PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bobbie Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamad Salem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hamad Salem is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stokes
vs
Salem

190 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bobbie Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hamad Salem!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salem with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stokes moves into the clinch.
Stokes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Stokes jumps into guard, dragging Salem to the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Salem throws a big right hand that misses.
Stokes wants to stand and escape but Salem is having none of it.
Stokes trying to keep a closed guard but Salem is proving a slippery customer.
Salem postures up in Stokes's guard and throws a big left but Stokes blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salem won't allow Stokes to sweep him here.
Stokes wants to stand but Salem is controlling the position.
Salem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salem throwing strikes but missing.
Salem is looking to work some ground and pound but Stokes has wrist control.

Stokes wriggles free and stands up.
Salem shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stokes defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salem looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stokes is fending him off so far but Salem persists. Nope, Stokes circles away and we're back to standing.
Stokes tries to counter by clinching up but Salem breaks away and moves out of range.
Bobbie Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamad Salem.
Salem misses with a takedown

and Stokes counters by clinching up.
Salem pushes Stokes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stokes tries to pull guard but Salem forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stokes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Stokes pulls guard successfully.
Stokes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Salem is controlling him.
Stokes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salem stops Stokes from standing up.
Salem throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stokes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Salem misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Stokes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Salem defends it well.
Stokes is breathing heavily.
Stokes blocks the strikes from Salem.
Salem tries to get to full guard but Stokes has control of the leg.
Stokes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Salem is pressing down on Stokes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stokes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stokes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stokes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salem is on top in guard.

Salem throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salem lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Salem throws a big elbow that misses.
Stokes 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.
Salem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Salem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salem loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stokes controls Salem momentarily but Salem frees himself.
Salem throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stokes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Salem's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Salem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salem throws a big elbow that misses.
Stokes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Salem lands a couple of digs.
Salem scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salem connects with a couple of short punches.
Salem is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Salem is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Salem postures up in Stokes's guard and throws a big left but Stokes blocks it.
Salem postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Salem distracts Stokes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Stokes is rocked!
Salem lands a couple of elbows.
Oh Stokes is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Salem works over Stokes with some ground and pound from guard.
Salem lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Salem working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salem keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stokes's head.
Salem chips away with some ground and pound.
Salem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salem connects with a couple of short punches.
Salem keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stokes's head.
Salem stands up over Stokes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Salem lands a couple of digs.
Salem working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Salem postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Salem scoring with some ground and pound.
Salem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salem scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Salem stops Stokes from standing up.
Salem content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salem postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Salem is in close to Stokes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Salem is in close to Stokes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Salem postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Salem lands a couple of elbows.
Salem postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Salem keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stokes's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamad Salem dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Salem shoots and misses
and Stokes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stokes stuffs the takedown.
Stokes seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Salem has his takedown stuffed

and Stokes moves into the clinch.
Bobbie Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamad Salem.

Stokes has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Salem clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stokes is landing with strikes from the back.
Salem is in bad spot here.

Stokes looking to break Salem's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Salem remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Stokes will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Salem defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Salem tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salem srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salem is in bad spot here.
Salem keeps trying to improve his position.
Stokes cracks Salem with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Salem from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Stokes has the hooks in. Salem is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Salem is still trying to improve position.
Stokes seems to have got his legs back now.

Salem defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Stokes's arms.
Salem breaks Stokes's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Salem throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stokes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stokes 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes trying to keep a closed guard but Salem is proving a slippery customer.
Stokes wants to stand but Salem is controlling the position.
Salem working some strikes from top position.
Salem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salem postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Salem postures up.
Salem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stokes looking for a sweep. Not yet Stokes, not yet.
Salem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stokes wants to stand but Salem is controlling the position.
Stokes trying to keep a closed guard but Salem is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salem is working Stokes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stokes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hamad Salem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salem works over Stokes with some ground and pound from guard.

Stokes has his feet on Salem's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Hamad Salem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salem shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stokes defends it nicely.
Salem shoots in but no luck this time.
Salem with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stokes counters with a left and a right that stings Salem.
Salem shoots in looking for a takedown. Stokes tries to sprawl out of it but Salem keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stokes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stokes appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Salem eats them both and turns towards Stokes to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Salem tries for a takedown but Stokes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salem shoots in but Stokes avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Salem gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Salem throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobbie Stokes dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Salem with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Salem with that takedown attempt.
Stokes is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Salem darts in looking for a takedown but Stokes gets double underhooks and turns Salem into the cage.
Stokes feinted with a counter takedown.
Bobbie Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamad Salem.

Stokes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Salem is trying to defend but Stokes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nice strikes from Stokes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stokes wants to work for an arm triangle but Salem is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Salem misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stokes lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes working over Salem with some ground and pound. Salem looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stokes seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Stokes seems to be working for a kimura but Salem defends the submission attempt.
Salem punching from the bottom.
Stokes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Stokes wants to work for an arm triangle but Salem is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stokes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salem tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Stokes seems to be working for a kimura but Salem defends the submission attempt.
Salem flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Salem misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Stokes is working for a kimura but Salem is defending it quite comfortably.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Salem gets full guard.
Salem striking off his back but it's not causing Stokes any problems.
Salem throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Salem trying to strike off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Salem fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stokes avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salem shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stokes pinned against the cage. Stokes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stokes seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Stokes has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short uppercut from Stokes.
A short right from Stokes on the inside.
Stokes takes a shot to the head.
Stokes throws a head punch that misses.
Stokes wants a takedown but no success here.
Salem fails to pull guard.
Salem is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stokes is defending well.
Salem is trying to pull guard but Stokes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stokes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salem can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stokes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salem smiles and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salem is defended easily by Stokes.
Stokes stuffs the takedown.
Salem darts in looking for a takedown but Stokes gets double underhooks and turns Salem into the cage.
Stokes throws a big counter combination but Salem scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bobbie Stokes is winning the standup battle so far.
Salem misses with a takedown

and Stokes counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salem is looking for a takedown.
Bobbie Stokes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stokes lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stokes gets control of Salem's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stokes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stokes wants to stand up but Salem is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobbie Stokes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stokes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobbie Stokes!