PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Tillich (ranked 3898 p4p, 5000 weight class) and Ben Solomon (ranked 485 p4p, 558 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tillich
vs
Solomon

188 cm
26
180
1 - 2 - 1

179 cm
20
183
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
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 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Manuel Tillich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Solomon!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomon lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Manuel Tillich has been cut.

Tillich drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tillich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tillich trying to stand up but can't free himself from Solomon's guard.
Solomon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tillich is looking to work some ground and pound but Solomon has wrist control.
Solomon lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Solomon won't allow Tillich to sweep him here.
Tillich wants to stand but Solomon is controlling the position.
Tillich tries to strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Solomon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tillich's guard.
Solomon controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solomon advances to half guard.
Tillich wants to improve his position but Solomon is controlling well.
Tillich gets back to full guard.
Solomon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Solomon pushes down on Tillich's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tillich on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tillich tries to get out of the position.
Tillich is trying to get back to full guard.
Solomon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tillich looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tillich wants to improve his position but Solomon is controlling well.
Solomon tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tillich controls his leg.
Tillich tries to get to full guard but Solomon has control of the leg.
Solomon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tillich is looking to improve his position.
Solomon wants to stand up but Tillich is controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Solomon has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Solomon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillich is desperately trying to improve his position but Solomon has a good base and remains in mount.
Solomon content just to control the position here.
Tillich is wriggling around trying to escape.
Solomon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tillich is looking to get to half guard.
Solomon controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Tillich really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Solomon content just to control the position here.
Tillich definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tillich can't escape the position.
Solomon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Solomon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manuel Tillich's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Solomon works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Solomon scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tillich tries to clinch up.
Tillich takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Manuel Tillich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Solomon comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Solomon pounces like a tiger and cracks Tillich with a vicious hook! Tillich is down but not out! Solomon follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ben Solomon!
A relieved looking Ben Solomon thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.