PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Suikka Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay de Borg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suikka Salama has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Salama
vs
de Borg

180 cm
22
184 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Suikka Salama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jay de Borg!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

de Borg gets a clinch.
de Borg drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
de Borg is leaning against Salama and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

de Borg tightens his grip and picks Salama up, before dumping him to the ground. Salama manages to land in guard.
de Borg tries to free his leg and advance position but Salama is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
de Borg is squirming around, avoiding Salama's attempts to control the action.
de Borg is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Salama with shots to the head and body - de Borg looks very uncomfortable down there.
de Borg really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Salama controlling his opponent.
de Borg is working to get back to half guard.
Salama lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Borg is working to get back to half guard.
Salama takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
de Borg throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Salama's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Salama is hanging on to de Borg's back as he tries to escape.
Salama slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
de Borg tries to break free.
de Borg prevents Salama from getting a body triangle.
Salama is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Salama gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Salama gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Salama apologises and we restart here on the feet.
de Borg keeps the fight on the outside.

de Borg moves into the clinch.

de Borg wants the takedown. Salama is fighting it off but de Borg persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Salama's guard against the cage.
de Borg throws and elbow that misses. Salama uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in de Borg's guard. Nice move by Salama!
de Borg looks gassed!
de Borg is striking but Salama is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama blocks the strikes from de Borg.
de Borg is not content to let Salama control the position.
de Borg wants to improve his position but Salama is controlling well.
Salama trying to control from half guard but de Borg is working away.
Salama is really struggling to control de Borg but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
de Borg shoots in for a takedown but Salama shows good takedown defense.
de Borg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salama fails with the takedown.
Salama circles away from the clinch attempt

and Salama counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for de Borg!
This has been an exciting period of action!
de Borg throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
de Borg can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Borg is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
de Borg regains half guard.
Salama blocks the strikes from de Borg.
de Borg throws a strike from the bottom but Salama passes into side control!
de Borg is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Salama is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
de Borg working to try and regain half guard.
Salama with good strikes from the mount here!
de Borg swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
de Borg is trying desperately to improve position.
de Borg is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Salama tries to control but de Borg wriggling away.
Salama working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Borg is wriggling around trying to escape.
Salama has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Salama forces the positional change into back control.
Salama trying to control.
Salama is punishing de Borg with strikes - can he finish him?!
I really don't envy de Borg right now.
Salama lands a shot to the body.
de Borg looking very determined here, making life difficult for Salama.
I really don't envy de Borg right now.
The referee is taking a good look at de Borg as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Salama!
Salama is looking to control de Borg but de Borg is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salama controlling well, preventing de Borg from escaping the position.
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 Suikka Salama will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Salama looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salama throws a head kick but de Borg moves out of range.
de Borg moves in looking to clinch but Salama pushes him off.
de Borg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Salama counters with a shoot takedown. de Borg fights it but they end up in guard.
de Borg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salama. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salama wants to control from the top but de Borg keeps moving.
de Borg wants to sweep but no luck.
Salama makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
de Borg wants to improve his position but instead Salama has moved into half guard.
de Borg wants to get back to full guard but Salama has passed into side control.
de Borg throwing hammer fists to the chest of Salama. What's that going to do exactly?
de Borg throwing hammer fists to the chest of Salama. What's that going to do exactly?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de Borg is wriggling around trying to escape.
de Borg throwing punches from his back. He's mounted here but still fighting back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Borg is trying to escape the mount.
de Borg swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Suikka Salama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
de Borg is wriggling around trying to escape.
Salama can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as de Borg is looking to escape.
de Borg wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Salama is trying to stick to de Borg's back but de Borg is turning into Salama. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Salama's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by de Borg.
Salama is pulling down on de Borg's head to control his posture.
de Borg stands up over Salama, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
de Borg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
de Borg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salama is keeping the position for now.
de Borg thows a big elbow that misses.
de Borg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salama looking for a sweep. Not yet Salama, not yet.
de Borg lands a couple of digs.

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.
Salama controls de Borg momentarily but de Borg frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
de Borg shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Salama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Salama is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
de Borg has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Salama has passed into side control.
de Borg is looking to regain half guard here but Salama keeps moving and retains side control.
de Borg is trying to work for a sweep but Salama has mounted him!
de Borg is working to get back to half guard.
de Borg is trying to reverse the position but instead Salama has taken his back - oops!
de Borg tries to escape but Salama has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Salama just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Salama is looking to control de Borg but de Borg is wriggling around and keeping busy.
de Borg manages to reverse the position and now he's in Salama's guard. Nice work there by de Borg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Borg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Salama pushes de Borg off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Salama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Salama showed some decent athleticism there.
Salama is looking to take a break and control but de Borg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
de Borg is looking for a sweep. Salama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
de Borg gets full guard.
de Borg wants to sweep here but Salama controlling him for the moment.
de Borg striking from the bottom here.
de Borg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salama manages to get himself to full guard.
Salama utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Salama working for a triangle but de Borg defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Borg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
de Borg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
de Borg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Salama had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. de Borg is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Salama Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take de Borg's back instead.
Salama controlling well, preventing de Borg from escaping the position.
de Borg staying busy and making it hard for Salama to control.
de Borg tries to escape the position.
Salama lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
de Borg is really stuck here.
Salama controls the position.
de Borg is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suikka Salama dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Salama clinches up against the cage.

Salama is fighting off a takedown attempt but de Borg is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Salama to the mat. Salama regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
de Borg scoring with some ground and pound.
de Borg with a nice head shot there.
de Borg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as de Borg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
de Borg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
de Borg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
de Borgis looking to pass into half guard but Salama pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Salama is in guard.
de Borg will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
de Borg tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

de Borg shoots in and bounces Salama off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Salama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
de Borg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salama trying to keep a closed guard but de Borg is proving a slippery customer.
de Borg postures up and lands a big shot to Salama's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Borg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
de Borg throws a strike but Salama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
de Borg 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.
de Borg throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
de Borg is striking from the bottom but Salama uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
de Borg wants to sweep but Salama has passed to side control!
de Borg tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if de Borg can do anything to dispel that myth.
de Borg takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Salama wants to control but de Borg is keeping him busy.
de Borg tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

de Borg looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Salama!
de Borg throwing strikes but Salama recovers to half guard. A much better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama gets full guard.
de Borg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
de Borg chips away with some ground and pound.
de Borg wants to pass the guard but Salama is keeping the position.
de Borg connects with a couple of short punches.
de Borg lands a couple of elbows.
Salama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from de Borg.
de Borg wants to pass the guard but Salama is keeping the position.
de Borg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as de Borg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
de Borg preventing the sweep.
de Borg in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

de Borg has Salama up against the cage in a clinch.
Salama drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de Borg lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Salama preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
de Borg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
de Borg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
de Borg wants to stand up but Salama is controlling the position.
de Borg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Salama defending well though.
de Borg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Salama manages to get to full guard.

Salama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but de Borg can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Salama is trying to keep de Borg in close.
de Borg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jay de Borg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Borg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Salama is trying to control the position but de Borg postures up.
de Borg lands a couple of digs.
de Borg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
de Borg is looking to work some ground and pound but Salama has wrist control.
Salama lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for de Borg!
de Borg keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
de Borg wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
de Borg tries to escape but Salama has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
de Borg looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
de Borg breaks Salama's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
de Borg distracts Salama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
de Borg content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
de Borg postures up and lands a big shot to Salama's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay de Borg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Salama 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

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