EFC 3 PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Co-main event

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Terry Etim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Freeman's choice of entrance music: Time to Pretend. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Etim
vs
Freeman

185 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

171 cm
22
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Terry Etim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joel Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman keeps the fight on the outside.
Etim fails with an attempt to clinch.
Etim tries to close the distance and clinch but Freeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Etim moves into the clinch successfully.
Etim jumps guard but Freeman stands there with Etim around his waist. Etim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Etim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Etim lands a head kick. Freeman smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Joel Freeman has been cut.

Freeman takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Freeman.
Etim tries for a takedown but Freeman manages to get underhooks.
Etim misses with a knee strike.
Etim avoiding damage as Freeman throws knees to the body.
Etim fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Etim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Freeman goes for a takedown attempt but Etim pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Etim tries to close the distance and clinch but Freeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Etim clinches up with Freeman and pushes him back against the cage.
Etim is trying to break the clinch but Freeman has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Etim tries to clinch

and Freeman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Freeman tries to stand but can't do so whilst Etim controls his leg.

Etim actively working from the bottom here.
Etim works his way to full guard. Good work.
Etim will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Etim keeps moving.
Etim is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Freeman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freeman passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman trying to control the action but Etim is working from the bottom.
Etim is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Freeman asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Freeman landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Freeman tries to advance to mount but can't.

Freeman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Etim to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Etim misses with a takedown attempt

and Freeman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Etim is breathing heavily.
Freeman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Etim wants to get back to striking at distance but Freeman won't allow it.

Freeman breaks the clinch.
Etim darts in trying to clinch

and Freeman counters with a takedown into side control.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Freeman stands up and beckons Etim to his feet.
Etim shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Freeman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Etim attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Freeman clinches with his opponent.
Etim is looking to break free of the clinch but Freeman has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freeman pulls guard effortlessly.
Etim won't allow Freeman to get back to his feet.
Freeman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Etim wants to get up but he can't break Freeman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Freeman working for a triangle but Etim defends it easily.
Etim has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Freeman is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Etim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Freeman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joel Freeman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Etim throws a right and a left that Freeman avoids nicely.

Freeman tries to keep at a distance but Etim has taken the fight into the clinch.
Etim is trying to break free.
Freeman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Etim just stands there and leans against the cage.
Etim tries for a takedown. No joy.
Etim tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Freeman smiles and moves away.
Etim wants to clinch but Freeman slips to the side

and Freeman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Etim is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Etim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Etim tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Freeman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Etim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Freeman looking for a takedown.
Etim wants to break the clinch but can't.
Freeman has Etim pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Etim manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Terry Etim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Freeman.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Etim breaks the clinch.
Etim clinches but Freeman breaks the clinch

and Freeman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Etim looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Etim looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Etim!
Freeman is looking for a sweep.
Freeman gets back to half guard.
Etim is looking to take a break and control but Freeman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Etim decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Freeman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Etim wants to get back to his feet but Freeman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freeman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Freeman stands up from Etim's guard - Freeman perhaps looking for a knockout.
Freeman circles away from the clinch attempt

and Freeman counters with a single leg into guard. Etim didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Etim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Etim is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Freeman stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four 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.

Freeman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Etim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Etim manages to break the clinch.
Etim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Freeman feints and as Etim raises his hands in defense, Freeman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Etim controls Freeman momentarily but Freeman frees himself.
Etim is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Freeman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joel Freeman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Freeman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Freeman looks to land a strike but Etim avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Freeman trying to control but Etim is working from the bottom.
Freeman tries to free his leg and advance position but Etim is retaining full guard.

Freeman gets to his feet. Etim looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Etim with a poor takedown

and Freeman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Etim breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Etim.
Etim darts in trying to clinch

and Freeman counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Etim's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Etim uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Freeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Etim tries to clinch but Freeman moves out of range.
Etim throws a leg kick but Freeman moved away.
Etim misses with a takedown
and Freeman counters with a body kick that stops Etim in his tracks momentarily.

Freeman moves into the clinch.
Freeman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Freeman prevents Etim from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman keeps control of Etim as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Etim is trying to drag Freeman to the mat but Freeman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Etim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Etim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Freeman breaks from the clinch.

Freeman clinches with his opponent.
Etim missing with knees to the body.

Freeman jumps guard and drags Etim to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Freeman pushes Etim off and scrambles back to his feet.
Freeman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Freeman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Etim. Etim obviously looking to wear him down.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Freeman.
Etim throws a sloppy head kick and Freeman moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freeman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Freeman is looking for a kimura but Etim is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freeman to get the leverage.

Etim makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Etim tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Freeman counters by moving into the clinch.
Etim working aggressively here.

Etim manages to break the clinch.

Freeman clinches.
Etim is trying to break the clinch but Freeman has him pressed against the cage.
Etim blocks an elbow strike.

Freeman has Etim pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Freeman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Etim tumbling to the mat - Freeman dives into Etim's guard.
Etim wants to stand but Freeman is controlling the position.
Terry Etim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman looking to sit in guard and control but Etim gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Joel Freeman has got the better of the ground game so far.

Freeman is working an open guard so Etim takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Etim closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Etim is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Freeman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Joel Freeman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Freeman blocks the elbow strike.
Etim pushes Freeman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joel Freeman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Freeman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Joel Freeman!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Joel Freeman!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Joel Freeman!

Joel Freeman wins by unanimous decision!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
78%

Main event

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rob Salek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Carey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Salek
vs
Carey

160 cm
18
137 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Elite Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Salek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Carey!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carey throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Carey shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salek pinned against the cage. Salek gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Carey fails to land the takedown.
Carey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salek tries to avoid it but Carey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salek to the ground. Salek escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Carey.
Carey shoots in but Salek avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Salek lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Salek drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Salek wanted to stand there but Carey had control of the position.
Carey has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Salek has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Carey is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salek wants to stand and escape but instead Carey has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carey wants to control from the top but Salek keeps moving.

Salek scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Salek dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Carey. That did some damage!
Carey fails with the takedown
and Salek counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salek throws a leg kick but Carey moved away.
Salek misses with a hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Salek lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Tom Carey has been cut.
Salek tries to land knees in the clinch but Carey avoids the damage to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Salek.
Carey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carey takes an elbow to the forehead.

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

Carey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Carey looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carey escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Salek gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Salek wants to stand but Carey has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Salek stands up and waves to Carey to follow him.
Carey looks to throw the jab but Salek is out of range.

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.
Carey takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Salek tries to clinch but Carey moves out of range.

Salek clinches with his opponent.
Carey tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salek just stands there and leans against the cage.
Carey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salek lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Carey takes a shot to the head.
Salek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Carey blocks it with crossed arms.
Salek lands an elbow inside.
Salek working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Salek works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Carey has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Carey's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A combination from Salek does no damage.

Salek clinches.
A bit of stalling here from Salek.
Salek seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but Carey blocks with his arms.
Salek lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Carey doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee calls for Salek to work.
Still in the clinch, Salek scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salek misses with a knee to the head.
Carey trying to stall but Salek improves his position.
Carey wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salek pressing his opponent against the cage.
Salek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Carey blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Carey.

Salek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Salek here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Salek misses with a leg kick
and Carey connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Carey swats away the attempt to clinch by Salek.
Carey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Salek counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Carey is breathing heavily.
Carey controls Salek momentarily but Salek frees himself.
Salek wanted to stand there but Carey had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salek stops Carey from standing up.
Salek postures up.
Salek tries to stand but Carey is controlling from the bottom.

Carey had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Salek is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Carey Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Salek's back instead.
Salek looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salek is keeping busy.
Salek holding both Carey 's hands and preventing any damage.

Salek manages to escape to his feet.

Salek rushes Carey and presses him up against the cage.

That's four 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.
Carey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Carey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carey is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Carey lands a body punch in the clinch.
Carey wants a takedown.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Carey.
Carey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Salek has Carey pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Salek pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Carey tumbling to the mat - Salek dives into Carey's guard.

Carey working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salek doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salek manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Carey's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Salek clinches with his opponent.

Salek breaks the clinch.
Carey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Salek moves into the clinch.
Salek throws a knee to the head but misses.
Carey looking to stall.
Carey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carey wants a takedown but no success here.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Carey.

Salek gets control of Carey's arms and successfully pulls guard. Salek will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Salek knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carey on the ground.
Carey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salek works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Salek pushes Carey off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Carey wants a takedown but no success here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Salek just misses with a elbow thrown towards Carey's brow.

Salek breaks from the clinch.

Salek closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Carey stops a takedown attempt from Salek.
Carey can't get the takedown.
Salek leaning against his opponent.
Salek works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Carey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Carey tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salek just stands there and leans against the cage.
Salek unloads a knee to the mid-section. Carey lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salek lands a nice elbow.
Carey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carey is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Salek manages to pull guard.

Salek wriggles free and stands up.
Carey gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Salek counters with a low kick, right behind Carey 's knee.

Salek clinches up with Carey and pushes him back against the cage.
Salek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Carey.
Knees in the clinch landing for Salek.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carey can't break the clinch.
Carey looking to slow down the pace here.
Carey drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salek pulls his leg out and moves away.
Carey throws a head kick that misses

and Salek counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Salek.

Salek stands up and waves to Carey to follow him.

Salek rushes Carey and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Carey can't get the takedown.
Carey jumps guard but Salek stands there with Carey around his waist. Carey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Salek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salek gets off balance looking for a body kick

so Carey counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salek is looking to stand up but Carey isn't so interested in that idea.
Carey trying to control the position from guard on top but Salek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salek can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Carey controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carey with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Carey's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Salek fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Carey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Salek lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Carey has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Carey and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Carey has his takedown stuffed

and Salek counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Salek decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Salek misses with a few strikes there.
Carey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Salek counters with a left to the body.

Salek gets a clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Carey blocks an elbow strike from Salek.
Carey blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Salek breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salek shoots for a takedown but Carey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carey doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Carey.
Salek scores a nice knee to the body.
Carey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Carey jumps guard but Salek stands there with Carey around his waist. Carey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Salek tries to land knees in the clinch but Carey avoids the damage to the body.
Salek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Carey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carey jumps guard but Salek stands there with Carey around his waist. Carey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salek lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carey backwards.

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.
Salek makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Salek landing knees to the head.
Salek has had enough of the clinch but Carey keeps him there for the moment.
Carey goes for a takedown in the clinch but Salek prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Salek just misses with a elbow thrown towards Carey's brow.
Carey tries for a takedown. No joy.

Salek breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carey shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salek as he jumps to the side.
Carey fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Carey.
Rob Salek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Salek has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carey wants to get back to striking at distance but Salek won't allow it.
Salek stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Salek fails to land.
Salek takes an elbow to the temple.
Carey jumps guard but Salek stands there with Carey around his waist. Carey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carey fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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

Carey shoots in and bounces Salek off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Salek wants to stand and escape but Carey is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salek is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Carey lands a body punch.
Salek with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salek prevents Carey from breaking the clinch.
Carey fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carey is trying to break free.
Salek stalling the fight.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but Carey blocks with his arms.
Carey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salek scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Salek had his way with Tom Carey in that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Carey's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Salek tries to clinch but Carey is having none of it.
Carey keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salek.
Salek misses with a leg kick
and Carey counters with a head kick. That will keep Salek thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Salek has closed the distance and engaged Carey in a clinch.
Carey jumps guard but Salek stands there with Carey around his waist. Carey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carey wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salek slowing the pace effectively.
Carey fails to pull guard.
Carey looking to stall.
Carey blocks an elbow strike.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Salek just leaning against Carey, taking a breather.
Carey drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salek pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Carey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carey takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Salek.
Carey manages to work his way to half guard, despite Salek's best efforts.

Salek stands up and beckons Carey to join him on the feet.

Carey shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Carey was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Salek bucks up and throws Carey to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salek instigates a clinch.
Carey tries to pull guard but Salek holds him up against the cage and eventually Carey drops back down to his feet.
Salek missing with knees to the body.
Salek drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carey jumps guard but Salek stands there with Carey around his waist. Carey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Salek goes for a takedown attempt but Carey pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Salek circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carey has his takedown stuffed
and Salek counters with a head kick.

Salek rushes Carey and presses him up against the cage.
Carey landing knees to the head.
Salek lands a nice elbow.
Salek creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Carey tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salek just stands there and leans against the cage.
Salek lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Salek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Salek clinches up with Carey and pushes him back against the cage.
Salek creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Salek misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salek wants a takedown but no success here.
Salek with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Carey looking to slow down the pace here.
Salek misses with some punches.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Carey has Salek pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Salek manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Carey is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Carey gets underhooks to prevent Salek's takedown attempt.
Salek tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Carey smiles and moves away.
Carey circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tom Carey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob Salek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A jab from Salek misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Salek showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salek has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Rob Salek!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Rob Salek!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Rob Salek!

Rob Salek wins by unanimous decision!