PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kiwi Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rui Salsep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bird has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Kiwi Bird has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bird
vs
Salsep

150 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 65 - 0

150 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 65 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kiwi Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rui Salsep!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Salsep has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bird is trying to keep an underhook but Salsep manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Salsep controlling the action here.
Salsep passes to full mount!
Salsep controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rui Salsep.

Salsep darts in and clinches Bird up against the cage.

Salsep turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Salsep is staying tight to Bird's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird is breathing heavily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rui Salsep was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Salsep instigates a clinch.

Salsep is trying to trip Bird. He has hold of a leg but Bird is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Salsep persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salsep forces his way into half guard.
Salsep looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsep moves into full mount! Bird won't be happy about that!
Salsep looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Salsep has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bird could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rui Salsep has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Salsep 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salsep is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rui Salsep dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Salsep closes the distance and clinches.

Salsep is trying to trip Bird. He has hold of a leg but Bird is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Salsep persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Salsep controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salsep forces his way into half guard.
Salsep is controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsep has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rui Salsep hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Salsep scores a takedown into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsep content just to control the position here.
Salsep's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rui Salsep.

Salsep forces Bird back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salsep gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Salsep is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Salsep works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsep happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
This has been an exciting period of action!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rui Salsep hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Salsep pushes Bird up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rui Salsep showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Salsep shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Salsep is pushing down on Bird's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bird is fighting to maintain full guard but Salsep has managed to sneak the leg through.
Salsep perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Salsep is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bird!
Salsep takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rui Salsep hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Salsep rushes Bird and presses him up against the cage.

Salsep gets control of Bird's arms and successfully pulls guard. Salsep will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Salsep is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salsep lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bird!
Salsep controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rui Salsep hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Salsep has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salsep has picked Bird up - he's going for a ride! Salsep dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Salsep works his way into side control.
Salsep takes a little break here. Bird wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kiwi Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rui Salsep is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rui Salsep was stalling too much, according to the referee.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Rui Salsep comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salsep has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 24:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 24:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rui Salsep!
Rui Salsep took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.