PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elmo Salty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kinfe Kidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salty comes to the cage accompanied by Gonna Fly Now. Kidane has chosen Buraka Som Sistema - Kalemba (wegue wegue) as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Elmo Salty has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Salty
vs
Kidane

190 cm
25
260 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

196 cm
31
261 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elmo Salty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kinfe Kidane!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salty darts in and clinches Kidane up against the cage.
Salty stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Salty misses with the head strike.
Salty tries to work over Kidane's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kidane keeps control of Salty as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Salty breaks the clinch.
Kidane tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salty paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salty attempts a counter takedown but Kidane avoids it well and moves away.

Kidane moves into the clinch successfully.
Salty is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Salty.
Salty wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Salty misses with a body punch.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salty misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kidane.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salty tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kidane tries to land knees in the clinch but Salty avoids the damage to the body.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Salty blocks with his arms.

Salty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kidane gets tackled into the cage by Salty. Salty maintains the clinch.
Salty lands a good knee to the midsection. Kidane won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salty struggles to land a body shot inside as Kidane controls his hands.
Salty on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salty doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Salty tries to break free but Kidane pushes him back against the cage.
Salty blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salty lands an uppercut.

Salty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kidane gets a clinch.
Salty blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salty lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kidane backwards.
Kidane swings wildly with an uppercut but Salty uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salty lands a body punch in the clinch.

Salty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salty misses with a leg kick
and Kidane counters with a one-two to the body.

Salty instigates a clinch.
Kidane avoiding damage as Salty throws knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Salty can't break the clinch.
Salty with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salty throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kidane is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kidane tries to clinch up.

Kidane has managed to clinch.
Kidane with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salty landing knees to the body.
Kidane has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Salty seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kidane can turn it around.
Salty tries to circle away but Kidane has him pinned against the cage.
Kidane fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salty lands a left hand.
Salty throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kidanes head.
A short right from Salty on the inside.
Salty misses with a body punch.
Salty takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Elmo Salty has been cut.
Salty trying to land knees to the body.
Salty is looking to break free of the clinch but Kidane has double underhooks.

Salty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kidane gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kidane takes the fight into the clinch.
Salty tries to land knees in the clinch but Kidane avoids the damage to the body.
Kidane lands a right hand that snaps the head of Salty backwards.

Salty manages to break the clinch.
Salty throws a head kick that misses.
Salty backing away here, and Kidane unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Kidane clinches up with Salty and pushes him back against the cage.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Salty blocks with his arms.
Kidane avoiding damage as Salty throws knees to the body.
Salty working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Salty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salty looks to score with a jab to the body but Kidane is just out of range.
Kidane throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidane wants to clinch up but Salty keeps it at a distance.
Kidane is looking to clinch.

Salty closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Salty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kidane lands with a kick to the ribs.
Left hook, right uppercut from Salty.
Salty swats away the attempt to clinch by Kidane.

Kidane closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elmo Salty dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elmo Salty's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Salty delivers a nice body kick.

Salty closes the distance and pushes Kidane back into the cage.
Salty is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kidane can do to turn this around?
Kidane misses with a body punch.

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

Salty clinches with his opponent.

Salty breaks the clinch.
Kidane avoids the head kick by Salty.
Elmo Salty is winning the standup battle so far.

Salty closes the distance and pushes Kidane back into the cage.
Salty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kidane on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salty is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kidane is defending well for now.
Kidane tries to throw a body punch but Salty avoids it by throwing Kidane back against the cage.
Salty wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salty is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kidane is defending well for now.
Kidane with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salty unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kidane looking to throw knees to the head but Salty is blocking nicely.
Kidane is breathing heavily.
Salty blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salty can't break the clinch.
Kidane tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Salty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Salty takes the fight into the clinch.
Salty is looking to break free of the clinch but Kidane has double underhooks.

Salty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kidane scores with a punch to the head.

Kidane gets a clinch.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Salty blocks with his arms.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salty.
Kidane can't find room to land a body shot as Salty controls the action.
Kidane throws a head punch that misses.
Salty lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidane keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salty's efforts to push away.

Salty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kidane throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Salty.
Kinfe Kidane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kidane tries to clinch up but Salty circles away and keeps his distance.
Salty is looking to counter the offense by Kidane and move into the clinch.
Salty just misses with a punch to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kidane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salty tries to counter with a takedown but Kidane is quick to defend against it.
Kidane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salty moves away.
Elmo Salty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salty misses with a body punch

and Kidane counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kidane.
Salty trying to land knees to the body.
Kidane tries to work over Salty's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kidane throws a punch but it's blocked by Salty.
Elmo Salty has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salty wants to get back to striking at distance but Kidane won't allow it.

Salty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kidane gets tackled into the cage by Salty. Salty maintains the clinch.
Kidane with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kidane with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Kidane.
Salty swings wildly with an uppercut but Kidane uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salty can't break the clinch.
Kidane blocks a body shot from Salty.
Salty lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kidane backwards.
Kidane working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kidane tries to land a knee to the head but Salty blocks with his arms.
Salty is looking to break free of the clinch but Kidane has double underhooks.
Salty misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kidane struggles to land a body shot inside as Salty controls his hands.
Kidane with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salty tries a body shot but Kidane blocks it.
Salty tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kidane's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Kidane moves into the clinch.

Salty breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salty swats away the attempt to clinch by Kidane.

Salty has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kidane throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saltys head.
Kidane with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salty has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Salty tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kidane keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salty's efforts to push away.
Kidane keeps control of Salty as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Elmo Salty will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Elmo Salty's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Salty avoids the head kick by Kidane.
Salty avoids the head kick by Kidane.
Salty is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kidane.
Kidane throws a head kick but Salty moves out of range.
It looked like Salty wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Salty keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kidane misses with a jab to the body
and Salty counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salty just misses with a punch to the body.

Salty fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kidane, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kidane misses with a knee to the head.

Salty manages to break the clinch.

Salty clinches.
Kidane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salty's elbow.
A short right from Salty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salty lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kidane backwards.
Kidane's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kidane takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Salty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Salty moves into the clinch.
Kidane with a knee to the head.
Salty tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salty lands with a left to the head.
Salty managing to block the knees to the body from Kidane.
Kidane throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Salty blocks it with crossed arms.
Salty scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kidane misses with a knee strike.

Salty breaks from the clinch.

Salty drives through and clinches with Kidane against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Salty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kidane is looking to clinch.
Salty misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidane will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Salty throws a body kick that misses.

Salty gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kidane scores with a shoulder strike.

Salty breaks from the clinch.

Salty tries to keep at a distance but Kidane has taken the fight into the clinch.
Salty missing with knees to the body.
Kidane using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Salty has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kidane misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Salty.
Salty is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kidane is defending well for now.

Salty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kidane dips to his left and cracks Salty with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidane misses with a head kick.
Salty throws a counter high kick but Kidane was just alert enough to avoid it.

Kidane gets tackled into the cage by Salty. Salty maintains the clinch.
Salty is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salty scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kidane misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salty lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Salty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kidane is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Salty is defending well for now.

Salty manages to break the clinch.
Salty throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salty sets himself, and Kidane steps forward looking for the clinch! Salty avoids it this time.
Kidane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kidane misses with a straight left.
Salty is looking to counter with a body kick.
Salty digs a good hook to Kidane's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidane jabs Salty right on the nose. Salty blinks but takes it well.
Salty throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Kidane tries to keep at a distance but Salty has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kidane keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salty's efforts to push away.
Salty tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kidane avoids it.

Salty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Salty clinches up against the cage.
Kinfe Kidane has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salty tries to circle away but Kidane has him pinned against the cage.
Salty working hard to break the clinch.
Kidane throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kidane crunches a lovely knee into Salty's ribcage.
Kidane avoiding damage as Salty throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elmo Salty showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salty 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elmo Salty!
Post fight, Elmo Salty stared into the camera and said 'I respect guys who just like me goes out there to finish fights, we are both known as finishers, but the only difference we have is I'm not willing to lose by decision, like what I've said, you have to stop me to keep me from taking your head off.'.