PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Winston Salem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Cielo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Winston Salem has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Salem
vs
Cielo

200 cm
18
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Winston Salem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Cielo!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cielo throws a head kick that misses.
Salem shoots for a double leg takedown but Cielo sprawls well. He's pushed Salem's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cielo slaps away a takedown attempt from Salem, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Salem shoots in but Cielo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Winston Salem. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cielo takes the fight into the clinch.
Salem tries to pull guard but Cielo holds him up against the cage and eventually Salem drops back down to his feet.
Cielo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salem is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Salem misses with some punches.

Cielo gets control of Salem's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cielo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Cielo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salem trying to control the position from guard on top but Cielo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salem wants to stand but Cielo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cielo 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 knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cielo on the ground.
Cielo is looking to take a break and control but Salem is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cielo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Salem can't escape the position.

Cielo is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Cielo throws a sloppy head kick and Salem moves out of range easily.
Salem tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cielo counters by clinching up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Cielo manages to break the clinch.
Cielo throws a head kick that misses.
Cielo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Cielo rushes Salem and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cielo has Salem pushed against the cage.
Salem is trying to break free.
Salem has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cielo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cielo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Salem is breathing heavily.
Salem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cielo smiles and moves away.
Salem dodges the punch combination from Cielo.
Cielo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Salem avoids it really well and circles away.

Cielo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Salem napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salem is being controlled here.

Cielo stands up and beckons Salem to his feet.
Cielo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salem sprawls well. Salem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cielo gets slowly back to his feet.
Cielo shoots in for a double leg but Salem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Salem leaves Cielo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salem has his takedown stuffed

and Cielo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Cielo dominated that round.
That's time! Salem's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Salem closes the distance but Cielo moves to the side

and Cielo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cielo.

Cielo breaks the clinch.
Salem tries for a takedown but Cielo circles away easily

and Cielo counters by moving into the clinch.

Cielo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Cielo wants to control but Salem is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cielo wants to pass to mount but Salem is defending the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salem moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salem had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cielo defends it easily.
Cielo trying to control but Salem is working from the bottom.

Cielo stands and steps away. Salem gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Salem darts in trying to clinch

and Cielo counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Cielo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cielo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cielo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salem's guard.
Cielo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cielo has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cielo tries to control but Salem wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cielo with a couple of short strikes.
Salem is squirming around, avoiding Cielo's attempts to control the action.
Cielo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Cielo is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cielo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salem, pushing him back against the cage.
Salem tries to pull guard but Cielo holds him up against the cage and eventually Salem drops back down to his feet.

Cielo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cielo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Salem looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Salem is not content to let Cielo control the position.

Cielo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Salem to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Cielo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Salem with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cielo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cielo breaks from the clinch.
Salem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salem gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cielo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cielo is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cielo trying to control the position from guard on top but Salem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Paul Cielo.
Cielo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cielo throws a lazy head kick
and Salem counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cielo's knee momentarily.
Cielo throws a lazy head kick
and Salem counters with an inside leg kick.
Cielo misses with a takedown attempt - Salem sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Salem defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cielo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Cielo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Salem's half guard.
Cielo is keen to just control but Salem is a slippery customer.
Salem tries to roll over but Cielo keeps him under control.
Cielo wants to take a breather but Salem is having none of it.
Cielo tries to pass to full mount but Salem defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salem has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cielo is working away from the top position though.
Salem is not content to let Cielo control the position.
Salem makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Salem.
Paul Cielo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salem looking to control but Cielo passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cielo is working for a kimura but Salem is defending it quite comfortably.
Cielo not doing much here.
Salem wants to improve his position but Cielo is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Cielo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cielo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Cielo!