PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fuego Salsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Stellben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stellben has chosen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE as his entrance music. George Stellben will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Salsa
vs
Stellben

168 cm
34
172 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

167 cm
23
170 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fuego Salsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Stellben!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stellben throws a shot from downtown. Salsa moves away and avoids it.

Salsa gets caught napping as Stellben dives in and scores a takedown. Salsa manages to retain guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Salsa trying to keep a closed guard but Stellben is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stellben accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stellben sitting in guard here, content to control.
Salsa looking for a sweep. Not yet Salsa, not yet.
Salsa is trying to keep Stellben in close.
Stellben trying to control but Salsa is working from the bottom.
Stellben working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Salsa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stellben trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salsa has his hands on Stellben's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stellben postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Salsa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Salsa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Stellben uses it to pass to side control.
Stellben wants to control but Salsa is keeping him busy.
Stellben scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Salsa to see if he's OK.
Stellben lands a few punches from side control.
Salsa managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Stellben.
Stellben looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Salsa is avoiding damage well.
Stellben working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stellben working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Stellben wants to take a breather but Salsa manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Stellben.

Salsa is looking for a triangle but Stellben pushes his legs off easily.
Stellben trying to control but Salsa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stellben throws an elbow that misses. Salsa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stellben's guard. Nice move by Salsa!
Stellben looking to control.
Salsa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stellben is keeping the position for now.
Stellben bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Salsa's guard.
Salsa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stellben is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Salsa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stellben passes into side control.
Stellben working the body and head with strikes.
Stellben scores with punches from side control.
Stellben trying to control the position but Salsa is working away.
Salsa sneaks back into half guard.
Salsa tries to get to full guard but Stellben has control of the leg.
Salsa has hold of Stellben's hands but Stellben slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Salsa wants to sweep but no luck.
Salsa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stellben!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salsa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stellben really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Stellben dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stellben manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Salsa on his heels. He'll look to pass Salsa's guard now, I'm sure.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salsa is on top in guard.
Stellben keeping moving, preventing Salsa from controlling successfully.
Salsa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stellben is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Salsa is pushing down on Stellben's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stellben is fighting to maintain full guard but Salsa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Salsa trying to control the action but Stellben is working from the bottom.
Salsa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stellben stops Salsa from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Salsa mounts Stellben! Really nice guard pass there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salsa controlling his opponent.
Stellben tries to hold on but Salsa postures up.
Stellben is squirming around, avoiding Salsa's attempts to control the action.
Stellben is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stellben is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Salsa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stellben because Salsa loaded up on that one.
Stellben regains half guard.
Salsa is trying to control the action in half guard but Stellben is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Salsa with the ground and pound but Stellben uses the opportunity to regain guard.
George Stellben has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stellben swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salsa trying to control but Stellben is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa won't allow Stellben to sweep him here.
Salsa is pushing down on Stellben's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stellben is fighting to maintain full guard but Salsa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Stellben wants to improve his position but Salsa is controlling well.
Salsa works his way into full mount!
Stellben wants to hold on but Salsa pushes him away.
Salsa controlling the pace for now.
Salsa fails to advance to Stellben's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stellben is looking to improve his position but Salsa isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salsa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stellben is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuego Salsa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salsa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stellben staying out of range there.
Stellben moves away from the strike by Salsa.
Stellben scores with a sloppy right hand. Salsa should have avoided that one.
Salsa defending well as Stellben loads up on a big left hand.
George Stellben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salsa misses with a hook

and Stellben decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salsa's guard.
Stellben cracks Salsa with a solid left hand.
Salsa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stellben manages to get himself to full guard.
Stellben controls Salsa momentarily but Salsa frees himself.
Stellben wants to improve his position but instead Salsa has moved into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Salsa is stalling here. Stellben is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Salsa seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Stellben has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Salsa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stellben.
Stellben throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Salsa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Salsa.
Salsa wants to sweep but no luck.
Salsa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stellben manages to get himself to full guard.
Stellben looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salsa is one step ahead there.
Salsa passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stellben flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Stellben is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Salsa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Salsa's back!
Stellben scores with punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stellben doesn't have the hooks in and Salsa manages to turn into his guard.
Stellben keeping moving, preventing Salsa from controlling successfully.

Stellben is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stellben swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa stays in close to Stellben's body and controls the position.
Stellben wants to hit a switch here but Salsa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Stellben there!
Salsa moves to take his opponent's back.
Salsa is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Salsa is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Stellben knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Stellben for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salsa is looking for the choke from the back position but Stellben is controlling his hands well.
Stellben has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Stellben showing good submission defense here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Salsa working for a choke but Stellben reverses nicely into Salsa 's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stellben content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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 Fuego Salsa.
I think Salsa 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fuego Salsa!
A very excited looking Fuego Salsa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.