PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cameron Diesel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Salmelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salmelainen has chosen At This Velocity as his entrance music. Kari Salmelainen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Diesel
vs
Salmelainen

188 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
184 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

► *159+ for $199 * Total Destruction Pharmac
Einherjer RAW Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cameron Diesel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kari Salmelainen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diesel misses with a double jab.
Diesel slaps away a takedown attempt from Salmelainen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Salmelainen shoots for a double leg takedown but Diesel sprawls well. He's pushed Salmelainen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diesel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Salmelainen has a takedown stuffed.
Cameron Diesel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kari Salmelainen.
Diesel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salmelainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Diesel tries to sprawl out of it but Salmelainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diesel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Salmelainen shoots for a double leg takedown but Diesel sprawls well. He's pushed Salmelainen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice takedown defense from Diesel. No joy for Salmelainen on that attempt.
Diesel looks to land a left hand but Salmelainen moved out of range nicely.
Salmelainen blocks a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salmelainen is defended easily by Diesel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Salmelainen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Diesel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Salmelainen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Diesel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Diesel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Diesel!
Salmelainen looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diesel scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Salmelainen to see if he's OK.
Diesel cracks Salmelainen with a big elbow.
Diesel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Salmelainen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Diesel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Check out the look on Diesel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Diesel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Diesel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Diesel lands some shots froms side control.
Diesel working the head and body with strikes.
Salmelainen is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diesel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salmelainen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Diesel connects with a decent elbow.
Diesel lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Salmelainen down.
Salmelainen is looking for a sweep.
Salmelainen manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salmelainen actively working from the bottom here.
Diesel slips a nice elbow through Salmelainen's hands, connecting with Salmelainen's forehead.
Diesel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Diesel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Salmelainen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Salmelainen looking for submissions off his back.
Diesel scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Salmelainen looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Diesel connects with a nice short shot to Salmelainen's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diesel winds up and cracks Salmelainen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Salmelainen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diesel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Salmelainen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Salmelainen has hold of Diesel's hands but Diesel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Diesel is nestled in close to Salmelainen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Diesel working over Salmelainen with some ground and pound. Salmelainen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Salmelainen actively working from the bottom here.

Salmelainen looking for submissions off his back.
Diesel lands with a punch from half guard.
Salmelainen has hold of Diesel's hands but Diesel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Salmelainen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diesel scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Salmelainen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diesel scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Salmelainen looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Diesel working over Salmelainen with some ground and pound. Salmelainen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Salmelainen actively working from the bottom here.

Salmelainen actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Salmelainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Salmelainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diesel.
Diesel digs a good hook to Salmelainen's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Diesel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Diesel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diesel wants it to stay on the feet.
Diesel throws a shot from downtown. Salmelainen moves away and avoids it.
Salmelainen slips under a jab from Diesel.
Salmelainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diesel.

Salmelainen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Diesel looking for a sweep. Not yet Diesel, not yet.
Diesel striking off his back but it's not causing Salmelainen any problems.
Diesel throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

Salmelainen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Salmelainen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Diesel dives on top into guard.
Diesel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diesel distracts Salmelainen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Diesel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Salmelainen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diesel has managed to get both his arms back between Salmelainen's legs - danger averted.
Diesel lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Diesel stands and throws Salmelainen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Diesel decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Salmelainen drives through with a takedown into guard.

Salmelainen drops back looking for a leg! Diesel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diesel manages to kick Salmelainen off! Salmelainen jumps back into Diesel's guard.

Salmelainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Salmelainen drops back looking for a leg! Diesel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diesel manages to kick Salmelainen off! Salmelainen jumps back into Diesel's guard.

Diesel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salmelainen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salmelainen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salmelainen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Salmelainen drops back looking for a leg! Diesel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diesel manages to kick Salmelainen off! Salmelainen jumps back into Diesel's guard.
Salmelainen looking to pass the guard.
Diesel throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Salmelainen drops back looking for a leg! Diesel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diesel manages to kick Salmelainen off! Salmelainen jumps back into Diesel's guard.

Salmelainen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

Salmelainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Salmelainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Decent striking displayed by Diesel there.
Diesel connects with the punch.
Salmelainen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Salmelainen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Salmelainen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Diesel finds it's way round the side to connect with Salmelainen's head.
Diesel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nice takedown defense from Diesel. No joy for Salmelainen on that attempt.
A swing and a miss from Diesel.
Nice uppercut there from Diesel.
Diesel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salmelainen.
Cameron Diesel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kari Salmelainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diesel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Salmelainen circles away quickly and effectively.
Salmelainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diesel.

Salmelainen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Diesel!

Salmelainen moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Diesel has worked his arm free - good work by Diesel!
Diesel throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

Salmelainen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diesel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Salmelainen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Salmelainen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diesel has escaped the position, nice work there.
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 Cameron Diesel will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Diesel throws a hook but Salmelainen blocks it.
Diesel with a poor takedown

and Salmelainen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diesel!

Salmelainen looking for a guillotine from mount but Diesel is having none of it.
Diesel throwing hammer fists to the chest of Salmelainen. What's that going to do exactly?

Salmelainen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Salmelainen goes for an armbar but Diesel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Diesel.
Diesel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Diesel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Salmelainen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Diesel has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmelainen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Salmelainen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diesel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Diesel there.

Salmelainen looking for submissions off his back.

Salmelainen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Diesel connects with a nice short shot to Salmelainen's temple.
Diesel lands strikes from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diesel throws the left hand but Salmelainen avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diesel throws a big shot that misses.

Salmelainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Diesel thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Salmelainen drops back looking for a leg! Diesel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diesel manages to kick Salmelainen off! Salmelainen jumps back into Diesel's guard.
Salmelainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Diesel is retaining full guard.

Salmelainen drops back looking for a leg! Diesel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diesel manages to kick Salmelainen off! Salmelainen jumps back into Diesel's guard.

Diesel pushes a forearm under Salmelainen's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Salmelainen is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cameron Diesel!
Cameron Diesel is the new light heavyweight champion!