PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannu Yabal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Yabal's choice of entrance music: New Divide, Linkin Park. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Salama
vs
Yabal

180 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
141 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Grappling Pro Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Yabal!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yabal throws a looping overhand right but Salama ducks down to avoid it.
Yabal closes the distance and clinches up with Salama, looking for a takedown. Yabal pushes Salama against the cage but Salama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Salama clinches up with Yabal and pushes him back against the cage.
Yabal tries for a takedown. No joy.
Salama lands a body shot in the clinch.
Salama lands an elbow inside that Yabal shrugs off.
Yabal goes for a takedown attempt but Salama pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sami Salama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannu Yabal.
Salama delivers a nice body kick.
Yabal looks gassed!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yabal is defending well for now.

Salama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salama wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Salama moves into range and clinches up with Yabal.
Salama blocks an uppercut.
Salama lands an elbow just above Yabal 's eye.

Salama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salama lands with a nice body punch.
Salama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salama lands with a thumping leg kick.

Salama closes the distance and pushes Yabal back into the cage.
Salama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Salama lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yabal or not.
Salama lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salama throws a quick inside leg kick.
Salama lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A good leg kick by Salama.
Some wild striking there from Salama.
Good leg kick by Salama there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Salama lands a nice looking body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salama throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Yabal blocks a head kick by Salama.
Yabal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hannu Yabal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Salama rushes Yabal and presses him up against the cage.

Salama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salama goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Salama moves into range and clinches up with Yabal.
Salama tries to land knees in the clinch but Yabal avoids the damage to the body.
Salama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good body shot from Salama.
Salama controlling the action here for a moment.
Yabal misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama lands an elbow inside that Yabal shrugs off.
Yabal wants a takedown but no success here.
Salama is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Salama scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yabal working aggressively here.
Salama is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Salama lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yabal backwards.
Salama lands with a right to the head.
Salama lands a knee to the body.
Yabal is trying to stall.
Salama lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yabal.
Yabal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Salama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Salama moves into the clinch successfully.
Salama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yabal avoids it.

Salama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salama misses with a few strikes there.
Salama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Salama moves into range and clinches up with Yabal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabal managing to block the knees to the body from Salama.
Salama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Salama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yabal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Salama is looking to slow Yabal down with leg kicks.
Yabal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Salama pushes Yabal up against the cage in a clinch.
Yabal is trying to force a seperation but Salama has the dominant position.
Salama lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Salama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Salama.
Salama leaves Yabal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Salama.
Salama cracks a nice hook into Yabal's ribs.

Salama has managed to clinch.
Salama gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yabal.
Salama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yabal avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A body shot lands from Salama.
Salama missing with knees to the body.
Salama cracks Yabal with a nice body shot.
Yabal's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Salama lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Salama manages to break the clinch.
Yabal tries to clinch but Salama moves away
and Salama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Yabal takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sami Salama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yabal sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A head kick from Salama lands but Yabal takes it in his stride.

Salama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yabal, pushing him back against the cage.

Yabal breaks the clinch.
Yabal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Salama clinches up with Yabal and pushes him back against the cage.
Salama throws a knee to the head but misses.

Yabal has hold of one of Salama's legs. Salama is fighting the takedown attempt but Yabal gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yabal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salama is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Salama 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.

Salama moves into the clinch.
Salama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yabal.
Salama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yabal avoiding damage as Salama throws knees to the body.
Salama misses with a punch on the inside.
Yabal throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yabal wants to get back to striking at distance but Salama won't allow it.
Yabal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Yabal has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Salama clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Salama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yabal on the ground.

Yabal looking for the RNC.
Yabal doesn't have the hooks in and Salama manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama looking to pass the guard.
Yabal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Salama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Yabal wants to sweep here but Salama controlling him for the moment.
Salama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Salama wanted to stand there but Yabal had control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Salama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yabal.

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

Salama darts in and clinches Yabal up against the cage.
Salama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Salama lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Salama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Salama manages to break the clinch.
Yabal takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Yabal tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salama. That's going to slow Yabal down.
Salama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Yabal takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yabal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Salama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yabal's knee momentarily.
Yabal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Salama.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a wild body kick that Yabal sees coming a mile off.
Yabal has a takedown stuffed.
Salama fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Salama moves into the clinch successfully.
Salama works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Salama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yabal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Yabal turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Yabal manages to end up in side control.
Salama is looking to reverse the position.

Yabal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Yabal goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Salama rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Yabal's guard! Nice work there by Salama!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama preventing the sweep.
Yabal controls Salama momentarily but Salama frees himself.
Salama won't allow Yabal to sweep him here.
Salama showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Yabal throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Salama escapes and throws Yabal's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yabal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Salama.
A combination from Salama does no damage.
Yabal drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Yabal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Salama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Salama moves into range and clinches up with Yabal.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yabal with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salama tries a knee to the head but Yabal blocks it.
Salama looking to throw knees to the head but Yabal is blocking nicely.
Salama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yabal drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Salama gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Salama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Salama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Salama forces Yabal back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yabal goes for a takedown in the clinch but Salama prevents it.
Sami Salama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannu Yabal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Salama landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Yabal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Salama gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Salama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yabal avoids it.
Sami Salama has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Salama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Yabal or perhaps it was just good defense by Salama which made him look bad.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Salama, right into the meat.

Salama moves into the clinch successfully.
Salama scores with a hook to the body.
Salama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Salama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Salama lands an elbow inside.
Yabal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Salama displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yabal up against the cage.
Salama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yabal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama is pressed up against the cage. Yabal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Salama down to the mat. Salama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yabal tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Salama throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salama scores with a jab to the body.
No luck for Yabal with that takedown attempt.
Salama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Salama moves into the clinch successfully.
Yabal has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salama avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Salama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salama scoring well with a low kick there.

Salama gets a clinch.

Salama manages to break the clinch.
Salama throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Yabal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Salama counters with a right hand to the body.
Yabal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yabal takes a swing at Salama's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama lands a slapping body shot.
Salama moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salama scoring well with a low kick there.

Salama closes the distance and clinches.

Salama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salama throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Yabal.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yabal is defended easily by Salama.
Yabal takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Yabal with a jab.
Yabal takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sami Salama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salama throws a nice inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Salama.
Yabal looks for a takedown but Salama sprawls well.
Yabal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Salama is fending him off so far but Yabal persists. Nope, Salama circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama scores with a head kick.
Salama scores with a kick to the body.
Yabal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salama tries to avoid it but Yabal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salama to the ground. Salama escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Salama lands an overhand right.
Yabal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Salama as he avoids it easily.
Hannu Yabal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sami Salama is winning the standup battle so far.

Salama moves into the clinch successfully.
Salama stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Salama tries to land knees in the clinch but Yabal avoids the damage to the body.
Yabal tries to score a body lock takedown but Salama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Salama lands an elbow inside.
Salama lands with a short shot to the head.
Salama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yabal.
A knee to the head by Salama.
Salama is trying to break free.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salama gets underhooks to prevent Yabal's takedown attempt.
Yabal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yabal looks to land a body kick but Salama moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Salama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Salama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Salama!