PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zawodnik Numer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernesto Salas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ernesto Salas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Numer
vs
Salas

175 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Zawodnik Numer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ernesto Salas!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salas has closed the distance and engaged Numer in a clinch.

Numer pulls guard successfully.
Numer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Salas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Numer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salas wants to get up but he can't break Numer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salas won't allow Numer to sweep him here.
Salas wants to control from the top but Numer keeps moving.
Salas looking to pass the guard.
Numer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Numer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salas as he jumps to the side.
Numer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Numer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zawodnik Numer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salas throws a sloppy head kick and Numer moves out of range easily.
Numer throws a wild body kick that Salas sees coming a mile off.
Numer shoots in looking for a takedown. Salas tries to sprawl out of it but Numer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Salas with that takedown attempt.

Salas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Numer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Numer is looking for a triangle but Salas pushes his legs off easily.
Salas tries to free his leg and advance position but Numer is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Salas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Numer as he avoids it easily.
Salas looks gassed!
Numer shoots in but Salas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Numer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salas's waist but Salas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Numer off to one side.
A head kick misses from Numer.

Salas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Salas has Numer pushed against the cage.
Numer is looking to control Salas's arms but Salas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Numer has his back to the cage.
Numer jumps guard but Salas stands there with Numer around his waist. Numer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Salas manages to pull guard.
Salas manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Numer tries to hold on but Salas postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Numer gets back to half guard.
Salas is controlling the pace.
Numer tries to roll over but Salas keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Salas lands with a punch from half guard.
Numer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Salas is working away from the top position though.

Salas is working for a kimura but Numer is defending it quite comfortably.
Salas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Numer keeps working.
Numer is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Salas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Numer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salas swivels and escapes.

Salas gets the takedown into side control.
Salas is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Numer's shoulder. That is not cool.
Numer wants to control but Salas postures up.
Numer manages to work his way to half guard, despite Salas's best efforts.
Salas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Salas is pressing down on Numer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Numer is holding on for now.
Numer wants to improve his position but Salas is controlling well.

Numer actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Numer manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Numer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Salas tries to free his leg and advance position but Numer is retaining full guard.

Salas has gone for a leg lock! Numer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Salas's guard.
Numer trying to control but Salas is working from the bottom.

Salas looking for subs off his back but Numer has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Numer tries to stand but can't do so whilst Salas controls his leg.
Salas is trying to get back to full guard.
Salas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Salas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Numer wants to pass the guard but Salas is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Numer is looking to take a break and control but Salas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Numer tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Salas counters by clinching up.
Numer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salas just stands there and leans against the cage.

Salas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Numer tries to clinch there but Salas circles away.
Ernesto Salas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Numer throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Numer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Salas's half guard.

Salas is defending against the submission attempts here by Numer.
Numer wants to control but Salas is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Numer wants to get back to his feet.
Salas tries to get to full guard but Numer has control of the leg.
Salas wants to control but Numer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Numer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Salas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Salas is looking to control Numer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Salas avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zawodnik Numer will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Salas.
Salas shoots and misses

and Numer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Numer wants to free his trapped foot but Salas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Numer stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Numer closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Salas to the mat! Salas manages to get full guard.
Salas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Salas working for a triangle but Numer defends it easily.
Numer postures up in Salas's guard and throws a big left but Salas blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Numer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Numer trying to control the position from guard on top but Salas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Salas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Numer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Salas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Numer wants to get up but he can't break Salas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Numer tries to clinch up but Salas circles away and keeps his distance.
Salas fails to land the takedown.
Zawodnik Numer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesto Salas.
Numer wants to clinch but Salas slips to the side

and Salas moves into the clinch.
Numer jumps guard but Salas stands there with Numer around his waist. Numer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Numer is trying to break the clinch but Salas is controlling him.
Salas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Numer throws a knee to the head but misses.

Salas pulls guard effortlessly.
Salas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Numer is trying to stand up here but Salas is controlling him well.

Salas is working for a kimura but Numer is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Numer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salas.
Numer wants to get back to full guard.
Salas is looking to advance position but Numer won't allow it.

Salas is looking for a kimura but Numer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Salas to get the leverage.
Numer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salas.
Numer is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Numer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Salas's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salas is trying to control the position but Numer postures up.
Numer trying to control but Salas is working from the bottom.

Salas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Numer is aware though and is defending well.

Salas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Numer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Numer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Numer trying to control the position from guard on top but Salas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Salas looking for a guillotine here but Numer defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zawodnik Numer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Numer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zawodnik Numer!