PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Mao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bashir Saladin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Mao
vs
Saladin

179 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
156 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Mao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bashir Saladin!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mao fails with the takedown.
Saladin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saladin. Mao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bashir Saladin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Saladin. Mao shrugs it off though.
Mao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saladin.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mao crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Saladin - the referee stops the clock and Mao gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Saladin. Mao manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Mao is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mao defending well as Saladin loads up on a big left hand.

Saladin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Saladin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mao is being controlled here.
Saladin has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Saladin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saladin thowing shots but they're missing.
Saladin controlling from mount.
Saladin lands a big shot there that rocks Mao but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

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.
Saladin lands a big shot there that rocks Mao but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saladin content just to control the position here.
Mao is bucking up trying to escape but Saladin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Saladin controlling from the full mount.

Saladin wants to finish this one by submission but Mao is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Saladin.
Saladin controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saladin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bashir Saladin just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saladin avoids it really well and circles away.
Saladin lands with a hook. Mao tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Saladin throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Saladin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Saladin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Saladin thumps Mao with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Saladin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saladin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saladin feints and then cracks Mao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mao down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saladin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mao's calf.
No joy there for Saladin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Saladin. That snapped Mao's head back.

Saladin feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Mao sprawling to the canvas! Mao rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Saladin finish him?!

Mao is rocked!

It looks like Marcus Mao has been cut.
Saladin closes the distance and lands a crisp combination that knocks Mao out cold! Mao corner are devastated, head in hands behind our commentary position. Poor guys.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Bashir Saladin!