PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between RIcardo Goncalves (ranked 6342 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Salah (ranked 6214 p4p, 165 weight class). Goncalves's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eyes Without a Face. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Goncalves
vs
Salah

182 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, RIcardo Goncalves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohammed Salah!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goncalves decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Salah tries to roll over but Goncalves keeps him under control.
Goncalves wants to stand up but Salah is controlling the position.
Goncalves not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Salah trying to control but Goncalves postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salah is looking to get back to full guard here but Goncalves has managed to pass to side control instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goncalves wants to control but Salah is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Salah's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goncalves trying to control the position but Salah is working away.
Salah tries to control but Goncalves manages to take his back.

Goncalves tightening his grip on Salah, looking for the choke.
Salah manages to reverse the position and now he's in Goncalves's guard. Nice work there by Salah.
Salah postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves is really struggling to control Salah but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Goncalves is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Salah dives into side control.
Salah controls the position from side control.
Goncalves dodges the ground and pound from Salah.
Salah misses with the ground and pound.
Salah scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Goncalves to see if he's OK.
Salah tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Salah is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Goncalves has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep.

Salah working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Salah goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Goncalves rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Salah's guard! Nice work there by Goncalves!
Goncalves wanted to stand there but Salah had control of the position.
Salah trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Salah has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Salah wants to sweep here but Goncalves controlling him for the moment.
Goncalves postures up in Salah's guard and throws a big left but Salah blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Salah is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Salah 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that RIcardo Goncalves will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck for Goncalves with that takedown attempt.
Salah keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Goncalves with that takedown attempt.
Salah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Goncalves.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for RIcardo Goncalves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Salah drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goncalves tries to buck Salah off but Salah is having none of it.
Salah is chipping away with strikes.
Goncalves tries to buck Salah off but Salah is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goncalves being controlled for a moment.
Salah with the ground and pound but Goncalves regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Salah seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Salah missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salah controlling the action here.
Salah passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salah throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Salah can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Goncalves is looking to escape.
Salah thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mohammed Salah has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salah throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Goncalves because Salah loaded up on that one.
Goncalves regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Goncalves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Salah.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves has hold of Salah's hands but Salah slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Salah is taking a breather. Goncalves says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Salah is continuing to stall.

Salah is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Goncalves sees it coming and defends easily.
Salah seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Goncalves does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Salah slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Salah moves nicely into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Goncalves gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Salah throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Salah wants to finish this one by submission but Goncalves is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salah.
Salah misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Salah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Goncalves slips under a jab.

Salah drives through with a takedown into Goncalves's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Salah controlling from the top position.
Salah postures up in Goncalves's guard and throws a big left but Goncalves blocks it.
Salah works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Salah blocks the strikes from Goncalves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goncalves trying to hold on to Salah's head to control him but Salah postures up.
Salah wants to pass to mount but Goncalves is defending the position.
Salah works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salah throwing strikes but Goncalves recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Salah not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep. Salah is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salah keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Goncalves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Salah pulls his head out easily.
Salah is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
The adventures of Salah the control monster continue. Boring.
Salah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Salah wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goncalves keeps working.
Salah might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Goncalves haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Salah is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salah closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Goncalves's guard.
Salah engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Salah stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goncalves swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Salah with a flurry of punches that miss.
Salah 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Goncalves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown attempt by Goncalves or perhaps it was just good defense by Salah, which made it look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammed Salah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salah has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Mohammed Salah!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Mohammed Salah!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Mohammed Salah!

Mohammed Salah wins by unanimous decision!
RIcardo Goncalves spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm back'.