PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matias Salminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Salminen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Down With the Sickness. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salminen
vs
Bird

201 cm
24
300 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
287 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Sportsmanship Ltd.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matias Salminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Big Bird!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Bird.
Bird sizes up Salminen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bird throws a shot from downtown. Salminen moves away and avoids it.
Salminen tries to counter with a takedown but Bird is quick to defend against it.
Salminen throws the left hand but Bird avoids the punch easily.
Bird throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salminen on the side of the head.
Big Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bird works Salminen's body with a nice hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bird.
Salminen feinted with a counter takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bird is defended easily by Salminen.
Salminen attempts a counter takedown but Bird avoids it well and moves away.
Bird lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Salminen takes one to the chin there.
Bird has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Salminen is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bird or perhaps it was just good defense by Salminen, which made it look bad.
A little feinted left hand from Salminen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matias Salminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big Bird.
Bird fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bird misses with a looping right.
Bird shoots and misses

and Salminen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bird's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salminen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Salminen is working Bird over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Salminen wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bird can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bird keeping full guard, as Salminen tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salminen trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.
Salminen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bird's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salminen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bird looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Salminen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Salminen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Bird seems keen to control Salminen's posture.
Salminen is looking to work some ground and pound but Bird has wrist control.
Salminen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bird wants to sweep here but Salminen controlling him for the moment.
Bird bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salminen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salminen has Bird pulled in close to control his posture.
Bird trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bird missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bird landing some decent shots from guard.
Salminen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bird manages to get himself to full guard.

Bird keeping moving, preventing Salminen from controlling successfully.
Bird is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Salminen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bird really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salminen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salminen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bird is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Salminen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bird tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Salminen from controlling successfully.
Bird preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bird pushes Salminen off and gets back to his feet.
Bird dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bird listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bird has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bird lands a really nice looking cross but Salminen seems unphased.
Bird scores with a jab to the body.
Bird lands with an uppercut that bounces Salminen off the cage and back into range.
Bird tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salminen was well out of range. Poor timing from Bird.
The crowd cheers as Bird lands an impressive looking overhand right. Salminen doesn't seem phased though.
Salminen staying out of range there.
Bird darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Salminen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Salminen misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Bird.
Bird moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bird misses with a body shot.
Salminen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Bird.
Bird scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bird connects with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bird. Salminen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bird scores with a jab. Salminen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A shot to the liver by Bird. Beautiful body shot.

Bird shoots in and bounces Salminen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bird is breathing heavily.
Bird is working Salminen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Salminen looking for a sweep. Not yet Salminen, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bird throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salminen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salminen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Salminen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bird.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bird looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Salminen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot by Bird.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bird.
Salminen is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird throws a hook to the side of Salminen's head but Salminen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bird swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Salminen counters with a stiff right hand.
Salminen takes one on the button.
Salminen throws a jab when Bird was well out of range.
A slow jab from Salminen misses its intended target.
Bird fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salminen manages to avoid it.
Big Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bird avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bird cracks a nice hook into Salminen's ribs.
Salminen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Salminen leaves Bird with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matias Salminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big Bird.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bird.
Nice defenses there by Bird.
Bird is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Salminen with a body shot.
Bird looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salminen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bird throws a body shot but no joy.
Salminen throws a hook but Bird blocks it.

Salminen feints and as Bird raises his hands in defense, Salminen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salminen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bird's head.
Salminen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Salminen is looking to work some ground and pound but Bird has wrist control.
Salminen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Salminen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Bird showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bird looks to score with a jab to the body but Salminen is just out of range.

Bird drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bird throwing strikes but Salminen manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Bird is looking for a sweep.
Matias Salminen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Salminen lands some shots froms side control.
Salminen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Salminen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bird tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Salminen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Salminen trying to control the position but Bird is working away.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Salminen cracks Bird with a big right hand but Bird just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salminen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bird to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salminen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bird takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salminen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Salminen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Salminen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Salminen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Salminen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bird some visible discomfort.
Bird taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bird is trying to control Salminen's posture but Salminen avoids it.
Bird is not content to let Salminen control the position.
Salminen landing a few strikes.
Salminen working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salminen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bird, who protects the arm well.
Bird manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Salminen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Salminen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bird sees it coming and defends easily.

Bird looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Salminen wants to control but Bird is keeping him busy.
Salminen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird wants to control but Salminen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Salminen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Salminen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Salminen wants to free his trapped foot but Bird is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Salminen trying to control from half guard but Bird is working away.
Ground and pound from Salminen.
Salminen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bird with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Salminen tries to pass to full mount but Bird defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird is staying active underneath Salminen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bird taking some punishment here, with Salminen in his half guard.
Bird is looking for a sweep. Salminen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Salminen drops an elbow to the side of Bird's head.

Salminen is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Bird is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Matias Salminen!
An out of breath Matias Salminen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.