PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleon Salmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salmon's entrance music is Heartbeats. A fine choice. 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.

Salmon
vs
Burns

190 cm
28
275 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

190 cm
27
270 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cleon Salmon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Burns!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Salmon misses with a head kick.
Salmon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burns lands a head shot.
Burns throws a quick inside leg kick.
Salmon is breathing heavily.
Burns checks a leg kick.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Salmon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cleon Salmon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns throws a nice outside leg kick.
Burns lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Salmon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burns sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salmon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Burns. Burns obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burns feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Salmon's calf.
Burns connects with a leg kick. Salmon looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Burns thumps Salmon with a low kick.

Burns changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Salmon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Burns looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burns fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Burns looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Salmon is avoiding damage well.
Burns controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmon taking punishment in the form of punches.
Salmon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Burns on the ground.
Burns takes a little break here. Salmon wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Sloppy strikes there by Burns.
Burns working the ground and pound from side control.
Salmon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Salmon tries to get out of the position.
Burns controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Burns has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Salmon is not content to let Burns control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is staying tight to Salmon's torso, preventing him from escaping.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Carl Burns has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Burns lands a nice leg kick that just misses Salmon's sensitive parts.
Salmon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Burns. Burns obviously looking to wear him down.
Burns cracks the inside of Salmon's front leg.
Cleon Salmon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns scores with a one two! Salmon had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Cleon Salmon has been cut.
Burns scores with a nice head shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Burns.
Nice cross by Burns.
Burns lands a jab-cross combination.
Burns cracks the inside of Salmon's front leg.
Burns scoring well with a low kick there.
Salmon tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.
Burns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Salmon at a distance.
Salmon dodges the punch combination from Burns.
Burns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salmon is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Burns buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Burns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Salmon gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Burns to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Burns postures up in Salmon's guard and throws a big left but Salmon blocks it.
Burns is pushing down on Salmon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Salmon is fighting to maintain full guard but Burns has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Burns seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salmon taking some punishment here, with Burns in his half guard.
Burns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Burns passes to full mount!
Burns controlling the position easily from mount.
Burns landing strikes from the mount and Salmon is in trouble!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burns fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Burns takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cleon Salmon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Burns moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burns fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Salmon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Burns is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Salmon's half guard.
Burns is trying to control the action in half guard but Salmon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Burns looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Salmon actively working from the bottom here.
Burns performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Burns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Carl Burns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Burns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Burns slips a nice elbow through Salmon's hands, connecting with Salmon's forehead.
Well, if Burns is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Burns is nestled in close to Salmon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Salmon tries to roll over but Burns keeps him under control.
Burns working the head and body with strikes.
Burns throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Burns not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Burns is taking a breather. Salmon says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Burns is trying to work for a kimura but Salmon is defending well.
Burns throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Burns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Burns working Salmon over with strikes.
Burns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Burns wants to take a breather but Salmon is having none of it.
Salmon is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Burns scores with a couple of nice shots.
Burns content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmon trying to control here.
Salmon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burns.
Burns is trying to control the action in half guard but Salmon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Carl Burns hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Burns dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salmon. That did some damage!
Burns feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Salmon's calf.
Burns scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Burns moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Carl Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Salmon.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salmon stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Burns.
Burns shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salmon sprawls well. Salmon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Burns gets slowly back to his feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Burns.
Burns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Burns scores with a leg kick.
Salmon takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Burns with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Salmon has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Burns.
A good leg kick by Burns.
Burns connects with an inside leg kick.
Burns lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
That kick from Burns tenderised Salmon's leg. Salmon is trying to keep his angry face on.
Salmon takes one on the button.
Burns lands with a thumping leg kick.
Burns lands a nice shot to the body.
Burns lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cleon Salmon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Burns drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Burns stands and throws Salmon's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Burns controlling the position.
Salmon tries to bench press Burns off him but Burns keeps the position.
Burns working the body and head with strikes.
Salmon is trying to get back to half guard.
Burns postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Salmon seems a little lost for a moment, as Burns dominates the positioning.
Burns is putting a hurting on Salmon here, landing some big shots from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salmon being controlled for a moment.
Burns trying to control the position but Salmon is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns slows the pace down.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Burns trying to control the position but Salmon is working away.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Carl Burns hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Salmon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Burns. Burns obviously looking to wear him down.
Burns throws a quick inside leg kick.
Burns digs a good hook to Salmon's body.
Burns lands with a hook. Salmon tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Burns turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burns thows a body kick. Salmon tries to catch it but that hurt him.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Salmon crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Burns - the referee stops the clock and Salmon gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Burns. Salmon manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Burns with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Crunch! Burns slams his shin into Salmon's torso.
A right-left combo lands from Burns.
Burns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Burns feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Salmons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Burns comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A good leg kick by Burns.
Burns throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Burns lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice body punch from Burns.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.
Burns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Salmon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Salmon on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands with a thumping leg kick.
Burns chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Burns feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Salmon's calf.

Burns looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Salmon!
Salmon taking shots to the head.
Burns lands a heavy elbow.
Burns pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Salmon is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns drops a big elbow. That's hurt Salmon! More shots from Burns and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carl Burns!
Carl Burns managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, 10th Degree Fightwear, into his post fight interview.