PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Wilson (ranked 2374 p4p, 273 weight class) and Antonio Salieri (ranked 4146 p4p, 423 weight class). Wilson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Simple Math - By: DL Incognito. Salieri is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: DMX - Ain’t No Sunshine. Antonio Salieri has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Wilson
vs
Salieri

177 cm
27
170 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

179 cm
25
162 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Solomon Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Salieri!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Wilson.
Wilson throws a looping overhand right but Salieri ducks down to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Wilson.
Salieri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Wilson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Salieri on his heels. He'll look to pass Salieri's guard now, I'm sure.
Wilson postures up in Salieri's guard and throws a big left but Salieri blocks it.
Salieri wants to sweep here but Wilson controlling him for the moment.

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

Wilson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salieri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salieri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salieri trying to control but Wilson is working from the bottom.
Salieri controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Salieri working some strikes from top position.

Wilson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wilson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wilson throws a big elbow that misses.
Salieri has momentary wrist control but Wilson slips an elbow through the middle.
Wilson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salieri trying to control the position here.
Salieri not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salieri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wilson.
Wilson postures up and lands a big shot to Salieri's brow.

Wilson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Salieri is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wilson, into his guard.

Salieri keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wilson's head.
Wilson keeping moving, preventing Salieri from controlling successfully.

Wilson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salieri controls from within his opponent's guard.
Salieri trying to control but Wilson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salieri is in close to Wilson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Wilson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salieri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wilson looking for a sweep. Not yet Wilson, not yet.

Wilson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wilson being controlled here, momentarily.
Wilson looking to control.

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.

Wilson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Salieri is aware though and is defending well.

Salieri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Salieri's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Wilson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Salieri defends well.
Wilson keeping moving, preventing Salieri from controlling successfully.
Salieri slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salieri landing some decent shots from guard.
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 Solomon Wilson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Salieri throws a low kick but Wilson avoids it.
Wilson slips a straight right by Salieri.
Salieri takes a swing at Wilson's ribcage but misses.

Wilson gets the takedown into side control.

Salieri throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Salieri uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wilson.
Salieri throws a head kick but Wilson moves out of range.
Salieri fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Wilson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wilson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salieri fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wilson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salieri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wilson throws the left hand but Salieri avoids the punch easily.

Wilson gets a clinch.
Wilson misses with an elbow over the top.
Wilson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Salieri tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wilson's elbow.
Salieri slows down the pace here.

Wilson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Wilson does it's job there.
Salieri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wilson seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Salieri takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Salieri throws a half hearted mid kick.
Wilson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Wilson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wilson won't allow Salieri to sweep him here.
Salieri is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salieri is on top in guard.

Wilson keeping moving, preventing Salieri from controlling successfully.
Salieri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wilson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salieri wants to control from the top but Wilson keeps moving.
Wilson is trying to control the position but Salieri postures up.

Wilson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Salieri has picked Wilson up and slammed him! Wilson can't keep hold of the triangle and Salieri manages to pass to side control!
Wilson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salieri is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wilson is trying to control but can't.
Salieri looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ground and pound from Salieri.
Salieri lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Salieri pulls his head out easily.
Salieri scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Wilson wants to improve his position but Salieri is controlling well.
Salieri works his foot free and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wilson is trying to control but can't.
Salieri moves into full mount! Wilson won't be happy about that!
Salieri looking to control but Wilson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Salieri lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Salieri lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wilson is trying to escape the mount.

Salieri looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Salieri tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wilson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Salieri lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Wilson hang on?
Salieri raining down shots from the mount!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Salieri breaks from Wilson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Salieri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Wilson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Wilson ducks under a wild hook from Salieri.
Wilson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Wilson.
Salieri moves away from the strike by Wilson.
Salieri lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wilson circles away quickly and effectively.
Salieri pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salieri fakes the leg kick and cracks Wilson in the body.
Nice sprawl there from Wilson as Salieri shoots in.
A head kick misses from Salieri.
Wilson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Salieri gets caught flat footed, as Wilson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wilson connects with a couple of short punches.
Wilson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wilson works over Salieri with some ground and pound from guard.
Wilson preventing the sweep.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Salieri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Salieri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wilson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Wilson is working for a kimura but Salieri is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson lands strikes from half guard.
Salieri has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wilson is working away from the top position though.
Salieri regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wilson throws an elbow that misses. Salieri uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wilson's guard. Nice move by Salieri!

Wilson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Wilson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Salieri passes into half guard.
Salieri perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salieri stalling away here and it's allowed Wilson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Salieri's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Salieri wants to control from the top but Wilson keeps moving.
Wilson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Salieri lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Salieri postures up.
Salieri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Salieri trying to control but Wilson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson has momentary wrist control but Salieri slips an elbow through the middle.
Wilson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Salieri passes Wilson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Salieri is nestled in close to Wilson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Salieri working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Wilson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Salieri trying to control the pace.
Wilson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salieri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Salieri got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wilson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salieri has managed to get both his arms back between Wilson's legs - danger averted.
Salieri engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Salieri connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salieri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Salieri wants to control from the top but Wilson keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Solomon Wilson.
I think Wilson 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Antonio Salieri!
An out of breath Antonio Salieri thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.