PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bibiano Salvador (ranked 3406 p4p, 3784 weight class) and Bill Steiner (ranked 437 p4p, 473 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Salvador
vs
Steiner

190 cm
19
177
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
175
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bibiano Salvador!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Steiner!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salvador has Steiner up against the cage in a clinch.
Salvador just leaning against Steiner, taking a breather.

Salvador pulls guard successfully.
Salvador seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Salvador looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Salvador seems keen to control Steiner's posture.
Steiner slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Steiner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Salvador had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steiner defends it easily.
Steiner being controlled here momentarily.
Steiner tries to free his leg and advance position but Salvador is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salvador working for submissions but it's allowed Steiner to get to half guard.
Steiner is keen to just control but Salvador is a slippery customer.
Salvador has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steiner is working away from the top position though.
Salvador controlling the position well.
Salvador is trying to maintain the position but Steiner is very close to passing his half guard.
Steiner wants to free his trapped foot but Salvador is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Salvador has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Salvador is trying to get back to full guard.
Salvador preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two 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.
Salvador wants to get back to full guard.

Salvador looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Steiner trying to mount his opponent but Salvador defends it.
Salvador trying to control but Steiner postures up.

Salvador looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steiner trying to control from half guard but Salvador is working away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Salvador is trying to get back to full guard.
Salvador manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steiner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salvador is keeping the position for now.
Steiner wants to control from the top but Salvador keeps moving.

Salvador working for submissions but it's allowed Steiner to get to half guard.
Salvador preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Salvador trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Salvador keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Steiner content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner looking to control but Salvador is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Salvador wants to hold on but Steiner pushes him away.
Salvador is trying to escape the mount.
Salvador tries to hold on but Steiner postures up.
Steiner trying to control but Salvador is having none of it.
Steiner is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Steiner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Salvador comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Salvador connects with a body shot.
Salvador lands with a nice body punch.
Steiner misses with a looping right.
Salvador lands with an overhand left.
Steiner shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice body kick from Salvador.
Steiner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steiner shoots in looking for a takedown but Salvador manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Steiner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Salvador half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Salvador connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Steiner's hands.
Steiner shoots in for a double leg but Salvador sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bibiano Salvador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Steiner.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Salvador, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steiner takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
No luck for Steiner with that takedown attempt.
Salvador misses with a wild body shot.
Steiner is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Salvador throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Salvador feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Salvador stopping the sweep attempt from Steiner.
Salvador looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Salvador postures up.

Steiner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salvador passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvador is looking to take a break and control but Steiner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salvador content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Steiner is trying to get back to half guard.
Salvador taking a breather here.
Bibiano Salvador overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Salvador has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Steiner!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvador controlling his opponent.
Steiner really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Salvador tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Steiner is squirming around, avoiding Salvador's attempts to control the action.
Steiner wants to hold on but Salvador pushes him away.
Salvador controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steiner is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Steiner is trying desperately to improve position.
Salvador takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Salvador is working for a guillotine from mount but Steiner frees his head quite easily.
Steiner tries to hold on but Salvador postures up.
Salvador controlling the pace for now.
Steiner really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salvador fails to move to back control.
Salvador is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bibiano Salvador dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Salvador tests Steiner's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steiner darts in looking for a takedown but Salvador gets double underhooks and turns Steiner into the cage.
Salvador comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Salvador throws a head kick that Steiner semi-blocks.
Salvador keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steiner.
Salvador tries to counter with a takedown but Steiner is quick to defend against it.
Salvador scores with the left hand. Steiner knows he should have avoided that one.
Salvador stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salvador wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvador lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Salvador scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Steiner doesn't seem bothered though.
Salvador takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Salvador is looking to wear down Steiner with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Salvador tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvador connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Salvador connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Salvador scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Steiner is looking for a sweep.

Salvador is trying to get an arm triangle but Steiner is defending well.
Steiner is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
Salvador working away.
Salvador wants to control but Steiner is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steiner tries to improve position but can't.
Salvador is looking to take a break and control but Steiner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steiner is trying to get back to half guard.
Steiner keeps trying to improve his position.
The referee asks Salvador politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Salvador prefers to stall for the moment though.

Salvador is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steiner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Salvador is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steiner can do to turn this around?
Steiner is looking for a sweep.
Salvador takes a little break here. Steiner wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steiner is looking for a sweep.

Salvador tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Salvador has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Steiner is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Salvador off and has taken his back!
Salvador trying to control the hands but Steiner won't let him.
Salvador breaks Steiner's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Steiner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salvador doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salvador manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Steiner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Salvador controls the pace.
Salvador seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Steiner for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador won't allow Steiner to sweep him here.

Salvador got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steiner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salvador has managed to get both his arms back between Steiner's legs - danger averted.
Salvador works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Salvador wants to work for an arm triangle but Steiner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Steiner is in trouble now - Salvador has advanced to mount!
Steiner tries to lock up and control but Salvador gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Salvador takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steiner is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bibiano Salvador clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Steiner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salvador tries to avoid it but Steiner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salvador to the ground. Salvador escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steiner shoots for a double leg takedown but Salvador sprawls well. He's pushed Steiner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A shot to the liver by Salvador. Beautiful body shot.
Steiner has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Steiner there as he acknowledges the shot.

Salvador shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steiner is trying to defend but Salvador finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Steiner trying to control from the bottom.
Salvador sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steiner is looking for a sweep. Salvador is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steiner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Salvador stays in close to Steiner's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steiner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salvador is pushing down on Steiner's leg trying to pass to half guard. Steiner is fighting to maintain full guard but Salvador has managed to sneak the leg through.
Steiner wants to control but Salvador is keeping busy.
Steiner is looking for a sweep. Salvador is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Salvador is trying to work for a kimura but Steiner is defending well.
Salvador keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Steiner is looking for a sweep. Salvador is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Salvador seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Steiner gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvador advances to half guard.

Salvador is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steiner sees it coming and defends easily.
Salvador perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Steiner won't allow Salvador to pass to mount.
Steiner wants to control but Salvador is keeping busy.

Salvador is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Steiner doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Salvador.

Salvador is working for a kimura but Steiner is defending it quite comfortably.
Steiner wants to control but Salvador is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvador stalling away here and it's allowed Steiner to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Salvador trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salvador passes Steiner's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Salvador tries to pass to full mount but Steiner defends it.
Salvador with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Salvador's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Steiner trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Salvador is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Steiner!
Salvador sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Steiner is squirming around, avoiding Salvador's attempts to control the action.
Steiner is working to get back to half guard.
Steiner bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Steiner wants to control from the top but Salvador keeps moving.
Steiner tries to free his leg and advance position but Salvador is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steiner is still trying to improve position.
Salvador is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bibiano Salvador had his way with Bill Steiner in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Salvador connects with a high kick.
Salvador slaps away a takedown attempt from Steiner, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Salvador tries to counter with a takedown but Steiner is quick to defend against it.
Nice body punch from Salvador.
Steiner throws a lazy right hand but Salvador sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bibiano Salvador is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvador lands a glancing blow to the side of Steiner's head.
Bibiano Salvador seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salvador throws a head kick that misses.
Salvador connects with a right hand. Steiner shakes it off.
Steiner dives in for a single leg takedown but Salvador sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Salvador half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Salvador.
Steiner takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salvador uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steiner.
Salvador takes a swing at Steiner's ribcage but misses.
Salvador misses with a body shot.
Salvador ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Salvador dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salvador misses with a head kick.
Steiner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Salvador avoids it really well and circles away.
Bibiano Salvador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Steiner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steiner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steiner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Salvador.
Salvador lands with a good body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Salvador darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Steiner shoots in for a takedown but Salvador shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steiner has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Steiner there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steiner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvador goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Steiner feints the counter takedown.
Salvador swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steiner tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Salvador throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steiner feints the counter takedown.
Steiner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salvador sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Salvador has Steiner up against the cage in a clinch.
Steiner is trying to pull guard but Salvador turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Salvador lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Salvador taking a breather.
Steiner tries to pull guard but Salvador won't allow it.

Salvador successfully pulls guard.

Salvador is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salvador working for submissions but it's allowed Steiner to get to half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Steiner is keen to just control but Salvador is a slippery customer.
Steiner is thwarting Salvador's attempts to control the position.
Steiner wants to take a breather but Salvador is having none of it.
Steiner trying to pass the guard but Salvador defending well.
Bill Steiner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bibiano Salvador is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salvador preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bibiano Salvador showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salvador has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 49:45
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:45
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bibiano Salvador!
Bibiano Salvador is the new welterweight champion!