PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ozaki Buakaw (ranked 5723 p4p, 5094 weight class) and Jeremiah Salem (ranked 263 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Buakaw
vs
Salem

180 cm
22
140
2 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
144
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ozaki Buakaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeremiah Salem!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salem throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Buakaw counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salem lands a slapping body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Salem. Those never looked like landing.
Buakaw really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Salem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Buakaw with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Buakaw fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Buakaw swings wildly with an uppercut but Salem uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salem is looking to break free of the clinch but Buakaw has double underhooks.
Salem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Buakaw smiles and moves away.
Buakaw throws the left hand but Salem avoids the punch easily.

Salem moves into range and clinches up with Buakaw.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Buakaw.
Buakaw creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Salem's defenses.
Salem can't break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Buakaw scores with a nice short uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Salem gets control of Buakaw's arms and successfully pulls guard. Salem will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Buakaw throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buakaw looking to pass the guard.
Buakaw is looking to work some ground and pound but Salem has wrist control.
Buakaw trying to stand up but can't free himself from Salem's guard.
Salem has control of Buakaw's left arm, preventing Buakaw from doing any damage.
Salem tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buakaw throws a big right hand that misses.
Buakaw lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Buakaw throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salem has momentary wrist control but Buakaw slips an elbow through the middle.
Salem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salem working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Buakaw has passed into half guard!
Buakaw is thwarting Salem's attempts to control the position.
Buakaw lands with a punch from half guard.
Buakaw looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Buakaw 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.
Buakaw 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ground and pound from Buakaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buakaw missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Salem keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Buakaw throwing shots but Salem is blocking nicely.
Buakaw working Salem over with strikes.
Buakaw missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Buakaw looking for a submission but Salem manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

Salem is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Buakaw is aware though and is defending well.
Buakaw prevents Salem from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buakaw connects with a couple of short punches.
Salem is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Salem has his foot on Buakaw's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Buakaw works his way back into a safe position though.
Buakaw postures up and lands a big shot to Salem's brow.
Buakaw lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Buakaw stands up from Salem's guard - Buakaw perhaps looking for a knockout.

Salem gets tackled into the cage by Buakaw. Buakaw maintains the clinch.
Salem tries to break free but Buakaw pushes him back against the cage.
I was talking to Buakaw's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Salem wants to break the clinch but can't.

Buakaw jumps into guard, dragging Salem to the mat.
Salem trying to control but Buakaw is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Buakaw misses with a looping left.
And Salem tries to counter it with a takedown but Buakaw pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Salem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Buakaw paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Salem gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Salem wants to break free but Buakaw has control.
A short left from Buakaw.
Buakaw scores with a shoulder strike.
Buakaw swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Salem takes a shot to the head.
Salem wants to break free but Buakaw has control.
Buakaw creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Salem's defenses.

Buakaw jumps guard and drags Salem to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Buakaw is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Salem looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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!
Buakaw prevents Salem from improving his position.
Buakaw is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salem can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salem flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Buakaw has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Salem defend it? Buakaw steps over the head and cranks it - Salem is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Buakaw!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ozaki Buakaw!