PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hurjempi Salli (ranked 4905 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaguar Lion (ranked 4871 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Salli
vs
Lion

169 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hurjempi Salli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jaguar Lion!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lion shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Salli is trying to defend but Lion finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Salli moves into full guard.
Lion throws a big right hand that misses.
Salli 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.
Salli trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salli continues to stall.
Lion trying to control the position from guard on top but Salli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lion's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lion wants to stand and escape but Salli is having none of it.
Salli trying to control the position from guard on top but Lion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lion controls Salli momentarily but Salli frees himself.
Lion keeping full guard, as Salli tries to pass.

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.
Salli postures up.
Salli wanted to stand there but Lion had control of the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Salli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Lion shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lion showed some decent athleticism there.
Salli wants to improve his position but Lion is controlling well.
Lion wants to stand up but Salli is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Salli trying to hold on to Lion's head to control him but Lion postures up.
Lion is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Salli tries to roll over but Lion keeps him under control.
Salli won't allow Lion to pass to mount.
Salli wants to control but Lion is keeping busy.
Salli is trying to stand up here but Lion is controlling him well.

That's four 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.
Salli is positioning himself well to prevent Lion advancing to mount.
Salli is trying to stand back up but Lion is controlling him

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lion shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lion was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lion looks winded!
Lion looking to control but instead Salli has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Lion wants to advance to full mount but Salli doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salli is pulling down on Lion's head. It's preventing any offense from Lion, at least for the moment.
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 Hurjempi Salli will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lion has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lion pulls guard effortlessly.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Salli's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Salli is looking to stand up but Lion won't let him.
Lion is looking to stand up but Salli isn't so interested in that idea.
Lion keeping full guard, as Salli tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salli stands and throws Lion's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salli remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lion tries to control but Salli manages to take his back.
Salli scores with strikes from the back.
Lion can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lion is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lion is breathing heavily.
Salli slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Salli lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Lion hold on?!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Salli controlling the positon.
Lion takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lion is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Salli.
Lion is in bad spot here.
Salli trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Lion doesn't escape.

Salli is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lion is defending well though. Salli let's go of the attempt for now.
Lion takes a big shot to the side of the head.
I would not like to be Lion right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lion tries to roll but Salli sticks to his back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Salli is looking for the choke from the back position but Lion is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hurjempi Salli dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Salli tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lion swivels and escapes.
Some bone on bone action there as Salli checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Lion tries to sprawl but Salli drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Salli content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Salli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lion tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lion keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Salli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lion can do to turn this around?
Lion is trying to stand up here but Salli is controlling him well.
Salli is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salli controlling the action here.
Salli tries to stand but can't do so whilst Lion controls his leg.

Salli decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Lion takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lion tries to close the distance and clinch but Salli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Salli decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lion trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Salli seems content to control.
Salli working Lion over with strikes.
Salli tries to pass to full mount but Lion defends it.
Salli takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Salli controlling the action here.

Salli is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lion sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salli trying to pass the guard but Lion defending well.
Salli perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Salli seems to be working for a kimura but Lion defends the submission attempt.
Salli slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Salli works his way into full mount!
Salli lands with some strikes.
Jaguar Lion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hurjempi Salli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salli looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hurjempi Salli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Salli, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Hurjempi Salli!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Hurjempi Salli!
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight for Hurjempi Salli!

Hurjempi Salli wins by unanimous decision!