PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Salinas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Saadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saadi has chosen Lebanese Rap - Khod W Srod - Hypnotized as his entrance music. 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
Saadi

165 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

187 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 1 - 5 - 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, Muhammad Saadi!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saadi looks for a takedown but Salinas sprawls well.

Saadi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saadi is looking for a takedown.
Saadi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salinas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhammad Saadi.
Salinas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Saadi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salinas's efforts to push away.
Salinas has Saadi pressed against the cage, preventing Saadi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saadi tries for a takedown. No joy.

Saadi decides to pull guard.
Saadi working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salinas is standing up over Saadi. Saadi looks to escape but Salinas dives into side control.
Saadi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Saadi is looking to improve his position.
Saadi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saadi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Salinas is thwarting Saadi's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Salinas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Saadi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Salinas darts in looking for a takedown but Saadi gets double underhooks and turns Salinas into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salinas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saadi uses from the top position.
Saadi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saadi looking to pass the guard.
Saadi wants to control from the top but Salinas keeps moving.
Saadi wants to get up but he can't break Salinas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Salinas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saadi trying to control but Salinas is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saadi misses with a jab to the body

and Salinas moves into the clinch.
Saadi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Salinas to keep the fight standing.
Salinas working hard to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saadi tries to pull guard but Salinas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

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

Ahmad Salinas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Salinas stuffs the takedown attempt from Saadi. Saadi gets slowly back to his feet.
Salinas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saadi is fending him off so far but Salinas persists. Nope, Saadi circles away and we're back to standing.
Saadi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saadi misses with a takedown attempt - Salinas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Saadi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Salinas counters by clinching up.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhammad Saadi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saadi is trying to break the clinch but Salinas has him pressed against the cage.
Salinas goes for a takedown attempt but Saadi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Saadi misses with a takedown attempt - Salinas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saadi fails with the takedown

and Salinas counters by moving into the clinch.
Saadi fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Salinas breaks from the clinch.
Saadi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saadi is breathing heavily.
Saadi throws a lazy head kick
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Salinas counters with a head kick. That will keep Saadi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Saadi closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salinas is trying to break the clinch but Saadi has him pressed against the cage.
Saadi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Saadi tries to break free but Salinas pushes him back against the cage.
Salinas is trying to drag Saadi to the mat but Saadi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

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

Salinas moves into the clinch.
Saadi can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saadi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Saadi tries to sprawl but Salinas drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Saadi is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Salinas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saadi is wriggling around trying to escape.
BOOM! Salinas connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Salinas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saadi tries to reverse the position but Salinas maintains control.
Saadi tries to hold on but Salinas postures up.

Salinas is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Saadi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Saadi shrugs it off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saadi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Salinas dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Salinas fails with the takedown.
Salinas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salinas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saadi is fending him off so far but Salinas persists. Nope, Saadi circles away and we're back to standing.
Saadi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Salinas but Salinas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saadi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saadi misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saadi rushes Salinas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saadi is looking to break free of the clinch but Salinas has double underhooks.
Saadi jumps guard but Salinas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Salinas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saadi uses from the top position.
Salinas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Saadi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Salinas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Salinas has escaped and now he's on top!

Salinas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salinas is one step ahead there.
Saadi being controlled here, momentarily.
Salinas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saadi can do to turn this around?
Salinas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saadi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saadi working a defensive guard here.
Salinas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Saadi moves into the clinch.

Saadi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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.

Saadi clinches up against the cage.

Salinas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saadi has his takedown stuffed
and Salinas counters with a big head kick but Saadi shrugs it off.
Ahmad Salinas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhammad Saadi.

Saadi drives through with a takedown into Salinas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Saadi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saadi trying to control the position from guard on top but Salinas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salinas being controlled here, momentarily.
Muhammad Saadi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ahmad Salinas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saadi throwing strikes from guard but Salinas blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muhammad Saadi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salinas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmad Salinas!