PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Basheer Saleh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ima Llama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Saleh
vs
Llama

168 cm
23
143 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
135 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Basheer Saleh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ima Llama!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Llama gets caught flat footed, as Saleh shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saleh looking to pass the guard.
Saleh works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Llama is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Llama wants to improve his position but Saleh is controlling well.

Llama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saleh pulls his head out easily.

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

Saleh is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Llama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Saleh.

Saleh is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Llama wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saleh wants to control but Llama is keeping him busy.
Llama is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saleh's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saleh's back!
Saleh covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Saleh manages to reverse the position and now he's in Llama's guard. Nice work there by Saleh.
Saleh trying to control the position from guard on top but Llama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saleh forces his way into half guard.

Saleh is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Llama has managed to free his arm - good work.
Saleh is breathing heavily.

Llama looking for submissions off his back.
Saleh with the ground and pound but Llama uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Llama looking for a sweep. Not yet Llama, not yet.
Saleh looking to sit in guard and control but Llama gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Llama got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saleh has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Llama has managed to get both his arms back between Saleh's legs - danger averted.
Saleh keeping moving, preventing Llama from controlling successfully.
Llama advances to half guard.
Saleh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Llama wants to control but Saleh is keeping him busy.
Llama drops an elbow to the side of Saleh's head.
Llama has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The referee warns Saleh that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Llama.

Llama wants to finish this one by submission but Saleh is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Llama.
Saleh is looking to get to half guard.
Saleh tries to hold on but Llama postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saleh is desperately trying to improve his position but Llama has a good base and remains in mount.
Llama tries to control but Saleh wriggling away.
Saleh is bucking up trying to escape but Llama cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Saleh is squirming around, avoiding Llama's attempts to control the action.

Llama is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Saleh has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saleh tries to reverse the position but Llama maintains control.

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.

Llama working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Saleh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Llama working Saleh over with strikes here.
Saleh is squirming around, avoiding Llama's attempts to control the action.
Saleh really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Llama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Llama prevents Saleh from getting the reversal.
Llama raining down shots from the mount!
Llama content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ima Llama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saleh closes the distance and clinches up with Llama, looking for a takedown. Saleh pushes Llama against the cage but Llama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Saleh gets a takedown into half guard.
Llama is pressing down on Saleh's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Llama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Saleh stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Llama swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Llama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Saleh defends it easily.
Llama lands a decent shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Llama working for a triangle but Saleh defends it easily.
Saleh postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Llama is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saleh is aware though and is defending well.
Saleh trying to move into half guard but instead Llama has managed to sweep!
Llama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saleh is keeping the position for now.
Llama is breathing heavily.

Saleh is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Llama is aware though and is defending well.
Llama trying to control but Saleh is working from the bottom.

Saleh has his foot on Llama's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Llama works his way back into a safe position though.

Saleh looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Llama trying to control but Saleh is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Saleh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Saleh looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Saleh swats away the attempt to clinch by Llama.

Llama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Saleh manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Llama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saleh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Llama passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Llama lands a nice short elbow.
Llama looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Saleh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Llama pulls his head out easily.
Saleh is not content to let Llama control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saleh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Llama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Llama.
Llama slips nicely into half guard.
Llama controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Llama seems to be working for a kimura but Saleh defends the submission attempt.
Llama wants to take a breather but Saleh is having none of it.
Llama looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saleh with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Llama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saleh won't allow Llama to pass to mount.
Saleh is looking for a sweep. Llama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saleh has his takedown stuffed

and Llama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Llama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ima Llama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Saleh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Llama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Llama showed some decent athleticism there.
Saleh trying to control but Llama postures up.

Saleh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Llama pulls his head out easily.
Llama is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saleh is looking to improve his position.
Llama wants to control but Saleh is keeping him busy.

Saleh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Llama scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saleh is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Llama jumps into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Llama lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Llama is looking to take a break and control but Saleh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Llama lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Saleh down.
Llama wants to control but Saleh is keeping him busy.
Ima Llama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Llama wants to stand but Saleh has his arm trapped.
Saleh gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Saleh trying to hold on to Llama's head to control him but Llama postures up.
Llama uses his free foot to push down on Saleh's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Saleh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Llama cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Llama working Saleh over with strikes here.
Saleh can't escape the position.
Llama working Saleh over with strikes here.
Saleh can't escape the position.
Llama landing strikes from the mount and Saleh is in trouble!
Llama controlling the position easily from mount.
Saleh can't escape the position.
Llama working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Llama controlling from the full mount.
Ima Llama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saleh is trying desperately to improve position.
Llama takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Llama dominating with strikes here.
Llama lands a big elbow.
Llama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Llama wants to take Saleh's back but he can't do it this time.
Saleh throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Llama working for a guillotine from mount but Saleh is in no mood to give up.

Llama is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Basheer Saleh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Saleh drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Saleh swings around for an armbar but Llama sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Saleh's guard.
Saleh tries to strike from the bottom.
Saleh working a defensive guard but Llama manages to pass into side control anyway.
Saleh is not content to let Llama control the position.
Llama might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Saleh kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ima Llama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Llama has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ima Llama!