PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergi Artisan (ranked 5155 p4p, 474 weight class) and Omar Saladdin (ranked 5145 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.

Artisan
vs
Saladdin

193 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sergi Artisan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Omar Saladdin!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Artisan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Horrible takedown attempt by Saladdin or perhaps it was just good defense by Artisan, which made it look bad.

Artisan tries to keep at a distance but Saladdin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Saladdin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Artisan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Artisan leaning against his opponent.
Saladdin wants to break free but Artisan has control.

Artisan manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saladdin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Artisan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Artisan misses with a two punch combination.
Saladdin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saladdin closes the distance and clinches up with Artisan, looking for a takedown. Saladdin pushes Artisan against the cage but Artisan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sergi Artisan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Saladdin.
Saladdin fails with the takedown

and Artisan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Artisan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Artisan breaks from the clinch.
Artisan lands a two punch combo.
Saladdin shoots in but no luck this time.
Artisan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Artisan darts in and clinches Saladdin up against the cage.

Saladdin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Artisan rushes Saladdin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Artisan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saladdin wants a takedown.
Saladdin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Artisan just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saladdin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Artisan has him pressed against the cage.

Artisan breaks from the clinch.
Artisan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saladdin blocks a head kick by Artisan.
Saladdin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Artisan circles away.
Saladdin looks winded!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes from Artisan. Those never looked like landing.

Artisan rushes Saladdin and presses him up against the cage.

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

Artisan clinches up with Saladdin and pushes him back against the cage.

Artisan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Artisan lands with a good body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Artisan as Saladdin shoots in.

Artisan has closed the distance and engaged Saladdin in a clinch.

Artisan manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saladdin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saladdin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Artisan defends well and Saladdin ends up having to push Artisan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saladdin tries to clinch but Artisan moves out of range.

Saladdin tries to keep at a distance but Artisan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Saladdin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Artisan wants a takedown.
Saladdin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Artisan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Saladdin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Artisan is defending well for now.
Artisan is pushing Saladdin up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A shot in the inside from Artisan.

Artisan manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergi Artisan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Artisan fails to land with a series of punches.
Saladdin slaps away a takedown attempt from Artisan, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Saladdin clinches.

Artisan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saladdin is looking to clinch but Artisan is avoiding it.
Artisan blocks a head kick by Saladdin.
Saladdin dives in for a single leg takedown but Artisan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Artisan moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saladdin is trying to maintain a safe position but Artisan gets an underhook and turns Saladdin into the cage.

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

Saladdin gets tackled into the cage by Artisan. Artisan maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saladdin is trying to pull guard but Artisan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Saladdin is pressed up against the cage. Artisan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saladdin down to the mat. Saladdin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sergi Artisan is winning the standup battle so far.
Saladdin tries for a takedown but Artisan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sergi Artisan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Saladdin.
Saladdin shoots for a double leg takedown but Artisan sprawls well. He's pushed Saladdin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saladdin is breathing heavily.
Artisan looks to land a combination. Saladdin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Artisan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saladdin sprawls well initially but Artisan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Saladdin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Artisan doesn't manage to clinch there - Saladdin circles away.
Artisan avoids the head kick by Saladdin.
Saladdin tries to bum rush Artisan with a series of wild strikes but Artisan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Artisan scores with a one two! Saladdin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Saladdin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artisan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Artisan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Artisan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saladdin dives in for a single leg takedown but Artisan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Artisan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Artisan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saladdin can do to turn this around?
Saladdin goes for a double leg but Artisan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Artisan continues to drive forward.
Artisan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Artisan drives through and clinches with Saladdin against the cage.
Saladdin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Artisan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saladdin tries to circle away but Artisan has him pinned against the cage.
Saladdin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Artisan fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Artisan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Artisan is pressed up against the cage. Saladdin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Artisan down to the mat. Artisan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Artisan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Artisan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Artisan blocks a head kick by Saladdin.
Saladdin shoots in but no luck this time.
Sergi Artisan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Artisan shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Saladdin eats them both and turns towards Artisan to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Saladdin dives in and grabs Artisan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Artisan pushes down on Saladdin's head and hops out.
Artisan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saladdin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saladdin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A counter left hand to the body from Artisan misses its target.
Saladdin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A shot to the liver by Artisan. Beautiful body shot.
Artisan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Artisan closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saladdin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Saladdin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Artisan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergi Artisan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Artisan as Saladdin shoots in.
Saladdin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Artisan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saladdin fails to land the takedown.
Sergi Artisan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Saladdin.
Saladdin leaves Artisan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A shot to the liver by Artisan. Beautiful body shot.
Saladdin avoids the head kick by Artisan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Artisan misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Artisan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Saladdin throws a fast counter high kick but Artisan manages to duck under it in time.
Artisan tries to clinch but Saladdin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saladdin fails with the takedown.
Artisan shoots in for a takedown but Saladdin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Artisan has closed the distance and engaged Saladdin in a clinch.

Saladdin gets control of Artisan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Saladdin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Artisan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Saladdin managing to control the position.

Saladdin is looking for a triangle but Artisan pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artisan postures up.

Saladdin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Saladdin trying to keep a closed guard but Artisan is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Artisan works Saladdin's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saladdin misses with the body kick
and Artisan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Horrible takedown attempt by Artisan or perhaps it was just good defense by Saladdin, which made it look bad.
Saladdin attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Artisan avoids the head kick by Saladdin.
Artisan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Artisan feints a jab promting Saladdin to slip. Artisan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Saladdin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Saladdin slips a jab and a cross from Artisan.
Artisan misses the jab.
Artisan is looking to wear down Saladdin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Saladdin's corner calls for a 1-2. Saladdin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Artisan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saladdin paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saladdin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Saladdin has Artisan up against the cage in a clinch.
Artisan slows down the pace here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Artisan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saladdin's efforts to push away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saladdin jumps into guard, dragging Artisan to the mat.

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 Sergi Artisan.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Artisan, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Sergi Artisan!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Sergi Artisan!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Sergi Artisan!

Sergi Artisan wins by unanimous decision!