PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rehti Ladi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Salwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ladi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to You Will Never Walk Alone. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Ladi
vs
Salwa

195 cm
25
191 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

184 cm
23
198 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
Perkele!

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
Zentrope Fighting Universe

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rehti Ladi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gabriel Salwa!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ladi throws the left hand but Salwa avoids the punch easily.
Salwa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ladi avoids the body shot from Salwa.
A head kick misses from Salwa.
Ladi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ladi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Salwa throws a low kick but Ladi avoids it.
Ladi misses the body punch

so Salwa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ladi working a defensive guard here.
Salwa slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salwa is keen to just control but Ladi is a slippery customer.
Ladi wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa tries to pass to full mount but Ladi defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ladi wants to control but Salwa is keeping busy.
Ladi tries to get to full guard but Salwa has control of the leg.
Ladi moves into full guard.
Salwa wants to control from the top but Ladi keeps moving.

Salwa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Salwa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ladi pulls Salwa in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salwa passes Ladi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ladi is trying to get back to full guard.
Ladi has a hand on Salwa's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Salwa takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ladi tries to improve his position but instead Salwa has taken his back!
Salwa struggling to keep hold of the position.

Ladi preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Salwa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salwa trying to control momentarily.
Ladi can't escape the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Salwa avoiding Ladi 's attempts to control his hands.
Salwa keeps control of the position as Ladi tries to break free.

Ladi is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Salwa gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salwa is hanging on to Ladi's back as he tries to escape.
Ladi turns into Salwa and is now in his guard.
Ladi throws a big elbow that misses.
Ladi trying to control but Salwa is working from the bottom.
Ladi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ladi stands and throws Salwa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ladi trying to control the position but Salwa is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabriel Salwa will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Salwa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ladi throws a head kick that misses.
Salwa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ladi is able to avoid easily.
Salwa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Salwa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ladi lands with a nice body kick.
Salwa just misses with a punch to the body.
Salwa scores with a jab.
Ladi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ladi lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salwa swats away the attempt to clinch by Ladi.
Rehti Ladi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Salwa throws a leg kick
and Ladi counters with a thumping low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ladi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ladi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ladi throws a body kick that misses.
Ladi moves in looking to clinch but Salwa pushes him off.
Salwa staying out of range there.
Salwa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ladi throws a lazy body kick
and Salwa counters with a nice body kick.
Salwa lands a nice hook to Ladi's body. Ladi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salwa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ladi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Salwa scores with a leg kick.
Ladi thows a body kick. Salwa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Salwa moves in looking to clinch but Ladi pushes him off.
Salwa swings for the body but Ladi moves out of range.
Salwa throws a nice outside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Ladi misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ladi.
Gabriel Salwa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ladi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salwa.
Salwa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ladi rather than just go for the knockout.
Ladi looks to throw a body kick
and Salwa counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ladi thumps Salwa with a low kick.
Ladi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Ladi has closed the distance and engaged Salwa in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Salwa.
A right handed body shot lands from Salwa.
Ladi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salwa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salwa lands a hook that snaps the head of Ladi backwards.
Salwa lands a right hand.
Salwa is working Ladi over against the cage.
Salwa can't find room to land a body shot as Ladi controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Salwa.
Salwa looking to stall.
Salwa lands an uppercut.
Salwa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Salwa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salwa is trying to stall.
Ladi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Salwa.
Salwa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Salwa tries a body shot but Ladi blocks it.
Ladi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Salwa pushes Ladi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Salwa blocks an elbow strike from Ladi.
Salwa tries to work over Ladi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Salwa has a couple of punches blocked by Ladi.
Salwa slows down the pace here.
Salwa is trying to push Ladi away but Ladi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salwa tries to score a body lock takedown but Ladi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ladi throws a head punch that misses.
Salwa is trying to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Salwa as Ladi tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Salwa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Salwa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Salwa swats away the attempt to clinch by Ladi.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Salwa.
Ladi tries to clinch but Salwa is having none of it.
Salwa throws a hook but Ladi avoids it easily.
Ladi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A jab from Salwa misses.
Ladi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salwa.
Ladi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Salwa throws out the jab.

Ladi has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa struggles to land a body shot inside as Ladi controls his hands.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ladi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Salwa is keeping busy.
Salwa prevents a body shot from Ladi.
Ladi throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Ladi.
Ladi stops a takedown attempt from Salwa.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ladi.
Ladi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salwa backwards.
Ladi looking to slow down the pace here.
Ladi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Salwa wants a takedown but no success here.
Ladi misses with some punches.
Ladi lands a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ladi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Salwa taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ladi misses with the head strike.
Ladi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Salwa backwards.
Ladi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salwa backwards.
Salwa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ladi scores with a shoulder strike.
Ladi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ladi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ladi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ladi jumps guard but Salwa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Salwa effectively controlling the action here.
Ladi lands with a short shot to the head.
Ladi is trying to pull guard but Salwa has him pressed against the cage.
Ladi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Salwa as Ladi tries to tie him up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ladi digs a right hand into Salwa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Salwa's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salwa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ladi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rehti Ladi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Salwa.
Salwa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Salwa tries to keep at a distance but Ladi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Salwa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ladi misses with the head strike.
Ladi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ladi blocks a body shot from Salwa.
Ladi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ladi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Salwa is keeping busy.
A right handed body shot lands from Ladi.
A head punch on the inside from Ladi fails to land.
Salwa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salwa.
Rehti Ladi has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Salwa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ladi lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ladi.
Ladi misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ladi.
Ladi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ladi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salwa backwards.

Salwa is rocked!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salwa.
Salwa is still on wobbly legs! Can Ladi finish him?
Salwa wants a takedown but no success here.
Salwa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ladi lands with a light punch inside.
Ladi creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Salwa's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Salwa drops to his knees and Ladi pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rehti Ladi!
Rehti Ladi is the new middleweight champion!
Rehti Ladi took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Yeah, it is the belt! Now fuck off and let me be, please!'.