PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Artur Salihov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calle Widbom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Salihov
vs
Widbom

165 cm
18
132 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artur Salihov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Calle Widbom!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Widbom, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Widbom closes the distance and clinches.
Widbom managing to block the knees to the body from Salihov.

Salihov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salihov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Widbom sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Widbom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Salihov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Widbom looks to land a combination but Salihov avoids it well.
Salihov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Widbom as he avoids it easily.
Salihov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Widbom fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Widbom decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Widbom thows a huge punch but Salihov dodges it nicely.
Widbom stops Salihov from getting back to his feet.
Salihov is breathing heavily.
Widbom is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Widbom decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
No joy there for Widbom, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Salihov scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salihov avoids the attempt from Widbom to control.
Widbom is desperately trying to improve his position but Salihov has a good base and remains in mount.
Widbom has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Widbom blocking the ground and pound.
Salihov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Widbom because Salihov loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Widbom wants to hold on but Salihov pushes him away.
Salihov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Widbom is looking to escape.
Widbom wants to control but Salihov is having none of it.
Widbom's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two 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.
Widbom is looking to improve his position but Salihov isn't that keen on the idea.
Widbom wants to hold on but Salihov pushes him away.
Widbom is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Salihov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Widbom wants to get back to his feet.
Salihov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Widbom is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Salihov prevents Widbom from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Widbom is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Salihov avoids the attempt from Widbom to control.
The referee warns Widbom that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Salihov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Widbom keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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.
Widbom is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Widbom working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salihov looking to finish Widbom with some ground and pound. This is bad for Widbom!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Artur Salihov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Salihov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Widbom!
Widbom can't escape the position.
Salihov throws a sloppy strike and Widbom uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Widbom has ended up in Salihov's guard.
Salihov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Widbom is controlling him.
Salihov keeping moving, preventing Widbom from controlling successfully.
Salihov controls Widbom momentarily but Widbom frees himself.

Widbom gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salihov slaps away a takedown attempt from Widbom, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Widbom shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Salihov but Salihov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Salihov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Widbom counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Salihov throws a leg kick
and Widbom counters with a two punch combo.
Widbom wants to clinch up but Salihov keeps it at a distance.
Salihov misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Widbom to counter with a crisp jab.
Widbom will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Widbom swats away the attempt to clinch by Salihov.

Widbom closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Widbom lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salihov working for submissions but it's allowed Widbom to get to half guard.
Salihov is looking to escape.
Widbom slows the pace down in half guard.
Salihov is trying to stand up here but Widbom is controlling him well.
Widbom wants to control but Salihov is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Widbom trying to mount his opponent but Salihov defends it.
Salihov is pressing down on Widbom's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Salihov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Widbom is controlling him.
Widbom tries to free his leg and advance position but Salihov is retaining full guard.
Salihov is looking to sweep but instead, Widbom has passed into half guard.
Widbom perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Salihov pushes Widbom off looking to stand but Widbom dives back in and keeps control.

Salihov is defending against the submission attempts here by Widbom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Widbom decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Widbom scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Salihov doesn't seem bothered though.
Widbom changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salihov tries to avoid it but Widbom manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salihov to the ground. Salihov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Artur Salihov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Calle Widbom.

Salihov pushes Widbom up against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Salihov pushes off an throws an elbow but Widbom leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Widbom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salihov lands a body shot.
Salihov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Widbom counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Calle Widbom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Salihov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Widbom lands the left hand.
Salihov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Salihov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salihov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Salihov clinches with his opponent.
Widbom lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Widbom is trying to drag Salihov to the mat but Salihov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Salihov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Widbom smiles and moves away.
Widbom throws a push kick but Salihov slaps the foot to one side.
Artur Salihov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salihov scores with a nice strike.

Salihov rushes Widbom and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widbom is pressed up against the cage. Salihov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Widbom down to the mat. Widbom avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Widbom drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Salihov pushes Widbom away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Widbom gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Salihov tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Widbom working for a guillotine from mount but Salihov is in no mood to give up.
Widbom takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Widbom raining down shots from the mount!
Widbom with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widbom tries to control but Salihov wriggling away.
Salihov tries to lock up and control but Widbom gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Salihov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Calle Widbom has got the better of the ground game so far.

Widbom is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Widbom shoots for a double leg takedown but Salihov sprawls well. He's pushed Widbom's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Salihov clinches but Widbom breaks the clinch

and Widbom holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Salihov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Salihov decides to pull guard.
Salihov wants to stand up but Widbom is controlling him.
Widbom content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salihov is looking to stand back up but Widbom counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Salihov.
Widbom prevents Salihov from improving his position.
Widbom is keen to just control but Salihov is a slippery customer.
Salihov wants to get back to his feet.
Widbom keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Widbom throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Widbom keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It looks like Widbom is going to stand back up.
Salihov is trying to stand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Salihov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Widbom counters with a single leg into guard. Salihov didn't expect that.
Salihov is looking to stand up but Widbom isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Calle Widbom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Widbom 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Calle Widbom!