PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rich Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quach Minh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minh has chosen beautiful life as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Solomon
vs
Minh

207 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rich Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Quach Minh!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solomon tries to keep at a distance but Minh has taken the fight into the clinch.
Solomon tries to land a knee to the head but Minh blocks with his arms.

Minh has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Solomon clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Minh missing with strikes.
Minh trying to control.
You can see the frustration on Solomon's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Solomon is working hard here to advance position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Minh throwing sloppy strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon tries to break free.

Minh is looking for a choke. Solomon gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Solomon manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Solomon trying to control but Minh is working from the bottom.
Solomon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Minh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Solomon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Minh looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solomon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Minh looking for a sweep. Not yet Minh, not yet.
Solomon connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Solomon throws a big right hand that misses.
Solomon trying to control but Minh is working from the bottom.
Minh is trying to keep Solomon in close.
Solomon working some strikes from top position.
Solomon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Minh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Solomon preventing the sweep.
Solomon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Solomon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Solomon 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.
Solomon pushes down on Minh's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Solomon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon content to control rather than advance.

Solomon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Minh is just riding it out for now. Solomon eventually gives up the hold.
Minh wants to get back to full guard.
Solomon lands strikes from half guard.
Solomon trying to control the action but Minh is working from the bottom.
Solomon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Minh is staying active underneath Solomon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Solomon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Solomon stalling.
Solomon working Minh over with strikes.
Solomon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Solomon trying to control the action but Minh is working from the bottom.
Solomon is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Solomon slips a nice elbow through Minh's hands, connecting with Minh's forehead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Solomon seems content to control.
Solomon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Solomon connects with a nice short shot to Minh's temple.
Minh tries to roll over but Solomon keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Solomon dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by Minh.
Solomon appears to be looking for a big counter.
Solomon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Minh should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Minh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Solomon sprawls well initially but Minh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Minh is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minh wants to advance to full mount but Solomon doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minh stands up from Solomon's guard - Minh perhaps looking for a knockout.
Minh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Minh throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Solomon moves into range and clinches up with Minh.
Solomon pushes off an throws an elbow but Minh leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Solomon misses with some punches.
Solomon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Minh gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Solomon.
Solomon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Minh can do to turn this around?
Minh slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon stalling.
Solomon has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Minh turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Solomon being controlled for a moment.
Minh is looking to take a break and control but Solomon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Solomon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minh wants to control for a moment but Solomon uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Solomon is looking to control Minh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Solomon avoid being mounted?
Solomon trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Minh manages to pass to mount!
Minh can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Solomon is looking to escape.
Solomon regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon missing with punches from the bottom.
Solomon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Solomon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Solomon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Solomon wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quach Minh 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!

Solomon fails in his attempt to clinch.

Minh shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Minh wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
Solomon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Minh is one step ahead there.
Minh is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon wants to control the position but Minh says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Solomon tries to kick Minh off but Minh keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Minh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Minh is looking to take a break and control but Solomon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Solomon preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Minh wants to take a breather but Solomon is having none of it.

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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Minh connects with a body shot.

Minh closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Minh lands in his opponent's guard.
Minh trying to control the position from guard on top but Solomon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Solomon wants to hit a switch here but Minh passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Solomon there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minh trying to control but Solomon is having none of it.
Minh misses with a head shot.

Minh is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Minh gets a double leg takedown into Solomon's guard.
Minh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minh wants to pass the guard but Solomon is keeping the position.
Minh must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Minh would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Solomon looking for a sweep. Not yet Solomon, not yet.
Solomon will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Solomon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Minh defends it easily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Minh is stalling in the full guard.

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!
Quach Minh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Minh 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quach Minh!
An out of breath Quach Minh thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.