PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sipho Maseco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maseco has chosen Tan Dun - For The World (Hero Soundtrack) as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be fireworks!

Salama
vs
Maseco

180 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
162 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Fightworld Formula

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sipho Maseco!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maseco was well out of range. Poor timing from Salama.
Maseco connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Salama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salama tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Maseco throws a lazy right hand but Salama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maseco throws the kick towards the body but Salama avoids it.
Maseco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salama.
Salama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Salama throws a body kick that misses.
Salama wants to clinch.
Salama lunges at Maseco with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maseco's hand.

It looks like Sipho Maseco has been cut.
Maseco looks to land a combination but Salama avoids it well.
Maseco moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salama throws and low kick but Maseco moves out of range easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maseco.
Maseco throws a sloppy head kick and Salama moves out of range easily.
Maseco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salama was well out of range. Poor timing from Maseco.
Salama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maseco.
Maseco looks to land a body kick but Salama moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama throws a push kick but Maseco slaps the foot to one side.
Salama with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Salama is looking to clinch but Maseco is avoiding it.
Maseco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maseco throws a series of punches but Salama moves out of range.
Salama walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maseco checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maseco fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salama fakes the leg kick and cracks Maseco in the body.
Maseco looks to score with a jab to the body but Salama is just out of range.
Salama throws a series of punches but Maseco avoids them all with ease.
Maseco tries to land a front kick but Salama steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Salama rushes Maseco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salama slows down the pace here.

Salama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maseco swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Salama makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maseco wants to slow Salama down by chopping away at his legs.
Donk. Maseco catches Salama right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a sloppy head kick and Maseco moves out of range easily.
Maseco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Crunch! Salama slams his shin into Maseco's torso.
Maseco looks gassed!
Maseco gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salama plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Salama keeps Maseco at a distance using the push kick.
Salama throws a push kick but Maseco slaps the foot to one side.
Salama scoring well with a low kick there.
Salama is looking to wear down Maseco with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Salama instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Salama creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Salama's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Maseco wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salama has him pressed against the cage.
Maseco is trying to force a seperation but Salama has the dominant position.
Salama lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A body shot lands from Salama.
The referee is keeping an eye on Salama - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Maseco takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama lands a damaging elbow.
Salama pushes off an throws an elbow but Maseco leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maseco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Maseco manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Salama misses
and Maseco counters with a head kick. That will keep Salama thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Maseco avoids the head kick by Salama.

Salama rushes Maseco and presses him up against the cage.
Salama lands an elbow inside that Maseco shrugs off.
Maseco looking to throw knees to the head but Salama is blocking nicely.
Salama tries to land knees in the clinch but Maseco avoids the damage to the body.
Salama tries to land knees in the clinch but Maseco avoids the damage to the body.

Salama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Maseco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Salama throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maseco.
Salama blocks a head kick by Maseco.
Salama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maseco throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Salama looks to land a combination. Maseco sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Maseco circles away from the clinch attempt.
Salama falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maseco counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maseco throws a series of strikes that have Salama backpedaling.
Salama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Salama.
Salama moves out of range of the body kick from Maseco.
Salama tries to close the distance and clinch but Maseco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Salama.
Maseco throws a head kick that misses.
Salama throws a sloppy head kick and Maseco moves out of range easily.
Salama throws a right hand that Maseco ducks under and follows up with a left that Maseco also avoids with ease.
Maseco throws a head kick that misses
and Salama finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A nice combination there by Salama.

That has opened up Sipho Maseco's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salama looks to land a combination. Maseco sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salama keeps Maseco at a distance using the push kick.
Salama throws a nice inside leg kick.

Salama has managed to clinch.
Salama lands a good knee to the midsection. Maseco won't want to take too many of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Salama dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sipho Maseco's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Salama closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sami Salama is winning the standup battle so far.
Maseco looks to land a combination but Salama avoids it well.
A leg kick checked by Maseco.
Maseco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maseco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maseco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maseco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maseco moves out of range of the body kick from Salama.
Salama throws a sloppy head kick
and Maseco counters with a nice body shot.
Maseco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Salama thuds a left hand into Maseco's body.
Maseco steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Salama. That one must have hurt.
Salama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salama throws a head kick but Maseco moves out of range.
Maseco blocks a head kick by Salama.
Sami Salama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salama misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maseco tries a head kick but it misses.
Maseco has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Salama.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salama rushes Maseco and presses him up against the cage.
Salama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Salama lands with a left to the head.
Maseco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maseco tries to circle away but Salama has him pinned against the cage.
Salama unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maseco lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Salama trying to land knees to the body.
Salama is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Salama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maseco avoids it.
Maseco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salama trying to control the position but instead, Maseco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Salama into the cage.
Salama throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Maseco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maseco blocks a head kick by Salama.
Salama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maseco throws a head kick that misses.
Salama tries to work over Maseco's front leg with a kick but Maseco checks it.
Salama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salama avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a jab when Maseco was well out of range.
Maseco lands with a nice combination. Salama backs away looking to recover.
Salama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salama throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maseco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Salama finds it's way round the side to connect with Maseco's head.
Maseco thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Salama if he has to take too many more of those.
Maseco stalks Salama and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Salama's face. Salama staggers backwards, shaken.
Salama tests Maseco's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maseco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A head kick by Maseco misses

and Salama counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Salama tries a knee to the head but Maseco blocks it.
Salama lands an elbow just above Maseco 's eye.
Maseco wants to break free but Salama has control.
Maseco takes a knee to the side of the body.
Salama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maseco is defending well for now.
Maseco is looking to break free of the clinch but Salama has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maseco wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salama has him pressed against the cage.
Salama managing to block the knees to the body from Maseco.
Maseco tries to break free but Salama pushes him back against the cage.
Salama lands a nice elbow.
Salama tries to land knees in the clinch but Maseco avoids the damage to the body.
Salama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salama lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Salama effectively controlling the action here.
Salama lands an elbow inside.
Maseco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maseco.
Salama tries to land a knee to the head but Maseco blocks with his arms.
The referee calls for Maseco to work.
Maseco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salama displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maseco up against the cage.
Salama scores with a shot to the side of Maseco's head.
Salama taking a breather.
Stalling in the clinch from Salama.
Salama missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

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.

Maseco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salama thows a body shot but no joy.
Salama looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maseco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salama misses the shot to the body.
Salama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maseco.
Maseco throws a wild body kick that Salama sees coming a mile off.
Salama takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maseco.
Salama throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Maseco counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maseco throws a wild body kick that Salama sees coming a mile off.
Maseco fails to land with a series of punches.
Salama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maseco takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Maseco tries a head kick but it misses.
Salama ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Salama dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sipho Maseco's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Salama thows a body kick. Maseco tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Salama misses with a head kick.
Maseco misses with a double jab
and Salama counters with a nice body kick.
Salama misses with a body shot.
Salama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maseco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salama manages to avoid it.
Salama tries to clinch but Maseco is having none of it.
Maseco throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Maseco looks to land a body kick but Salama moved away.
Maseco misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salama avoids the head kick by Maseco.
Nice shot by Salama.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salama looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maseco blocks a head kick by Salama.
Maseco tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salama. That's going to slow Maseco down.
Maseco blocks a head kick by Salama.
Salama lands a nice hook to Maseco's body. Maseco takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maseco loads up on a big right hand but Salama slips the punch.
Maseco throws a lazy body kick
and Salama counters with a nice body kick.
Maseco tries to land a front kick but Salama steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Maseco's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Salama misses with a head kick.
Salama lands a high kick!
Maseco misses with a body kick.
Salama thows a body kick. Maseco tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Salama throws a head kick but Maseco moves out of range.
Maseco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salama lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Maseco throws a lazy head kick
and Salama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Maseco's knee momentarily.
Salama throws a sloppy head kick and Maseco moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maseco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maseco keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maseco misses with a low kick as Salama jumps back.
Maseco walks into a left hand.
Salama dodges the punch combination from Maseco.
A head kick misses from Maseco.
Maseco misses with a body shot
and Salama counters with a big head kick but Maseco shrugs it off.
Maseco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maseco takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Salama misses with a double jab.
Salama throws a head kick that misses.
Maseco throws out a powerful jab.
Salama misses with an attempted mid kick.
Salama avoids the head kick by Maseco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maseco avoids the head kick by Salama.
Sipho Maseco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salama walks into a straight right hand from Maseco.
Maseco throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Maseco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama checks a leg kick nicely.
Salama uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maseco has time to react.
Maseco takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Maseco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salama moves away.
A head kick by Salama misses
and Maseco counters with a one-two to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salama. That's going to slow Maseco down.
Salama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maseco lands with a shot to the body.
Maseco misses with a head kick.
Salama lands with a slapping head kick.
Salama throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maseco.
Maseco checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maseco fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maseco blocks a head kick by Salama.
Maseco misses with a body kick.
Maseco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maseco blocks a head kick by Salama.
Maseco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Maseco misses
and Salama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salama lunges at Maseco with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maseco's hand.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama tries a head kick but it misses.
A lazy body kick from Maseco
and Salama counters with a low kick, right behind Maseco 's knee.
Sipho Maseco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maseco connects with a high kick.
Maseco throws a hook to the side of Salama's head but Salama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salama is looking to clinch but Maseco is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Salama prevents Maseco from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Salama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salama 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Salama!