PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Moreira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Moreira
vs
Salama

170 cm
31
155 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

180 cm
30
165 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Moreira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salama throws a lazy head kick
and Moreira counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Moreira moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Moreira thows a body shot but no joy.
Salama scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Moreira doesn't seem bothered though.
Moreira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salama.
Moreira throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salama's waist but Salama gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Moreira off to one side.
Moreira misses with a body shot.
Moreira connects with a body shot that sends Salama's belly button to the back.
Moreira shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Salama but Salama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Salama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moreira.
A bone on bone clash there as Moreira blocks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreira moves out of range of the body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Salama.
Sami Salama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salama throws a low kick but Moreira moves out of range easily.
Salama on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Moreira tried to score with a low kick but Salama checks it.
Sloppy strikes from Moreira. Those never looked like landing.
Salama throws a leg kick that misses.

Salama has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Moreira's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Moreira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salama throws a leg kick
and Moreira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moreira moves out of range of the body kick.
Moreira scores with a jab to the jaw.
Salama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Moreira manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salama lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salama scores with a head kick. Moreira tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Salama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moreira.
Moreira misses with a wild combination.
Salama throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Moreira sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salama throws a body kick that misses.
Moreira showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Salama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreira lands a body shot.
Moreira scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Salama misses with a kick to the body.
Salama throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Moreira cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Donk. Moreira catches Salama right on the button with a cross.
Salama slips under a jab.
Salama throws a body kick that misses.
Salama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Moreira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salama manages to avoid it.
Salama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moreira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Salama.
Moreira slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A clash of legs there as Moreira blocks the low kick.
Moreira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salama manages to avoid it.
Salama throws a head kick but Moreira moves out of range.
Moreira connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salama throws a head kick that Moreira semi-blocks.
That kick from Moreira tenderised Salama's leg. Salama is trying to keep his angry face on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Moreira misses with a straight right.
Moreira with a hook.
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 Daniel Moreira will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Moreira misses with a wild body shot.
Moreira throws a shot from downtown. Salama moves away and avoids it.
Salama moves away from the strike by Moreira.
Salama takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Salama scores with a jab to the head.
Salama misses with a combination
and Moreira counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Moreira lands a nice shot to the body.
Salama throws a sloppy head kick and Moreira moves out of range easily.
A slow jab from Moreira misses its intended target.
Salama connects with a jab.

It looks like Daniel Moreira has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreira moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Salama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Moreira throws out the jab.
Salama missing with a left hand there. Moreira was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salama throws a solid leg kick but Moreira takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Salama.
Moreira misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Moreira. Salama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Moreira checks a low kick from Salama.
Moreira just misses with a punch to the body.
Salama checks a leg kick.
Moreira looks to score with a jab to the body but Salama is just out of range.
Salama tries to land a front kick but Moreira steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moreira fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Salama is out of range.
A combination from Moreira does no damage.
Moreira connects with a body shot.
Salama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salama throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Moreira's head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Moreira.
Daniel Moreira is winning the standup battle so far.
A low kick from Salama misses

and Moreira decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salama's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Moreira is pushing down on Salama's leg trying to pass to half guard. Salama is fighting to maintain full guard but Moreira has managed to sneak the leg through.
Salama is not content to let Moreira control the position.
Moreira wants to pass to mount but Salama is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moreira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Salama is just riding it out for now. Moreira eventually gives up the hold.
Salama trying to hold on to Moreira's head to control him but Moreira postures up.

That's four 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.
Salama trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Moreira manages to pass to mount!
Salama is trying to escape the mount.
Moreira lands a big shot there that rocks Salama but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Moreira throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Moreira tries to control but Salama wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salama blocking the ground and pound.
Moreira is landing with some decent strikes but Salama is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Moreira dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Moreira's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Moreira misses with a wild body shot.
Salama takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Moreira uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salama.
Salama throws a leg kick
and Moreira counters with a stiff right hand.
Moreira jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salama throws a good cross that connects.
Salama gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Moreira misses with a wild body shot.
Salama misses with a kick to the body.
Moreira misses with a hook.
Moreira swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama misses with a head kick.
Moreira scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Moreira misses with a wild body shot.
Moreira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salama.
Moreira keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salama.
Moreira lands a nice shot that snaps Salama's head back.
Salama dodges the punch combination from Moreira.
Moreira throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salama misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moreira misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Salama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Daniel Moreira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Moreira throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salama throws a hook but Moreira avoids it easily.
Moreira listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Moreira just misses with a punch to the body.
Moreira pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Moreira blocks a head kick by Salama.
Nice cross by Salama.
Moreira lands a nice shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Salama, right into the meat.
Sami Salama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreira throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Salama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Moreira's knee momentarily.
Moreira swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Moreira. Salama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Moreira manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama looks to clinch
enabling Moreira to counter with a crisp jab.
Salama looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Moreira blocks a head kick by Salama.
Moreira lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a head kick but Moreira moves out of range.
Moreira throws a low kick, looking for Salama's leg but Salama calmly moves out of range.
Moreira takes a swing at Salama's ribcage but misses.
Moreira throws a body punch but Salama moves out of range.
Salama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salama misses the shot to the body.
Salama throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Moreira is looking to wear down Salama with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salama misses with a wild body shot.
Salama throws the kick towards the body but Moreira avoids it.
The crowd cheers as Moreira lands an impressive looking overhand right. Salama doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel Moreira.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Moreira, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Moreira!
An out of breath Daniel Moreira thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.