PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Salinas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmad Salinas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Salinas
vs
Kim

165 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

172 cm
23
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 3 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tony Kim!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kim dives in and scores a takedown into Salinas's guard.
Kim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kim is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salinas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kim looking to sit in guard and control but Salinas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kim pulls Salinas in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salinas trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salinas won't allow Kim to sweep him here.
Kim is pulling down on Salinas's head to control his posture.
Kim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kim wants to stand up but Salinas is controlling him.

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

That's two 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.

Kim gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kim drags the fight down to the ground.
Kim looking for a sweep. Not yet Kim, not yet.
Kim looking to control.

Kim has his foot on Salinas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salinas works his way back into a safe position though.
Kim pulls Salinas in close to his closed guard and prevents Salinas from doing any damage or advancing position.

Kim is looking for a triangle here but Salinas uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim keeping his opponent close.
Salinas controlling the position.
Kim wants to control but Salinas postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salinas staying calm.
Kim is trying to control Salinas's posture but Salinas avoids it.
Kim is not content to let Salinas control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kim stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Kim dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kim gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Salinas counters by clinching up.

Kim has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Salinas clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kim patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Salinas is in a bad position with Kim working for a choke. Salinas manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Salinas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kim on the ground.
Salinas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Salinas trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Salinas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salinas throws a big right hand that misses.
Kim manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salinas manages to get himself to full guard.

Kim wants to control from the top but Salinas keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kim's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Salinas looking to control.

Kim drops back, looking for a kneebar! Salinas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Salinas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Salinas!

Salinas postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salinas trying to control the position but Kim is working away.
Kim is looking for a sweep.
Salinas staying calm.
Kim tries to buck Salinas off but Salinas is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kim is looking to improve his position.
Kim keeps trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Kim leaves Salinas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Salinas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kim forces Salinas back against the cage and clinches.

Kim is trying to trip Salinas. He has hold of a leg but Salinas is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kim persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kim postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salinas is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kim is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kim is stalling in the full guard.
Kim trying to control but Salinas is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Kim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salinas blocks a head kick by Kim.
Kim gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Salinas moves into the clinch.
Kim is trying to pull guard but Salinas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kim is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Salinas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Kim.
Salinas jumps guard but Kim stands there with Salinas around his waist. Salinas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kim is pushing Salinas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim is trying to maintain a safe position but Salinas gets an underhook and turns Kim into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.

Kim has Salinas pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kim pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Salinas tumbling to the mat - Kim dives into Salinas's guard.
Kim wants to control from the top but Salinas keeps moving.

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

Salinas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salinas is in close to Kim's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Salinas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kim is pulling down on Salinas's head. It's preventing any offense from Salinas, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salinas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salinas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kim tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kim with a poor takedown
and Salinas counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kim is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kim misses with a takedown
and Salinas counters with a one-two to the body.
Tony Kim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salinas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kim to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kim trying to control but Salinas is working from the bottom.
Salinas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ahmad Salinas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kim wants to control from the top but Salinas keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ahmad Salinas.
I think Kim 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Kim!