PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Asiong Salonga (ranked 4815 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jax Dempsey (ranked 5920 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.

Salonga
vs
Dempsey

180 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Asiong Salonga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jax Dempsey!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salonga lands with a right hand.
Salonga looks to land a combination but Dempsey avoids it well.
Dempsey lands a nice hook to Salonga's body. Salonga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A left lands for Salonga.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salonga sprawls well. Salonga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dempsey gets slowly back to his feet.
Salonga throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salonga fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salonga scores with a three punch combo!

Dempsey rushes Salonga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Salonga wants to get back to striking at distance but Dempsey won't allow it.
Salonga is trying to force a seperation but Dempsey has the dominant position.

Dempsey manages to break the clinch.
Salonga misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Salonga defends well and Dempsey ends up having to push Salonga into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dempsey shoots in looking for a takedown. Salonga tries to sprawl out of it but Dempsey keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salonga manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Salonga was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Asiong Salonga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jax Dempsey.
Salonga catches Dempsey with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Salonga throws a right hand that Dempsey ducks under and follows up with a left that Dempsey also avoids with ease.
Salonga scores with a jab.
Salonga just misses with a punch to the body.
Dempsey fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Salonga on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Salonga gets tackled into the cage by Dempsey. Dempsey maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Salonga gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dempsey.

Dempsey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dempsey throws a sloppy head kick and Salonga moves out of range easily.
Salonga rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dempsey moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dempsey takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Dempsey fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Salonga misses.
Dempsey unleashes a big counter combination but Salonga bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Dempsey clinches up against the cage.

Dempsey breaks the clinch.
Salonga connects with a right hand. Dempsey shakes it off.
Salonga avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dempsey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Asiong Salonga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salonga lands a nice shot that snaps Dempsey's head back.
Dempsey looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Salonga swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Dempsey throws a series of punches but Salonga avoids them all with ease.
As Dempsey looks to move away, Salonga throws a big counter combo but Dempsey just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey fails in his attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Salonga misses the target.
Dempsey shoots for a takedown but Salonga saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dempsey looks winded!
Salonga misses with a wild body shot.
Salonga lands a jab-cross combination.
Salonga stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salonga wants it to stay on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dempsey walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Dempsey drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Dempsey clinches up with Salonga and pushes him back against the cage.
Salonga can't break the clinch.
Dempsey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salonga is pressed up against the cage. Dempsey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Salonga down to the mat. Salonga avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Salonga scores with a sloppy right hand. Dempsey should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asiong Salonga dominated that round.
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.

Dempsey misses with a low kick.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch but Salonga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dempsey's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Salonga connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dempsey scrambles back to his feet.
Dempsey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salonga lands a nice looking body shot.
Asiong Salonga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salonga digs a good body shot into Dempsey's ribs.
Salonga swings for the body but Dempsey moves out of range.
Dempsey with the counter takedown but Salonga avoids it easily.
Salonga misses the body punch
and Dempsey counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Salonga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dempsey can do to turn this around?
Salonga misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey lands with a straight right. Salonga didn't see that one coming.
Asiong Salonga is winning the standup battle so far.
Salonga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salonga missing with a left hand there. Dempsey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dempsey was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Dempsey misses with a head kick.
Salonga scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown but Salonga shows good takedown defense.
A right-left combo lands from Salonga.
Salonga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dempsey unleashes a big counter combination but Salonga bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Dempsey successfully pulls guard.
Dempsey controlling the position.
Salonga showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Salonga trying to control but Dempsey is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonga won't allow Dempsey to sweep him here.
Dempsey has his hands on Salonga's head, controlling the position.
Dempsey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Salonga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salonga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Dempsey manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Dempsey is looking for a takedown.
Dempsey jumps guard but Salonga stands there with Dempsey around his waist. Dempsey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Asiong Salonga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jax Dempsey.
Salonga avoiding damage as Dempsey throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey wants a takedown but no success here.

Dempsey breaks the clinch.
Salonga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Asiong Salonga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salonga cracks Dempsey with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dempsey fails with the takedown.
Dempsey works over Salonga's head and body with a nice combination.
Salonga misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Dempsey on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Salonga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Salonga misses with an uppercut.
Dempsey tries to counter with a clinch but Salonga shakes him off and moves away.
Dempsey misses with a head kick.
Donk. Salonga catches Dempsey right on the button with a cross.
A combination from Salonga does no damage.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salonga sprawls well. Salonga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dempsey gets slowly back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dempsey fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salonga, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Salonga's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Asiong Salonga will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dempsey darts in looking for a takedown but Salonga gets double underhooks and turns Dempsey into the cage.
Dempsey dives in for a single leg takedown but Salonga sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dempsey darts in looking for a takedown but Salonga gets double underhooks and turns Dempsey into the cage.
Asiong Salonga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jax Dempsey.
Dempsey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A big right from Salonga misses.
Salonga just misses with a punch to the body.
Salonga connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Dempsey clinches with his opponent.
Dempsey keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salonga's efforts to push away.
Dempsey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey looking for a takedown.
Dempsey wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dempsey has him pressed against the cage.
Dempsey keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salonga's efforts to push away.
Salonga is trying to break free.
Dempsey has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salonga avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dempsey jumps guard but Salonga turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dempsey is trying to pull guard but Salonga has him pressed against the cage.
Dempsey working aggressively here.
Salonga is trying to break the clinch but Dempsey is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Salonga tries to break free but Dempsey pushes him back against the cage.

Salonga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dempsey shoots in looking for a takedown. Salonga tries to sprawl out of it but Dempsey keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salonga manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salonga. Dempsey does a little dance to reset his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Dempsey! But no joy.
Dempsey avoids the body shot from Salonga.
Salonga fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salonga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dempsey manages to avoid it.
Salonga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salonga throws a lazy right hand but Dempsey sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonga fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dempsey on the side of the head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Salonga!
Dempsey fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Salonga avoids it really well and circles away.
Salonga misses with a left hand
and Dempsey counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dempsey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dempsey or perhaps it was just good defense by Salonga, which made it look bad.
A little feinted left hand from Salonga on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dempsey closes the distance and clinches up with Salonga, looking for a takedown. Dempsey pushes Salonga against the cage but Salonga circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dempsey looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey misses with a combination
and Salonga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salonga lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Salonga.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salonga leaves Dempsey with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Dempsey clinches with his opponent.
Dempsey is trying to pull guard but Salonga turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Asiong Salonga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Salonga manages to break the clinch.
Salonga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jax Dempsey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salonga slips a jab and a cross from Dempsey.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asiong Salonga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Salonga, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asiong Salonga!
After the fight, Asiong Salonga was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.