PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shimabakurou Imai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Salek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Rob Salek enters the cage!

Imai
vs
Salek

165 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

160 cm
22
137 lbs
7 - 16 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Shimabakurou Imai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Salek!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Salek.
Salek tries a head kick but it misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Imai.
Salek will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Salek tries to close the distance and clinch but Imai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Imai checks a leg kick.
Imai fails to land with a series of punches.
Imai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imai scores with a sloppy right hand. Salek should have avoided that one.
Shimabakurou Imai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Salek throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Imai was covering up waiting for the punch and Salek finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Salek stands up from Imai's guard - Salek perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Salek moves into range and clinches up with Imai.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Salek jumps guard and drags Imai to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Salek has a closed guard, preventing Imai from standing up.
Salek looks gassed!

Imai gets to his feet. Salek looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Salek shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Imai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Salek holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salek manages to break the clinch.
Imai moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Imai misses with a few strikes there.
Imai swinging wildly here.
Imai works over Salek's head and body with a nice combination.
Salek throws a head kick that misses.
Imai bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Salek's head backwards.
Imai looks to land a combination. Salek sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shimabakurou Imai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Imai connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Imai lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Imai stuns Salek with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice jab there from Imai.
Imai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Salek counters with a shoot takedown. Imai fights it but they end up in guard.
Salek is looking to stand up but Imai won't let him.
Imai knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Salek on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Salek is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Salek is looking to stand up but Imai won't let him.
Imai wants to stand but Salek is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek 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.

Imai scores with a nice right hand.
Imai moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Imai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Imai lands with a nice combination. Salek backs away looking to recover.
Salek shoots in and drives through. Imai sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Salek.
Salek avoids a punch combination nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Imai.
Imai stalks Salek and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Salek's face. Salek staggers backwards, shaken.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imai scores with a jab.
Salek has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Imai finds it's way round the side to connect with Salek's head.
Salek is breathing heavily.
Imai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Imai misses with a few strikes there.
Imai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Salek.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai throws a nice looking combination but Salek bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A right-left combo lands from Imai.
A punch combination from Imai misses.

Salek darts in and clinches Imai up against the cage.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Salek prevents Imai from breaking the clinch.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
Salek has Imai pressed against the cage, preventing Imai from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Imai has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
Salek is looking to control Imai's arms but Imai gets an underhook and turns him. Now Salek has his back to the cage.
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Imai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Imai wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Salek has Imai pressed against the cage, preventing Imai from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Imai wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salek has Imai pressed against the cage, preventing Imai from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imai working hard to break the clinch.
Salek is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Imai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Imai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Imai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imai is looking to break free of the clinch but Salek has double underhooks.
Imai working hard to break the clinch.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai working hard to break the clinch.
Imai can't break the clinch.
Imai wants to break free but Salek has control.
Imai wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Imai's efforts to push away.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Imai can't break the clinch.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Imai can't break the clinch.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai working hard to break the clinch.
Imai can't break the clinch.
Imai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Imai has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.

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.
Imai working hard to break the clinch.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Imai's efforts to push away.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Imai wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Imai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imai is trying to force a seperation but Salek has the dominant position.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Salek trying to land knees to the body.
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
Imai can't break the clinch.
Salek keeps control of Imai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
Imai wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shimabakurou Imai dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Imai!
Salek walks into a left hand.
Salek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A nice combination there by Imai.
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Salek showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Imai.
Imai throws a series of punches but Salek moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Imai scores with a four punch combination!
Salek on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salek tries to clinch up.
Salek drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Salek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Imai stalks Salek and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Salek's face. Salek staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd cheers as Imai lands an impressive looking overhand right. Salek doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai leaves Salek with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Imai misses with a few strikes there.
Imai with a nice cross.
Imai goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shimabakurou Imai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Imai digs a good hook to Salek's body.
Imai throws a one two combo.
Imai lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Imai darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Imai is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Imai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Imai throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Imai connects with a nice looking jab.
Imai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Imai fails to land with a series of punches.
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Imai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Imai dips to his left and cracks Salek with an uppercut!
Salek on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Imai scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Salek has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Imai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jab by Imai.
Imai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Imai's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Imai duly obliges.
Imai lands a nice shot to the body.
Imai swinging wildly here.
Imai cracks Salek with an open hand slap.
Imai misses with a combination

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salek.
Imai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imai tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the cage.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Salek keeps control of Imai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai working hard to break the clinch.
Imai is looking to break free of the clinch but Salek has double underhooks.
Salek keeps control of Imai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Imai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imai wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Imai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salek has Imai pressed against the cage, preventing Imai from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Imai is trying to break free.
Imai has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Imai's efforts to push away.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Imai wants to break free but Salek has control.
Imai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Imai's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Imai's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Imai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Imai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Salek has Imai pressed against the cage, preventing Imai from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Imai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Imai wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Imai is trying to break the clinch but Salek is controlling him.
Imai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Salek keeps control of Imai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Imai tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imai can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Imai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Imai tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Imai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Salek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Imai's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shimabakurou Imai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Imai has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Rob Salek!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Rob Salek!

Rob Salek wins by majority decision!