PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yukka Salmelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nauj Zerep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Salmelainen
vs
Zerep

184 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yukka Salmelainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nauj Zerep!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zerep misses with an uppercut
and Salmelainen counters with a straight right hand.

Salmelainen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zerep manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zerep wants to sweep but no luck.

Zerep working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salmelainen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salmelainen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zerep is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Zerep escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Salmelainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zerep being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zerep controls Salmelainen momentarily but Salmelainen frees himself.

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.

We're going to have a standup here because Yukka Salmelainen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sloppy strikes from Zerep. Those never looked like landing.
Zerep throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Salmelainen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zerep won't be happy with that.
Zerep is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zerep manages to get back to half guard.
Zerep wants to get back to full guard.
Zerep misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerep gets full guard.
Salmelainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zerep on the ground.
Salmelainen stopping the sweep attempt from Zerep.

Zerep has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Salmelainen doesn't defend quickly enough and Zerep has managed to lock this one up! Can Salmelainen escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Zerep on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Nauj Zerep!