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Salsa to escape.
Salsa avoids any damage from the ground and pound of LaFleche.
LaFleche looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Salsa is avoiding damage well.
Salsa struggling a bit here.
LaFleche in side control, throwing shots but Salsa defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaFleche working the ground and pound.
Salsa can't do much from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Salsa.

Salsa has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
LaFleche misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Salsa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Salsa prevents the takedown attempt.
LaFleche tries to pull guard but Salsa holds him up against the ropes and eventually LaFleche drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin LaFleche. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LaFleche tries to pull guard but Salsa won't allow it.
Salsa is pushing LaFleche up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
LaFleche tries to pull guard but Salsa holds him up against the ropes and eventually LaFleche drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salsa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salsa throws a lazy right hand but LaFleche sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Salsa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
LaFleche is trying to control but can't.
Salsa trying to control the action but LaFleche is working from the bottom.
LaFleche makes his way to full guard. A much better position for LaFleche.
LaFleche trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaFleche bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salsa's guard.
LaFleche thows a big elbow that misses.
Salsa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Martin LaFleche overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
LaFleche missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Salsa keeping moving, preventing LaFleche from controlling successfully.
LaFleche throwing strikes but missing.
Salsa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LaFleche missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Salsa is looking for a triangle but LaFleche pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chips Salsa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Martin LaFleche's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salsa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by LaFleche.
Some wild striking there from LaFleche.
Salsa clinches but LaFleche breaks the clinch

and LaFleche counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Salsa managing to control the position.
LaFleche is in close to Salsa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
LaFleche is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
LaFleche won't allow Salsa to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salsa is controlling LaFleche's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaFleche wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Salsa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LaFleche stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salsa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salsa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
LaFleche preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Salsa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Salsa tries for a takedown but LaFleche circles away easily
and LaFleche counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two 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.
LaFleche throws a good cross that connects.
LaFleche looks to land a left hand but Salsa moved out of range nicely.
Salsa closes the distance but LaFleche moves to the side

and LaFleche counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Salsa!
Salsa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Salsa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
LaFleche prevents Salsa from getting the reversal.
LaFleche looking to finish Salsa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Salsa!
LaFleche scoring with strikes but Salsa is staying in there.
LaFleche breaks from Salsa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
LaFleche looking to control but Salsa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Salsa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaFleche lands strikes from half guard.
Salsa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from LaFleche.
LaFleche sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Salsa defending well though.
Salsa is pressing down on LaFleche's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salsa is on top in guard.
LaFleche keeping moving, preventing Salsa from controlling successfully.
Salsa wants to get up but he can't break LaFleche's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

LaFleche looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
LaFleche doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
LaFleche trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

LaFleche throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

LaFleche working for submissions but it's allowed Salsa to get to half guard.
Salsa works his way into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin LaFleche showed his dominance in that final round.
I think LaFleche 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin LaFleche!