PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rupert Bright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cris DeSalvo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DeSalvo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Let's Get Rocked kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Rupert Bright has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bright
vs
DeSalvo

205 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
192 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rupert Bright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cris DeSalvo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bright shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. DeSalvo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bright trying to control the position from guard on top but DeSalvo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
DeSalvo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
DeSalvo keeping moving, preventing Bright from controlling successfully.
Bright really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bright wanted to stand there but DeSalvo had control of the position.

Bright got a little sloppy there for a moment and DeSalvo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bright has managed to get both his arms back between DeSalvo's legs - danger averted.
DeSalvo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bright looking to sit in guard and control but DeSalvo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeSalvo advances position into side control!
Bright dodges the ground and pound from DeSalvo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bright keeps working.
Bright can't do much from the bottom here.
Bright is looking to work his way out of this bad position but DeSalvo is controlling him well.

DeSalvo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bright knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
DeSalvo trying to control the action but Bright is working from the bottom.
DeSalvo looks winded!

DeSalvo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

DeSalvo is trying to get an arm triangle but Bright is defending well.
Bright is looking for a sweep.
Bright wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bright is not content to let DeSalvo control the position.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
DeSalvo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bright is looking to work his way out of this bad position but DeSalvo is controlling him well.

DeSalvo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bright wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

DeSalvo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bright is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bright is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bright struggling a bit here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
DeSalvo misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cris DeSalvo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bright throws out a powerful jab.

DeSalvo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. DeSalvo showed some decent athleticism there.
Bright wants to stand back up but DeSalvo manages to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bright is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but DeSalvo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeSalvo wants to control but Bright is keeping him busy.
DeSalvo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cris DeSalvo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bright is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bright seems a little lost for a moment, as DeSalvo dominates the positioning.
We've been informed that DeSalvo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
DeSalvo is breathing heavily.
Bright pushes DeSalvo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, DeSalvo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

DeSalvo is trying to get an arm triangle but Bright is defending well.

DeSalvo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bright knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
DeSalvo is looking to take a break and control but Bright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

DeSalvo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bright is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
DeSalvo misses with the ground and pound.

Bright throws DeSalvo to one side and escapes!

Bright fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. DeSalvo sprawls well initially but Bright persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bright is sneakily working for an arm triangle but DeSalvo sees it coming and defends easily.

DeSalvo looking for submissions off his back.

Bright is looking for a kimura but DeSalvo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bright to get the leverage.
DeSalvo trying to hold on to Bright's head to control him but Bright postures up.
Bright wants to stand but DeSalvo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Bright will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
DeSalvo is trying to maintain the position but Bright is very close to passing his half guard.
DeSalvo is staying active underneath Bright, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
DeSalvo is pressing down on Bright's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bright is looking to stand up but DeSalvo won't let him.

DeSalvo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bright trying to control but DeSalvo is working from the bottom.
DeSalvo is trying to keep Bright in close.
Bright sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed DeSalvo's guard.
DeSalvo is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bright wants to lay and pray for a moment but DeSalvo keeps working.
DeSalvo is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rupert Bright will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bright looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for DeSalvo!
DeSalvo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bright's best efforts.
Bright is looking to take a break and control but DeSalvo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bright knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for DeSalvo on the ground.

Bright seems to be looking for submissions.

Bright is sneakily working for an arm triangle but DeSalvo sees it coming and defends easily.
DeSalvo missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bright is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
DeSalvo is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
DeSalvo moves into full guard.
Bright wants to stand and escape but instead DeSalvo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DeSalvo is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
DeSalvo with a flurry of punches that miss.
DeSalvo won't allow Bright to get back to his feet.
DeSalvo wants to pass the guard but Bright is keeping the position.
DeSalvo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeSalvo gets a takedown into half guard.
DeSalvo stops Bright from getting back to his feet.

DeSalvo seems to be looking for submissions.
DeSalvo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bright looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeSalvo is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
DeSalvo stops Bright from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cris DeSalvo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think DeSalvo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cris DeSalvo!
After the fight, Cris DeSalvo was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.