PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rui Salsep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Map Gostos A (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gostos A is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ratamahatta - Sepultura. Map Gostos A has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Salsep
vs
Gostos A

150 cm
21
135 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

176 cm
30
145 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rui Salsep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Map Gostos A!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gostos A closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Salsep quickly recovers to half guard.
Salsep might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gostos A is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Salsep really is a fat lump.
Salsep is trying to stand.

Gostos A is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Salsep is trying to stand up here but Gostos A is controlling him well.

Salsep is defending against the submission attempts here by Gostos A.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gostos A is trying to work for a kimura but Salsep is defending well.

Gostos A is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Salsep doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gostos A.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gostos A is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Salsep sees it coming and defends easily.

Gostos A is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Salsep is just riding it out for now. Gostos A eventually gives up the hold.

Gostos A is working for a kimura here but Salsep manages to reverse the position and he's now in Gostos A's guard.
Salsep knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gostos A on the ground.

Gostos A is looking for a triangle but Salsep pushes his legs off easily.
Salsep stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gostos A swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsep slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salsep passes into half guard.

Gostos A looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Gostos A looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gostos A actively working from the bottom here.

Gostos A looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsep slows the pace down in half guard.
Salsep looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gostos A looking for a kimura from the bottom but Salsep passes into side control!
Gostos A gets back to half guard.

Gostos A looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gostos A actively working from the bottom here.
Salsep is keen to just control but Gostos A is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gostos A actively working from the bottom here.
Salsep seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Salsep scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Salsep controlling the action here.

Gostos A actively working from the bottom here.
Salsep keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salsep seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gostos A for as long as he can get away with.
Salsep is looking to take a break and control but Gostos A is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Map Gostos A will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gostos A misses with a jab, cross combination.
Salsep tries to clinch up but Gostos A circles away and keeps his distance.

Gostos A closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Salsep quickly recovers to half guard.

Gostos A is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Salsep is defending against the submission attempts here by Gostos A.
Salsep is looking to escape.
Map Gostos A has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gostos A is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Salsep still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Salsep has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Gostos A tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Salsep wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsep moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Gostos A manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gostos A is not content to let Salsep control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rui Salsep wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gostos A throws a series of strikes that have Salsep backpedaling.

It looks like Rui Salsep has been cut.
Gostos A throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Salsep enables Gostos A to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Salsep manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsep wants to stand up but Gostos A is controlling him.
Gostos A passes Salsep's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gostos A wants to free his trapped foot but Salsep is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Salsep pushes Gostos A off looking to stand but Gostos A dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gostos A looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Salsep has one foot on Gostos A's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gostos A drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Gostos A drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Salsep manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gostos A has Salsep in his guard.

Gostos A has his foot on Salsep's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salsep works his way back into a safe position though.

Salsep got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gostos A has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salsep has managed to get both his arms back between Gostos A's legs - danger averted.
Salsep tries to free his leg and advance position but Gostos A is retaining full guard.

Gostos A throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Salsep avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gostos A is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gostos A looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gostos A keeping moving, preventing Salsep from controlling successfully.
Salsep is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salsep's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Rui Salsep has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gostos A misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Map Gostos A showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rui Salsep's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Gostos A tries to keep at a distance but Salsep has taken the fight into the clinch.

Salsep successfully pulls guard.

Gostos A postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Salsep is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gostos A, into his guard.

Gostos A is looking for a triangle but Salsep pushes his legs off easily.

Gostos A is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salsep slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Salsep trying to control the position from guard on top but Gostos A is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salsep has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gostos A looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Salsep stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gostos A swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salsep showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Salsep pushing down on Gostos A's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gostos A looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Salsep seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gostos A slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rui Salsep has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salsep avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gostos A is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Salsep is aware though and is defending well.
Gostos A takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gostos A being controlled here, momentarily.

Gostos A is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Salsep controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salsep scoring with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salsep sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Gostos A has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Salsep is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gostos A.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gostos A tries to bench press Salsep off him but Salsep keeps the position.
Salsep wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gostos A keeps working.
Salsep is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Gostos A tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Salsep in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gostos A tries to bench press Salsep off him but Salsep keeps the position.
Gostos A manages to get back to half guard.

Gostos A actively working from the bottom here.
Salsep wants to pass to mount but Gostos A is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gostos A actively working from the bottom here.
Salsep sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Gostos A has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Salsep escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Salsep!
Salsep slows the pace down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gostos A tries to bench press Salsep off him but Salsep keeps the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salsep working the head with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rui Salsep showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gostos A has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Map Gostos A!
A determined Map Gostos A didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!