PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Salsalani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Giovanni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salsalani
vs
Giovanni

185 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 9 - 0

185 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Salsalani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Giovanni!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salsalani misses with a takedown attempt

and Giovanni counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Giovanni.
Giovanni's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Giovanni trying to control but Salsalani is working from the bottom.
Salsalani not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Giovanni missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Giovanni throwing strikes but missing.
Giovanni throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salsalani works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Giovanni postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salsalani really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Salsalani is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Giovanni throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovanni throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Giovanni accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Giovanni content to stall in guard here.
Giovanni landing some decent shots from guard.
Giovanni throws and elbow that misses. Salsalani uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Giovanni's guard. Nice move by Salsalani!
Giovanni really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salsalani. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salsalani is breathing heavily.
Salsalani stopping the sweep attempt from Giovanni.
Giovanni seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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.
Salsalani stopping the sweep attempt from Giovanni.
Giovanni looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Antonio Giovanni has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Salsalani misses with an uppercut
and Giovanni counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Giovanni shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni is looking to work some ground and pound but Salsalani has wrist control.
Giovanni is working Salsalani over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Giovanni with a nice head shot there.
Giovanni must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Giovanni wants to control from the top but Salsalani keeps moving.
Giovanni working some strikes from top position.
Salsalani keeping moving, preventing Giovanni from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Giovanni stands up over Salsalani, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Salsalani is trying to keep Giovanni in close.
Giovanni not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Giovanni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Giovanni is looking to work some ground and pound but Salsalani has wrist control.
Giovanni looking to pass the guard.
Giovanni stands up over Salsalani, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Giovanni trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsalani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giovanni is working Salsalani over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Giovanni loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Giovanni lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Giovanni dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Giovanni gets a double leg takedown into Salsalani's guard.
Salsalani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Giovanniis looking to pass into half guard but Salsalani pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Salsalani is in guard.
Giovanni wants to sweep here but Salsalani controlling him for the moment.
Salsalani trying to control but Giovanni is working from the bottom.
Salsalani stops Giovanni from standing up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Giovanni is controlling Salsalani's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Giovanni can do anything to dispel that myth.
Giovanni wants to sweep here but Salsalani controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsalani wants to get up but he can't break Giovanni's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Giovanni drives through with a takedown into guard.
Salsalani keeping moving, preventing Giovanni from controlling successfully.
Giovanni throws a big right hand that misses.
Giovanni lands a couple of digs.
Giovanni trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Giovanni trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsalani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salsalani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Giovanni is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Salsalani keeping moving, preventing Giovanni from controlling successfully.
Antonio Giovanni has got the better of the ground game so far.
Giovanni working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Giovanni is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Salsalani has momentary wrist control but Giovanni slips an elbow through the middle.
Giovanni lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Giovanni with a nice head shot there.
Giovanni throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Giovanniis looking to pass into half guard but Salsalani pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Salsalani is in guard.
Giovanni pulls Salsalani in to control the position.
Giovanni tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Giovanni is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Giovanni connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Giovanni shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salsalani as he jumps to the side.

Giovanni decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Salsalani won't allow Giovanni to pass to mount.
Giovanni stalling away here and it's allowed Salsalani to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Giovanni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Giovanni lands a lovely overhand right.
Salsalani checks the leg kick nicely there.
Giovanni looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salsalani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovanni with a lazy takedown attempt
and Salsalani counters with a one-two to the body.
Giovanni shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salsalani as he jumps to the side.
Abdul Salsalani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Giovanni.
Giovanni shoots in for a takedown but Salsalani shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsalani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Salsalani swings for the body but Giovanni moves out of range.

Giovanni looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Salsalani!
Giovanni avoids the attempt from Salsalani to control.
Giovanni postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Salsalani looks a forlorn figure.
BOOM! Giovanni connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Giovanni with good strikes from the mount here!
Salsalani is looking to improve his position but Giovanni isn't that keen on the idea.
Giovanni dominating with strikes here.
Giovanni lands a big elbow.
Salsalani is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Giovanni putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Giovanni raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni controlling from mount.
Giovanni punishing his opponent with strikes.
Salsalani is bucking up trying to escape but Giovanni cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Giovanni scoring with strikes but Salsalani is staying in there.
Giovanni looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Giovanni controlling his opponent.
Giovanni has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Salsalani's face.
Abdul Salsalani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Giovanni lands a big shot there that rocks Salsalani but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Giovanni landing shots from mount.
Giovanni landing strikes from the mount.
Giovanni is landing with some decent strikes but Salsalani is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Giovanni scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Giovanni postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Salsalani looks a forlorn figure.
Giovanni landing strikes from the mount and Salsalani is in trouble!

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Giovanni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Giovanni 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Giovanni!