PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between CJ MATCH (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Salek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Salek has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with CJ MATCH's chin.

MATCH
vs
Salek

170 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
21
137 lbs
6 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, CJ MATCH!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Salek!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salek rushes MATCH and presses him up against the cage.
Come on Salek - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
MATCH tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
MATCH is looking to break free of the clinch but Salek has double underhooks.
MATCH is trying to drag Salek to the mat but Salek just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
MATCH can't break the clinch.
MATCH tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ MATCH. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MATCH is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
MATCH tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Salek looking to slow down the pace here.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MATCH tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salek just stands there and leans against the cage.
MATCH tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
MATCH letting Salek take a breather here.
MATCH tries to pull guard but Salek won't allow it.
MATCH is looking to control Salek's arms but Salek gets an underhook and turns him. Now MATCH has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MATCH's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rob Salek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

MATCH gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Salek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Salek tries to score a body lock takedown but MATCH shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Salek lands a knee to the head.
Salek unloads a knee to the mid-section. MATCH lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Salek gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Salek wants to stand but MATCH has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
MATCH is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Salek wants to stand up but MATCH is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MATCH is looking to escape.

Salek gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Salek looks gassed!

MATCH fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Salek sprawls well initially but MATCH persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Salek looks like he's trying to stand up.
MATCH wants to free his trapped foot but Salek is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MATCH working the head and body with strikes.

MATCH stands up and beckons Salek to join him on the feet.
Salek swats away the attempt to clinch by MATCH.

MATCH rushes Salek and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salek lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

MATCH pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

MATCH shoots in and bounces Salek off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MATCH pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salek is keeping the position for now.
MATCH seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
MATCH won't allow Salek to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that CJ MATCH will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

MATCH shoots for a takedown but Salek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
MATCH avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
MATCH throws a head kick that misses.
Salek tries to clinch but fails miserably

and MATCH decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salek's guard.
MATCH works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Salek is trying to stand back up but MATCH is controlling him
Salek is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
MATCH trying to control the pace.
MATCH wants to take a breather but Salek is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MATCH keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
MATCH stops Salek from getting back to his feet.
Still in half guard, MATCH seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salek is trying to defend against the ground and pound but MATCH scores with a couple of nice shots.
Salek is trying to escape back to his feet but MATCH uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
MATCH takes a little break here. Salek wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Salek is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
MATCH wants to control but Salek is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MATCH is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Salek has escaped the position, nice work there.
Salek wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
A lull in the action here.

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.

MATCH goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Salek rolls with the submission and now he's on top in MATCH's guard! Nice work there by Salek!
MATCH looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MATCH has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Salek has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ MATCH dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

MATCH closes the distance and clinches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Salek.

Salek manages to break the clinch.
Salek tries to clinch but MATCH is having none of it.

MATCH shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. MATCH showed some decent athleticism there.
MATCH trying to control from half guard but Salek is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MATCH thows a huge punch but Salek dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MATCH prevents Salek from standing back up.
MATCH not doing much here.
Salek is trying to defend against the ground and pound but MATCH scores with a couple of nice shots.
MATCH thows a huge punch but Salek dodges it nicely.
MATCH looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. CJ MATCH just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Salek digs a good body shot into MATCH's ribs.
Salek stuffs the takedown.

Salek rushes MATCH and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
MATCH wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
A right hook to the body lands for Salek.
MATCH tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
MATCH tries for a takedown but Salek manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ MATCH. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salek utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
MATCH has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Salek is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
MATCH tries a knee to the head but Salek blocks it.
MATCH tries to pull guard but Salek holds him up against the cage and eventually MATCH drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salek stalling the fight.
MATCH is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Salek pushes MATCH back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Salek working hard to break the clinch.
MATCH stalling against the cage.
Salek lands a body shot in the clinch.
Salek prevents the takedown attempt.
Salek creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through MATCH's defenses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by MATCH as Salek tries to tie him up.

MATCH breaks the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salek.

That's four 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.
Salek throws a leg kick
and MATCH counters with a two punch combo.

MATCH shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Salek has one foot on MATCH's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Salek lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
MATCH wants to clinch but Salek slips to the side
and Salek counters with a thumping low kick.
MATCH scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Salek is looking to slow MATCH down with leg kicks.

MATCH shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Salek napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The strikes coming from MATCH are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

And that's the end of the fight!
CJ MATCH showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for MATCH, 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 William Gold scores the fight for CJ MATCH!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for CJ MATCH!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for CJ MATCH!

CJ MATCH wins by unanimous decision!