PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zintis Saljanka (ranked 5001 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timon Scherer (ranked 4842 p4p, 0 weight class). Timon Scherer acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Saljanka
vs
Scherer

225 cm
24
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zintis Saljanka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Timon Scherer!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saljanka moves out of range of the body kick.
Scherer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saljanka circles away.

Saljanka clinches up against the cage.

Scherer gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Saljanka regains guard.
Scherer stays in close to Saljanka's body and controls the position.
Scherer cracks Saljanka with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saljanka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Scherer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Scherer chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scherer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Scherer connects with a couple of short punches.
Scherer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Scherer is looking to stand up but Saljanka won't let him.
Scherer won't allow Saljanka to get back to his feet.
Saljanka is trying to keep Scherer in close.
Scherer should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Scherer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saljanka is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Scherer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Scherer has closed the distance and engaged Saljanka in a clinch.
Saljanka really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Scherer keeps control of Saljanka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saljanka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Scherer's efforts to push away.
Saljanka is looking to break free of the clinch but Scherer has double underhooks.
Saljanka blocks an elbow strike.

Scherer turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Scherer manages to end up in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saljanka gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Saljanka tries to get to full guard but Scherer has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Scherer there.
Scherer tries to pass to full mount but Saljanka defends it.
Scherer is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Scherer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Scherer looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Scherer seems content to control.
Scherer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Saljanka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Saljanka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Scherer slows the pace down in half guard.
Scherer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timon Scherer dominated that round.
That's time! Saljanka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Scherer throws a head kick that misses.
Saljanka's corner calls for a 1-2. Saljanka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zintis Saljanka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saljanka tries to score with a low kick but Scherer moves his leg out of the way.
Scherer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saljanka's waist but Saljanka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Scherer off to one side.
Scherer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saljanka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saljanka doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Scherer counters with a shoot takedown. Saljanka fights it but they end up in guard.
Scherer landing with the ground and pound.
Saljanka keeping moving, preventing Scherer from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scherer advances to half guard.
Scherer is looking to take a break and control but Saljanka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scherer content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Scherer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Scherer prevents Saljanka from improving his position.
Scherer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Saljanka has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Saljanka won't allow Scherer to pass to mount.
Saljanka taking some punishment here, with Scherer in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Scherer is working for an americana but Saljanka has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Scherer was thinking about the submission.

Saljanka has his foot on Scherer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Scherer works his way back into a safe position though.
Scherer connects with a couple of short punches.
Saljanka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Scherer manages to get himself to full guard.

Scherer is pulling down on Saljanka's head. It's preventing any offense from Saljanka, at least for the moment.
Scherer wants to stand but Saljanka is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scherer wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Saljanka manages to pass to side control.
Scherer is concentrating on defense, preventing Saljanka from advancing position.
Scherer trying to control here.
Saljanka throws a strike but Scherer avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Saljanka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Scherer's guard.

Scherer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saljanka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Scherer looking to control.
Scherer has Saljanka pulled in close to control his posture.
Saljanka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saljanka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Scherer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scherer stuffs the takedown attempt from Saljanka. Saljanka gets slowly back to his feet.
Scherer looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Scherer tries to land a leg kick but Saljanka saw it coming and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Timon Scherer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Scherer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saljanka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Scherer looking to score a takedown here. Saljanka is defending well but Scherer drives through and ends up in Saljanka's guard.
Scherer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Scherer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Scherer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scherer stands up over Saljanka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scherer with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saljanka can't keep his opponent in guard - Scherer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Scherer is looking for a kimura but Saljanka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Scherer to get the leverage.
Scherer working the head and body with strikes.
Scherer is trying to control. Saljanka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Scherer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Scherer is trying to control the action in half guard but Saljanka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Scherer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Saljanka is defending against the submission attempts here by Scherer.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Scherer slips a nice elbow through Saljanka's hands, connecting with Saljanka's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scherer is controlling the pace.
Scherer is keen to just control but Saljanka is a slippery customer.

Scherer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saljanka defends it well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Saljanka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saljanka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saljanka wants it to stay on the feet.
Saljanka leaves Scherer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zintis Saljanka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timon Scherer.
Saljanka moves in looking to clinch but Scherer pushes him off.

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.
Saljanka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Scherer shoots in and gets a takedown into Saljanka's guard.

Saljanka scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Saljanka lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Scherer misses with a takedown

and Saljanka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Saljanka lands an elbow just above Scherer 's eye.
Zintis Saljanka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Timon Scherer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Saljanka struggles to land a body shot inside as Scherer controls his hands.

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 Zintis Saljanka.
I think Scherer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timon Scherer!