PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reinaldo Roldan (ranked 5321 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cleon Salmon (ranked 25415 p4p, 0 weight class). Salmon has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. 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?

Roldan
vs
Salmon

185 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
240 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Reinaldo Roldan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cleon Salmon!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roldan rushes Salmon and presses him up against the cage.
Roldan looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Salmon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Roldan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Roldan pushes Salmon back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Roldan looking for a takedown.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roldan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roldan keeping moving, preventing Salmon from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salmon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Salmon trying to control the position from guard on top but Roldan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roldan trying to keep a closed guard but Salmon is proving a slippery customer.
Roldan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salmon postures up in Roldan's guard and throws a big left but Roldan blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roldan checks a leg kick nicely.
Salmon stuffs the takedown.
Roldan misses with a wild combination.
Salmon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Roldan could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salmon throws a head kick but Roldan moves out of range.
Salmon shoots in looking for a takedown but Roldan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salmon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Roldan tries to counter by clinching up but Salmon breaks away and moves out of range.
Salmon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Roldan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Salmon is trying to maintain a safe position but Roldan gets an underhook and turns Salmon into the cage.
Salmon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roldan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Reinaldo Roldan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleon Salmon.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Roldan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salmon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Salmon jumps guard but Roldan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Salmon fails to pull guard.
Salmon letting Roldan take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Roldan walks away with a smile on his face. Salmon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Roldan stuffs the takedown attempt from Salmon. Salmon gets slowly back to his feet.
Roldan looks for a takedown but Salmon sprawls well.
Salmon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Roldan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roldan stuffs the takedown attempt from Salmon. Salmon gets slowly back to his feet.
Salmon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roldan's waist but Roldan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Salmon off to one side.
Roldan tries to counter with a takedown but Salmon is quick to defend against it.
Roldan shoots in for a takedown but Salmon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salmon lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Roldan stuffs the takedown.
Roldan closes the distance and clinches up with Salmon, looking for a takedown. Roldan pushes Salmon against the cage but Salmon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Roldan shoots for a double leg takedown but Salmon sprawls well. He's pushed Roldan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Salmon closes the distance and clinches up with Roldan, looking for a takedown. Salmon pushes Roldan against the cage but Roldan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Roldan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salmon.
Roldan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salmon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roldan blocks the body kick.
Roldan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salmon with the counter takedown but Roldan avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reinaldo Roldan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salmon pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Roldan back to the cage. Salmon follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Roldan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salmon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Salmon tries to clinch there but Roldan circles away.
Roldan looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Salmon is looking to clinch but Roldan is avoiding it.
Reinaldo Roldan is winning the standup battle so far.
Salmon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roldan went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Roldan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Roldan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salmon.
Salmon shoots in and drives through. Roldan sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salmon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roldan but Roldan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Reinaldo Roldan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleon Salmon.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Roldan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Roldan lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roldan trying to control the position from guard on top but Salmon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roldan being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Salmon keeping moving, preventing Roldan from controlling successfully.
Roldan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Roldan wants to take a breather but Salmon manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Roldan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmon wants to stand up but Roldan is controlling him.
Salmon pulls Roldan in to control the position.
Roldan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roldan is fighting to break Salmon's control of his arms but Salmon is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Salmon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Roldan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salmon is looking to clinch but Roldan is avoiding it.
Salmon fails to land the takedown.

That's four 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.
Salmon shoots in but Roldan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Roldan feinted with a counter takedown.
Roldan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salmon tries to avoid it but Roldan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salmon to the ground. Salmon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Roldan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salmon can do to turn this around?
Salmon throws a nice looking combination but Roldan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Roldan tries to counter by clinching up but Salmon breaks away and moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Salmon.
Salmon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roldan pinned against the cage. Roldan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reinaldo Roldan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Salmon. No joy for Roldan on that attempt.
Salmon tries to close the distance and clinch but Roldan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salmon leaves Roldan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salmon throws a head kick that misses.
Salmon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Roldan swivels and escapes.
Salmon cracks Roldan with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Roldan clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salmon is trying to pull guard but Roldan has him pressed against the cage.

Roldan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salmon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Roldan circles away.
Reinaldo Roldan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleon Salmon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roldan thuds a left hand into Salmon's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Roldan has Salmon up against the cage in a clinch.
Roldan wants to break free but Salmon has control.
Salmon is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Roldan is defending well.

Roldan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salmon darts in looking for a takedown but Roldan gets double underhooks and turns Salmon into the cage.
Roldan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roldan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salmon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roldan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Roldan dives in and grabs Salmon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salmon pushes down on Roldan's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roldan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Salmon counters with a right hand to the body.
Salmon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roldan.
Reinaldo Roldan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salmon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Roldan tries to avoid it but Salmon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Roldan to the ground. Roldan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Roldan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Salmon fails to land.
Roldan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Salmon gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Salmon tries to pull guard but Roldan holds him up against the cage and eventually Salmon drops back down to his feet.

Roldan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmon misses with a head kick.
Roldan stuffs the takedown attempt from Salmon. Salmon gets slowly back to his feet.

Roldan instigates a clinch.
Roldan controlling the action here for a moment.
Salmon throws a head punch that misses.
Roldan jumps guard but Salmon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salmon has had enough of the clinch but Roldan keeps him there for the moment.
Roldan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Salmon after a bit of a struggle.
Roldan prevents the takedown attempt.
Roldan avoiding damage as Salmon throws knees to the body.
Salmon tries for a takedown. No joy.

Roldan jumps guard and drags Salmon to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Roldan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Roldan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cleon Salmon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reinaldo Roldan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salmon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salmon throwing strikes from guard but Roldan blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reinaldo Roldan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Roldan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

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