PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Salinas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cokorda Raka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Salinas
vs
Raka

165 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ahmad Salinas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cokorda Raka!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raka misses with a takedown attempt
and Salinas counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Raka is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Raka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Raka working hard to break the clinch.
Raka has Salinas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Salinas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Raka is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Salinas is defending well.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cokorda Raka.

Salinas pulls guard successfully.
Salinas pulls Raka in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salinas is keeping the position for now.
Raka passes Salinas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raka keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Raka wants to pass the guard but Salinas is defending well.
Raka prevents Salinas from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Salinas trying to control but Raka postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Raka clinches.
Raka tries to score a body lock takedown but Salinas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Raka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Raka is trying to pull guard but Salinas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Raka fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salinas wants to break free but Raka has control.

Salinas manages to break the clinch.

Raka moves into the clinch.
Salinas gets underhooks to prevent Raka's takedown attempt.
Raka can't get the takedown.
Salinas is trying to push Raka away but Raka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Raka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Salinas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Raka pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Raka has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Salinas is trying to keep an underhook but Raka manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Salinas wants to get back to full guard.
Salinas is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raka is taking a breather. Salinas 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.
Raka's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Raka trying to pass the guard but Salinas defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salinas trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cokorda Raka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raka takes the fight into the clinch.
Raka wants to take the fight to the mat but Salinas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Salinas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Raka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raka tries to pull guard but Salinas holds him up against the cage and eventually Raka drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raka tries to pull guard but Salinas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cokorda Raka.
Salinas stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salinas prevents a body shot from Raka.
Raka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Salinas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salinas's efforts to push away.

Salinas breaks from the clinch.
Raka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salinas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Raka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Salinas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raka looks for a takedown but Salinas sprawls well.

Raka closes the distance and clinches.
Raka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salinas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Raka smiles and moves away.

Raka clinches with his opponent.
Salinas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Raka to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salinas.
Raka looking to throw knees to the head but Salinas is blocking nicely.
Raka stops a takedown attempt from Salinas.
Raka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salinas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salinas pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Raka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salinas, pushing him back against the cage.
Raka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Salinas working hard to break the clinch.
Raka fails to pull guard.
Salinas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Salinas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Salinas breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cokorda Raka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Raka moves into the clinch.
Raka prevents Salinas from breaking the clinch.
Raka stops a takedown attempt from Salinas.
Salinas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raka wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raka is trying to pull guard but Salinas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cokorda Raka.
Raka has Salinas pressed against the cage, preventing Salinas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salinas breaks from the clinch.
Ahmad Salinas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salinas shoots in and drives through. Raka sprawls well.
Raka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salinas pinned against the cage. Salinas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Raka darts in and clinches Salinas up against the cage.
Salinas wants to get back to striking at distance but Raka won't allow it.
Salinas is trying to push Raka away but Raka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Salinas just misses with a elbow thrown towards Raka's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salinas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A left hand lands to the body for Raka.

Salinas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raka misses with a takedown attempt - Salinas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Raka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Salinas shoots in looking for a takedown but Raka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salinas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Salinas clinches.
Raka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raka wants a takedown but no success here.

Raka pulls guard effortlessly.
Raka wants to sweep here but Salinas controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salinas wants to control from the top but Raka keeps moving.
Cokorda Raka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Salinas cracks Raka with a solid left hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Raka holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cokorda Raka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Raka 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cokorda Raka!