PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juuso Salminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Fury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Fury's choice of entrance music: Ready to fight. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Salminen
vs
Fury

175 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juuso Salminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brian Fury!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salminen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Salminen trying to control the action but Fury is working from the bottom.
Fury is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Salminen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Fury struggling a bit here.
Fury keeping his opponent close.

Salminen stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salminen throws a shot to the body.
Salminen shoots in but no luck this time.
Salminen looks for a takedown but Fury sprawls well.
Juuso Salminen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fury lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fury keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salminen wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salminen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fury finds it's way round the side to connect with Salminen's head.

Salminen feints and as Fury raises his hands in defense, Salminen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fury is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Salminen is controlling him.
Salminen trying to control but Fury is working from the bottom.
Salminen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fury is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fury looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salminen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fury is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salminen trying to control but Fury is working from the bottom.
Salminen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Fury closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fury lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fury gets to his feet. Salminen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Salminen misses with a takedown
and Fury counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juuso Salminen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salminen is breathing heavily.
Fury looks to score with a jab to the body but Salminen is just out of range.
Fury throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Salminen.
Salminen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fury counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brian Fury will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Fury.
Salminen misses with a hook. Fury ducked under it nicely.
Salminen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Fury counters with a series of strikes. Salminen will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Salminen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Salminen showed some decent athleticism there.
Fury tries to kick Salminen off but Salminen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fury is trying to maintain the position but Salminen is very close to passing his half guard.
Fury has hold of Salminen's hands but Salminen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fury manages to get to full guard.
Salminen trying to control the position from guard on top but Fury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fury wants to get back to his feet but Salminen passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fury works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fury is breathing heavily.

Fury is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salminen cracks Fury with a solid left hand.
Salminen wants to control from the top but Fury keeps moving.
Salminen stays in close to Fury's body and controls the position.
Fury utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fury has his foot on Salminen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salminen works his way back into a safe position though.
Salminen trying to control but Fury is working from the bottom.
Salminen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Salminen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fury swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four 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.
Fury keeping moving, preventing Salminen from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Salminen misses with a takedown attempt
and Fury counters with a three punch combo that has Salminen backing up. Salminen nods at Fury to acknowledge the strikes.

Fury changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Salminen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fury has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Salminen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brian Fury will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Salminen with a poor takedown
and Fury counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fury throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Salminen fails with a takedown attempt.

Fury shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Salminen's guard.
Fury looking to pass the guard.

Fury stands up from Salminen's guard - Fury perhaps looking for a knockout.
Salminen clinches but Fury breaks the clinch
and Fury counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salminen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Fury connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Salminen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Juuso Salminen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fury can't do much from the bottom here.
Fury is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Salminen is controlling him well.
Fury is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Salminen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fury is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salminen wants to pass to mount but Fury is defending the position.
Fury is trying to maintain the position but Salminen is very close to passing his half guard.
Salminen trying to control from Fury's half guard. Fury has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Fury throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Salminen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fury takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salminen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Salminen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Salminen lands in his opponent's guard.

Salminen stands up and waves to Fury to follow him.
Fury shoots in looking for a takedown. Salminen tries to sprawl out of it but Fury keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salminen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Juuso Salminen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salminen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salminen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fury counters with a three punch combo that has Salminen backing up. Salminen nods at Fury to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juuso Salminen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salminen has his takedown stuffed
and Fury counters with a series of strikes. Salminen will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Fury.
I've got Fury 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Fury!