PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleon Salmon (ranked 8330 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reinaldo Roldan (ranked 5477 p4p, 0 weight class). Salmon has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Salmon
vs
Roldan

196 cm
25
240 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cleon Salmon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Reinaldo Roldan!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Roldan.

It looks like Cleon Salmon has been cut.
Salmon is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Salmon. No joy for Roldan on that attempt.
Salmon tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Roldan manages to circle out of the way.
Salmon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roldan.
Roldan connects with a jab.
Salmon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roldan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Roldan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Roldan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cleon Salmon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reinaldo Roldan.
Salmon looks for a takedown but Roldan sprawls well.
Salmon stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roldan rushes Salmon and presses him up against the cage.
Roldan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salmon pulls his leg out and moves away.

Roldan has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roldan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Salmon uses from the top position.
Salmon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Roldan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Roldan trying to control the action but Salmon is working from the bottom.
Roldan is just content to waste time from the top position. Salmon takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Roldan trying to control the position from guard on top but Salmon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salmon trying to control the position.
Salmon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roldan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Roldan stands up and waves to Salmon to follow him.
Salmon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roldan.
Roldan 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.
Roldan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Salmon is fending him off so far but Roldan persists. Nope, Salmon circles away and we're back to standing.
Roldan lands with a nice combination. Salmon backs away looking to recover.
Roldan tries for a takedown but Salmon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roldan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salmon pinned against the cage. Salmon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Roldan as Salmon shoots in.

Roldan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Salmon is looking to control Roldan's arms but Roldan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Salmon has his back to the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Roldan drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roldan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Roldan keeping moving, preventing Salmon from controlling successfully.
Roldan pulls Salmon in to control the position.

Roldan pushes Salmon off and scrambles back to his feet.

Roldan clinches.
We've been informed that Roldan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roldan breaks the clinch.

Salmon gets tackled into the cage by Roldan. Roldan maintains the clinch.
Salmon wants to take the fight to the mat but Roldan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reinaldo Roldan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cleon Salmon's cut.
That's time! Salmon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Roldan darts in and clinches Salmon up against the cage.

Roldan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salmon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Roldan as he jumps to the side.
Roldan shoots in for a double leg but Salmon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cleon Salmon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roldan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roldan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Roldan closes the distance and clinches.
Salmon fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roldan pulls guard successfully.
Roldan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roldan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salmon's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roldan trying to control but Salmon is working from the bottom.
Roldan is stalling in the full guard.

Roldan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Roldan trying to control but Salmon is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Roldan forces his way into half guard.
Roldan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Salmon does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Roldan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Roldan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roldan trying to pass the guard but Salmon defending well.
Roldan controlling the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roldan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roldan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Roldan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Roldan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Salmon wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cleon Salmon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reinaldo Roldan.

Roldan has closed the distance and engaged Salmon in a clinch.
Salmon is trying to pull guard but Roldan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The referee calls for Roldan to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roldan wants to take the fight to the mat but Salmon manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Roldan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Roldan has Salmon pressed against the cage, preventing Salmon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Roldan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Salmon is trying to pull guard but Roldan has him pressed against the cage.

Roldan breaks the clinch.
Roldan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salmon shoots in and drives through. Roldan sprawls well.
Salmon stuffs the takedown attempt from Roldan. Roldan gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reinaldo Roldan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cleon Salmon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Salmon checks a leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Roldan!
Salmon leaves Roldan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salmon stuffs the takedown.
Roldan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cleon Salmon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reinaldo Roldan.
Salmon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roldan shapes to counter with a head kick.
Salmon misses with a combination
enabling Roldan to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roldan pushes Salmon up against the cage in a clinch.

Roldan pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmon is looking to work some ground and pound but Roldan has wrist control.
Reinaldo Roldan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roldan controls Salmon momentarily but Salmon frees himself.
Roldan has Salmon pulled in close to control his posture.

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

Roldan pushing down on Salmon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roldan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Roldan is looking to take a break and control but Salmon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Roldan escapes and gets back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Roldan or perhaps it was just good defense by Salmon, which made it look bad.

Roldan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roldan decides to pull guard.
Salmon wants to control from the top but Roldan keeps moving.
Roldan keeping full guard, as Salmon tries to pass.
Roldan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roldan keeping moving, preventing Salmon from controlling successfully.
Roldan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salmon's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salmon wants to hit a switch here but Roldan passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Salmon there!
Salmon is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Roldan thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Salmon holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Roldan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Salmon is desperately trying to improve his position but Roldan has a good base and remains in mount.
Cleon Salmon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reinaldo Roldan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roldan controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reinaldo Roldan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Roldan 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reinaldo Roldan!