PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matias Salminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonid Spartak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Salminen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Down With the Sickness. Leonid Spartak is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Salminen
vs
Spartak

201 cm
24
300 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

225 cm
34
302 lbs
9 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matias Salminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 20 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonid Spartak!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spartak misses with a takedown attempt - Salminen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Salminen feinted with a counter takedown.
Spartak is looking to clinch.
Salminen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Spartak with a lazy takedown attempt

and Salminen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Spartak on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Salminen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spartak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Salminen.
Spartak is looking for a sweep. Salminen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Salminen wants to free his trapped foot but Spartak is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spartak is refusing to be controlled, as Salminen sits in half guard.
Spartak is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Salminen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Salminen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spartak defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salminen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

It looks like Leonid Spartak has been cut.

Salminen is working for a kimura but Spartak is defending it quite comfortably.
Salminen 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.
Spartak is refusing to be controlled, as Salminen sits in half guard.
Salminen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salminen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Salminen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Spartak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Salminen.
Salminen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Salminen thows a huge punch but Spartak dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salminen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Spartak can do anything to dispel that myth.
Spartak wants to control but Salminen is keeping busy.
Salminen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Salminen working Spartak over with strikes.

Spartak looking for submissions off his back.
Salminen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salminen wants to control but Spartak is keeping him busy.
Salminen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Salminen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Spartak trying to control but Salminen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartak pushes Salminen off but Salminen dives into side control.

Salminen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Spartak has escaped the position, nice work there.
Salminen working the head with strikes.
Salminen is putting a hurting on Spartak here, landing some big shots from side control.

That has opened up Leonid Spartak's cut even more.
Spartak is trying to work for a sweep but Salminen has mounted him!

Salminen has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Spartak is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matias Salminen!
A relieved looking Matias Salminen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.