PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Angle (ranked 4013 p4p, 5267 weight class) and Elvir SalkiÄiÄ‡ (ranked 342 p4p, 370 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Angle
vs
SalkiÄiÄ‡

168 cm
18
145
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
148
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benjamin Angle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elvir SalkiÄiÄ‡!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Angle throws a shot from downtown. SalkiÄiÄ‡ moves away and avoids it.
Elvir SalkiÄiÄ‡ seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ looks to clinch

and Angle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Angle is taking a breather. SalkiÄiÄ‡ says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ wants to improve his position but Angle is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Angle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Angle is controlling the pace.
Angle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Angle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle lands strikes from half guard.
Angle content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Angle lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Angle there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Angle.
Angle is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Angle perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Angle landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Angle blocks the strikes from SalkiÄiÄ‡.
Angle is thwarting SalkiÄiÄ‡'s attempts to control the position.
Angle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is trying to control but can't.
Angle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Angle is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Angle definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Angle 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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Angle connects with a nice short shot to SalkiÄiÄ‡'s temple.
Angle sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Angle has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ taking some punishment here, with Angle in his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Angle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Angle is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Angle not doing much here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Angle lands a nice short elbow.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ has hold of Angle's hands but Angle slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Angle drops an elbow to the side of SalkiÄiÄ‡'s head.
Angle perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Angle working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angle is controlling the pace.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ tries to roll over but Angle keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Angle seems content to control.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is trying to maintain the position but Angle is very close to passing his half guard.
Angle lands strikes from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

SalkiÄiÄ‡ wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Angle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A quick step to the side and Angle tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Angle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that SalkiÄiÄ‡ can do to turn this around?
SalkiÄiÄ‡ with a nice calf kick.
Angle checks a leg kick.
Angle slips under a jab.
Angle feinted there with a counter leg kick.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ throws a wild body kick that Angle sees coming a mile off.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
SalkiÄiÄ‡ thumps Angle with a low kick.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ throws a leg kick which misses Angle's front leg but catches the back leg as Angle tries to avoid it.

Angle scores with a takedown into SalkiÄiÄ‡'s guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Angle scoring with some ground and pound.
Angle sitting in guard, not really doing much.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ looking for a sweep. Not yet SalkiÄiÄ‡, not yet.
Angle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of SalkiÄiÄ‡'s head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Angle content to stall in guard here.
Angle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Angle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Angle.
Angle pushes down on SalkiÄiÄ‡'s leg and manages to get into half guard.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle slows the pace down in half guard.
Angle continues to hold on tight.
Angle working SalkiÄiÄ‡ over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle is taking a breather. SalkiÄiÄ‡ says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is trying to get back to full guard.
Angle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Benjamin Angle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Angle moves away.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ scores with a leg kick.
Angle takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Angle throws a body shot but no joy.
Angle sets himself, and SalkiÄiÄ‡ steps forward looking for the clinch! Angle avoids it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for SalkiÄiÄ‡.

Angle gets a clinch.
Angle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Angle slowing the pace effectively.
Angle stalling the fight.
Angle holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Angle stalling against the cage.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ looking to slow down the pace here.
Angle tries to work over SalkiÄiÄ‡'s body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Benjamin Angle.
Angle misses with a body shot.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ lets loose with a powerful body kick. Angle will feel that in the morning.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Angle is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Angle checks a low kick from SalkiÄiÄ‡.
Angle is looking to counter the offense by SalkiÄiÄ‡ and move into the clinch.

Angle clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Benjamin Angle will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Angle throws a chopping leg kick but SalkiÄiÄ‡ manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Angle sets himself, and SalkiÄiÄ‡ steps forward looking for the clinch! Angle avoids it this time.

Angle instigates a clinch.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Angle avoids it.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ wants to stall.
Angle digs a right hand into SalkiÄiÄ‡'s ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on SalkiÄiÄ‡'s gas tank.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ misses with a short punch on the inside.
Angle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Angle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Angle.
Angle can't find room to land a body shot as SalkiÄiÄ‡ controls the action.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Angle is defending well for now.
Angle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Angle lands a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Angle as the two fighters clinch.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ prevents a body shot from Angle.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ working aggressively here.
Angle tries to break the clinch but SalkiÄiÄ‡ is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Angle creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Angle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Angle scores with a shot to the side of SalkiÄiÄ‡'s head.

Angle lands a takedown into guard.
Angle stays in close to SalkiÄiÄ‡'s body and controls the position.
Angle stands up over SalkiÄiÄ‡, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Angle's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Angle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ wants to improve his position but instead Angle has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ tries to roll over but Angle keeps him under control.
Angle working SalkiÄiÄ‡ over with strikes.
Angle content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Angle working over SalkiÄiÄ‡ with some ground and pound. SalkiÄiÄ‡ looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Angle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Angle 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Angle slips a nice elbow through SalkiÄiÄ‡'s hands, connecting with SalkiÄiÄ‡'s forehead.
Angle slows the pace down in half guard.
SalkiÄiÄ‡ is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Angle scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Angle controlling the pace.
Angle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down SalkiÄiÄ‡ for as long as he can get away with.
Benjamin Angle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Elvir SalkiÄiÄ‡ has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Angle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Angle, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Angle!