PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between El Matador (ranked 15416 p4p, 24622 weight class) and Nicole Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). El Matador could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nicole Salvacion's chin.

Matador
vs
Salvacion

159 cm
22
139
4 - 9 - 0

175 cm
18
143
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, El Matador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicole Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matador is defended easily by Salvacion.
Salvacion doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A slapping leg kick lands for Salvacion.
Matador shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Salvacion as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Salvacion misses

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

Salvacion wriggles free and stands up.
Salvacion keeps the fight on the outside.
Salvacion feints a counter leg kick.
Matador fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matador goes for a double leg but Salvacion avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Salvacion continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Matador. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matador manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Salvacion on his heels. He'll look to pass Salvacion's guard now, I'm sure.
Matador wants to control from the top but Salvacion keeps moving.
Matador might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salvacion trying to control the position.
Salvacion seems keen to control Matador's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Salvacion can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matador drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Salvacion dives on top into guard.

Matador looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matador is trying to control the position but Salvacion postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matador is on top in guard.

Salvacion is pulling down on Matador's head to control his posture.
Matador postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matador pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salvacion is keeping the position for now.
Salvacion keeping moving, preventing Matador from controlling successfully.
Salvacion lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Matador pulls Salvacion in close to prevent any damage.
Matador will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Salvacion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matador. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.
Matador pulls Salvacion in close to prevent any damage.
Matador is looking to stand up but Salvacion isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Matador closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Salvacion to the mat! Salvacion manages to get full guard.
Salvacion trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nicole Salvacion will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Matador tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salvacion swivels and escapes.
Salvacion appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Matador closes the distance and clinches up with Salvacion, looking for a takedown. Matador pushes Salvacion against the cage but Salvacion circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matador closes this distance looking for a takedown but Salvacion circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Matador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salvacion takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Salvacion steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Matador.
Salvacion buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matador shoots in and drives through. Salvacion sprawls well.
Salvacion throws a big counter head kick but Matador avoids it with no problem.
Salvacion stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salvacion wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Matador with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matador throws a head kick that misses.
Salvacion tries a quick counter leg kick but Matador is wise to it.
Salvacion has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion misses with the combination.
Nice takedown defense from Salvacion. No joy for Matador on that attempt.
Matador throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matador tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Salvacion defends well and Matador ends up having to push Salvacion into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Salvacion flicks out a counter leg kick but Matador steps away.
Matador is looking to clinch.
Matador backing away here, and Salvacion unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Salvacion throws a leg kick

and Matador counters with a single leg into guard. Salvacion didn't expect that.
Salvacion can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matador controls the pace.
El Matador overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Salvacion has control of Matador's left arm, preventing Matador from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matador trying to control but Salvacion is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matador trying to stand up but can't free himself from Salvacion's guard.
Salvacion has his hands on Matador's head, controlling the position.
Salvacion striking off his back but it's not causing Matador any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matador trying to move into half guard but instead Salvacion has managed to sweep!

Matador tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matador has control of Salvacion's left arm, preventing Salvacion from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matador being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Matador tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salvacion swivels and escapes.
Salvacion flicks out a counter leg kick but Matador steps away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matador misses with a takedown attempt
and Salvacion counters with a good low kick that Matador was not able to check.

Salvacion changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Matador looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Matador is trying to control Salvacion's posture but Salvacion avoids it.
Salvacion is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Matador's shoulder. That is not cool.
Matador pushes Salvacion away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Salvacion gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Matador isn't going anywhere.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matador is letting Salvacion control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicole Salvacion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Matador shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Salvacion as he avoids it easily.
Salvacion throws a counter combo.
Salvacion thows a leg kick but Matador checks it
and Matador makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Salvacion throws a half hearted mid kick.
El Matador seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salvacion moves out of range as Matador throws a body kick.

Matador gets a double leg takedown into Salvacion's guard.
Matador trying to control but Salvacion is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matador not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Salvacion keeping moving, preventing Matador from controlling successfully.
Matador sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nicole Salvacion seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two 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.
Matador shoots for a double leg takedown but Salvacion sprawls well. He's pushed Matador's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matador fails with the takedown

and Salvacion counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Matador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salvacion is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Matador to keep the fight standing.
Matador misses with some punches.
Matador is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salvacion tries to pull guard but Matador forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Salvacion tries to pull guard but Matador forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Salvacion is trying to pull guard but Matador has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matador ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Matador no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Matador has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Matador is trying to control the position but Salvacion postures up.
Salvacion must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Salvacion looking to sit in guard and control but Matador gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Matador has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Salvacion is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matador is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nicole Salvacion is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matador is working Salvacion over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Matador showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salvacion 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicole Salvacion!