PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rob Salek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sigfried Lionheart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Salek
vs
Lionheart

160 cm
23
137 lbs
9 - 20 - 0

178 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Salek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sigfried Lionheart!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lionheart has a takedown stuffed.
Salek swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Salek gets a clinch.
Lionheart presses Salek against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lionheart drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salek pulls his leg out and moves away.

Lionheart gets a clinch.
Lionheart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Salek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lionheart.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sigfried Lionheart.
Lionheart blocks the elbow strike.
Lionheart takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Sigfried Lionheart has been cut.
Salek landing knees to the head.
Lionheart lands a nice elbow.
Lionheart blocks an elbow strike.
Salek landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Lionheart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salek scores with a leg kick.
Lionheart tries to clinch up

and Salek counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lionheart's guard now.
Lionheart is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lionheart has a closed guard, preventing Salek from standing up.

Salek gets to his feet - Lionheart follows without any prompting.

Salek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lionheart, pushing him back against the ropes.
Salek misses with an elbow strike.
Lionheart looking to stall.
Salek throws an elbow but it misses.
Good body shot from Lionheart.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lionheart.
Salek is stalling here.
Knees to the body from Salek.
Lionheart stalling in the clinch but Salek improves position.
Lionheart tries to throw a body punch but Salek avoids it by throwing Lionheart back against the cage.
Lionheart looking for a takedown.
Salek blocks a body shot from Lionheart.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart is looking to break free of the clinch but Salek has double underhooks.
Salek slowing the pace effectively.
Lionheart goes for a takedown in the clinch but Salek prevents it.
Lionheart looks gassed!

Salek jumps guard.
Salek wants to stand but Lionheart is controlling the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Salek wriggles free and stands up.

Lionheart closes the distance and pushes Salek back into the ropes.
A knee to the head by Salek.
Salek stops a takedown attempt from Lionheart.
Lionheart is trying to stall.

Lionheart pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salek avoids the head kick by Lionheart.
Lionheart shoots and misses
and Salek counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lionheart misses.

Salek 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.
Lionheart wants to improve his position but instead Salek has moved into half guard.

Salek decides to stand up.
Lionheart closes the distance but Salek moves to the side

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salek.
Salek blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Lionheart manages to break the clinch.
Salek tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Lionheart paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lionheart misses with a double jab

and Salek moves into the clinch.
Salek with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lionheart tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salek avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lionheart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the ropes.
Lionheart can't find room to land a body shot as Salek controls the action.
Lionheart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salek crunches a lovely knee into Lionheart's ribcage.
Lionheart trying to land knees to the body.
Lionheart tries to throw a body punch but Salek avoids it by throwing Lionheart back against the cage.
Lionheart is working Salek over against the ropes.
Lionheart is leaning against Salek and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Lionheart gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lionheart throwing shots but Salek is blocking nicely.

Salek has one foot on Lionheart's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Lionheart clinches but Salek breaks the clinch

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Salek keeps control of Lionheart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good body shot from Lionheart.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lionheart - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Salek.
Lionheart has Salek pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Salek manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lionheart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A good leg kick by Salek.

Salek has managed to clinch.
Nice body punch from Lionheart - that landed with a thud.
Lionheart is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the ropes.
Salek taking a breather.
Lionheart lands a nice knee to the body.
Lionheart tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salek smiles and moves away.
Lionheart tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salek.
Lionheart cracks Salek with a nice body shot.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Salek blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lionheart lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Salek stalling.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but Lionheart blocks with his arms.
Lionheart scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Lionheart breaks from the clinch.
Lionheart tries to clinch

and Salek holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lionheart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lionheart can't get the takedown.
Salek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lionheart.

Lionheart's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lionheart darts in trying to clinch

and Salek counters with a shoot takedown. Lionheart fights it but they end up in guard.
Lionheart is trying to keep Salek in close.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart looking for a sweep. Not yet Lionheart, not yet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Lionheart looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Salek passes into half guard.
Lionheart striking from half guard on the bottom.

Salek stands up and beckons Lionheart to join him on the feet.
Lionheart lands with a slapping head kick.
Lionheart wants to clinch

so Salek counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart looking for a sweep. Not yet Lionheart, not yet.

Salek gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Lionheart darts in and clinches Salek up against the ropes.
Lionheart tries to break free but Salek pushes him back against the ropes.
Salek connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lionheart's face.
Lionheart stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Salek drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lionheart gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lionheart tries to circle away but Salek has him pinned against the ropes.

Salek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lionheart misses with a takedown attempt

and Salek counters by clinching up.
Salek will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lionheart up against the ropes.

Salek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lionheart looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lionheart closes the distance looking to clinch

and Salek decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lionheart's guard.
Salek wants to stand but Lionheart is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lionheart pulls Salek in close to prevent any damage.
Lionheart punching from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sigfried Lionheart's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick by Salek misses
and Lionheart counters with a three punch combo that has Salek backing up. Salek nods at Lionheart to acknowledge the strikes.

Lionheart clinches up against the ropes.
A left hand lands to the body for Lionheart.

Salek lands a takedown into guard.
Lionheart trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Lionheart wants to sweep but no luck.

Lionheart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lionheart throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Salek got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lionheart has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salek has managed to get both his arms back between Lionheart's legs - danger averted.
Lionheart tries to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lionheart is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Salek is looking to stand up but Lionheart won't let him.
Salek might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lionheart looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lionheart trying to control the position.

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.
Lionheart lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Salek!
Salek takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Salek holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Lionheart tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Lionheart pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Salek is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Lionheart with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart with shots to the head and body - Salek looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lionheart looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Salek trying desperately to get to his feet.
Lionheart landing shots from mount.
Lionheart scoring with strikes but Salek is staying in there.
Salek wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Lionheart trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lionheart dominating with strikes here.
Salek takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Lionheart won't let Salek get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Lionheart lands with some strikes.
Rob Salek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lionheart punishing his opponent with strikes.
Lionheart cracks Salek with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Salek is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Lionheart moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Salek has worked his arm free - good work by Salek!
Lionheart taking a break here but Salek is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Salek to regain full guard.
Lionheart throws and elbow that misses. Salek uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lionheart's guard. Nice move by Salek!

Lionheart pushes Salek off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Salek tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lionheart tries to clinch up but Salek circles away and keeps his distance.

That's six 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.
Lionheart tries to clinch there but Salek circles away.
Salek avoids the head kick by Lionheart.
Salek looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lionheart tries to clinch but Salek is having none of it.
Lionheart looks to land a body kick but Salek moved away.
Lionheart misses with a takedown attempt

and Salek holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lionheart trying to land knees to the body.
Salek prevents the takedown attempt.
Lionheart is working for takedown but Salek is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sigfried Lionheart.
Lionheart makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Salek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lionheart blocks it with crossed arms.
Salek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lionheart has Salek pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Salek manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Salek with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Lionheart has picked Salek up - he's going for a ride! Lionheart dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Lionheart works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Lionheart goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Salek turns into him and now he's in Lionheart's guard.
Lionheart wants to sweep but no luck.
Salek wants to stand but Lionheart has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Salek stops Lionheart from standing up.
Lionheart not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lionheart wants to control but Salek passes easily into half guard.

Salek postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Lionheart to stand up.
Sigfried Lionheart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lionheart throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lionheart wants to clinch but Salek slips to the side

and Salek counters by clinching up.
Sigfried Lionheart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lionheart tries to pull guard but Salek won't allow it.
Lionheart tries to land knees in the clinch but Salek avoids the damage to the body.
Lionheart lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Salek or not.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lionheart tries to pull guard but Salek holds him up against the ropes and eventually Lionheart drops back down to his feet.
Salek lands a left hand.
Lionheart 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.
Salek taking a breather.

Lionheart's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lionheart looks to clinch
and Salek counters with an outside leg kick.
A left and a right from Lionheart both land. Nice combination.
Lionheart clinches but Salek breaks the clinch

and Salek counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lionheart won't be happy with that.
Lionheart is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Salek off and has taken his back!
Lionheart throws a series of strikes and Salek wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rob Salek.
Well Salek has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Rob Salek!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Rob Salek!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Rob Salek!

Rob Salek wins by unanimous decision!