PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ali Ali (ranked 25209 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Salas (ranked 6117 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ali
vs
Salas

200 cm
18
230 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

191 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ali Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stephen Salas!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ali counters with a shoot takedown. Salas fights it but they end up in guard.
Ali showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Salas controls Ali momentarily but Ali frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali looking to pass the guard.
Ali is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ali has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Salas trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ali jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salas shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali throws a sloppy head kick and Salas moves out of range easily.
Salas wants to counter with a clinch but Ali pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Salas dives in for a single leg takedown but Ali sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ali Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Salas.
Salas has a takedown stuffed.
Ali keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ali takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ali scores with a body shot.
Salas shoots in looking for a takedown but Ali manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Salas rushes Ali and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salas has Ali pressed against the cage, preventing Ali from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ali tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ali is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali keeps control of Salas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ali is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ali successfully pulls guard.
Salas tries to stand but Ali is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ali works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salas throws a big right hand that misses.
Salas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ali. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ali pulls Salas in close to his closed guard and prevents Salas from doing any damage or advancing position.
Salas trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Salas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ali haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ali controlling the position.

Salas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ali manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Salas has Ali in his guard.

Salas controls Ali momentarily but Ali frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ali stops Salas from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Ali dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ali moves out of range as Salas throws a body kick.
Ali fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Salas darts in looking for a takedown but Ali gets double underhooks and turns Salas into the cage.
Ali gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ali gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Salas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salas.
Salas wants a takedown but no success here.
Salas is trying to drag Ali to the mat but Ali just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ali Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Salas.
Salas looking to throw knees to the head but Ali is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali is trying to break the clinch but Salas has him pressed against the cage.
Salas tries to score a body lock takedown but Ali shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas misses with a knee to the head.
Ali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ali is pressed up against the cage. Salas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ali down to the mat. Ali avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Salas misses with a head kick.
Salas slaps away a takedown attempt from Ali, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salas.
Ali stuffs the takedown.
Salas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ali defends well and Salas ends up having to push Ali into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Salas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ali defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salas digs a good body shot into Ali's ribs.
Salas tries to clinch but Ali is having none of it.
Ali looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Ali Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ali fails with the takedown.
Ali misses with the combination.
No luck for Salas with that takedown attempt.
Salas fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Salas has a takedown stuffed.
Ali fails to land the takedown.
Salas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salas.
Salas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ali swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Salas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Salas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ali defends it nicely.
Ali takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Salas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ali avoids it really well and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salas scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Salas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Salas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ali swats him away and circles back towards the center.

It looks like Ali Ali has been cut.
Salas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Salas misses with a takedown attempt - Ali sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ali is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salas can do to turn this around?
Salas throws a sloppy head kick

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into side control. Salas won't be happy with that.
Salas tries to buck Ali off but Ali is having none of it.
Salas can't do much from the bottom here.
Salas is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Ali is staying active.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salas tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ali presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali punishing his opponent with strikes.
Salas tries to lock up and control but Ali gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Ali has control of Salas's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Salas regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Salas wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Ali is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali is not going to allow Salas to sit and survive in this position.

Ali has his arm under Salas's chin here. Game over son! Ali squeezes tightly and Salas is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ali Ali!