PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sherlock Holmes (ranked 2825 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Salah (ranked 4759 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Holmes
vs
Salah

190 cm
25
240 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

210 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sherlock Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mohammed Salah!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes tries to clinch up but Salah circles away and keeps his distance.

Holmes forces Salah back against the cage and clinches.
Holmes is looking for a takedown.

Salah pulls guard.

Salah had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Holmes defends it easily.
Holmes looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Salah holds on and takes a little breather.
Holmes wants to control from the top but Salah keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salah preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salah controls Holmes momentarily but Holmes frees himself.
Holmes throws a big elbow that misses.
Holmes distracts Salah with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Salah trying to control the position.
Holmes tries to free his leg and advance position but Salah is retaining full guard.
Holmes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Holmes throws a big right hand that misses.
Holmes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holmes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salah swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Salah is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salah really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holmes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holmes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salah working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holmes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holmes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Holmes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Holmes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Salah's head.
Salah trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Holmes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holmes is looking to work some ground and pound but Salah has wrist control.
Holmes working some strikes from top position.
Holmes landing with the ground and pound.
Holmes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Holmes trying to control but Salah is working from the bottom.
Holmes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Salah has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Holmes is working Salah over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salah trying to keep a closed guard but Holmes is proving a slippery customer.
Holmes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Salah keeping moving, preventing Holmes from controlling successfully.
Holmes throwing strikes but missing.
Holmes throwing strikes from guard but Salah blocks nicely.
Salah preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Holmes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holmes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holmes throwing strikes but missing.
Holmes trying to control but Salah is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salah lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Holmes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salah works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salah is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Holmes is pressing down on Salah's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Holmes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Holmes is working hard here to advance position.
Holmes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salah manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Salah is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Holmes throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sherlock Holmes dominated that 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.

Holmes gets caught flat footed, as Salah shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Holmes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salah defends it easily.
Holmes can't keep his opponent in guard - Salah advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Holmes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Salah stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holmes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salah is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Holmes is on top in guard.

Holmes throwing strikes but missing.
Holmes postures up in Salah's guard and throws a big left but Salah blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes cracks Salah with a solid left hand.
Holmes throwing strikes from guard but Salah blocks nicely.
Holmes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Holmes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salah works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Holmes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Salah trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sherlock Holmes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Salah lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Holmes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Salah trying to control the position.
Salah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Salah controls Holmes momentarily but Holmes frees himself.
Salah keeping moving, preventing Holmes from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Holmes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sherlock Holmes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Salah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holmes, pushing him back against the cage.
Holmes controlling the action here for a moment.

Salah is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Holmes can't fight it off and eventually Salah manages to take the fight to the floor. Holmes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Salah not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Holmes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salah works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salah working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holmes.
Salah working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holmes.
Holmes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Salah is looking to stand up but Holmes isn't so interested in that idea.
Holmes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Holmes lands a couple of digs.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Salah can do anything to dispel that myth.
Holmes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've been hearing that Holmes has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Holmes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Salah is breathing heavily.
Holmes postures up in Salah's guard and throws a big left but Salah blocks it.
Holmes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes trying to control but Salah is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holmes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Salah wants to sweep here but Holmes controlling him for the moment.
Salah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holmes lands a couple of elbows.

Salah is looking for a triangle but Holmes pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holmes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Salah controls Holmes momentarily but Holmes frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salah keeping moving, preventing Holmes from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sherlock Holmes dominated that second round.
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!

Salah keeps the fight on the outside.

Holmes darts in and clinches Salah up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Holmes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Salah gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Holmes controlling Salah's posture.
Holmes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salah is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salah wants to stand but Holmes is controlling the position.
Holmes throws a big right hand that misses.
Salah looking to control.
Holmes passes into half guard.
Holmes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Salah looks like he's trying to stand up.
Holmes is thwarting Salah's attempts to control the position.
Holmes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Holmes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Salah's head.
Holmes moves nicely into side control.
Salah takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Salah sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Holmes trying to control the position but Salah is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holmes in side control, throwing shots but Salah defends.
Holmes is working Salah over with some ground and pound from side control.
Salah is trying to control Holmes's posture but Holmes avoids it.
Salah is looking for a sweep.
Check out the look on Holmes's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The strikes coming from Holmes are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Holmes trying to control the action but Salah is working from the bottom.
Holmes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Salah to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes working the body and head with strikes.
Holmes working the head with strikes.
Check out the look on Holmes's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Salah throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Holmes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Salah to see if he's OK.
Holmes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salah keeps working.
Holmes creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Holmes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salah can do to turn this around?
Holmes lands some shots froms side control.
Salah taking a bit of punishment here - Holmes scoring with strikes.
Holmes working the head with strikes.
Holmes scoring with punches and elbows.
Holmes in side control lands a decent elbow.
Holmes working the body and head with strikes.
Holmes landing strikes.
Holmes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salah takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holmes scores with a couple of short elbows.
Holmes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salah keeps working.
Salah takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Salah is looking for a sweep.
Holmes lands some shots froms side control.
Holmes lands an elbow.
Mohammed Salah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salah takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Salah taking a bit of punishment here - Holmes scoring with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sherlock Holmes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holmes, 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sherlock Holmes!