PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kari Salmelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keizou Ishizaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishizaki comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Japanese Rap kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Salmelainen
vs
Ishizaki

190 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
174 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kari Salmelainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keizou Ishizaki!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salmelainen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ishizaki.
Ishizaki lands with a kick to the temple. Salmelainen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Salmelainen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ishizaki misses with an uppercut.
Salmelainen blocks a head kick by Ishizaki.
Salmelainen throws a quick inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ishizaki avoiding damage as Salmelainen throws knees to the body.
Salmelainen lands a knee to the head.
Salmelainen working aggressively here.
Salmelainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Ishizaki avoids the damage to the body.
Salmelainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Ishizaki has double underhooks.
Salmelainen prevents the takedown attempt.
Salmelainen landing knees to the head.

Salmelainen jumps guard and drags Ishizaki to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ishizaki stops Salmelainen from standing up.
Ishizaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmelainen working a defensive guard here.
Ishizaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salmelainen is keeping the position for now.
Salmelainen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Salmelainen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ishizaki!

Salmelainen is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ishizaki stuffs the takedown.
Ishizaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Salmelainen shoots for a takedown but Ishizaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salmelainen is breathing heavily.
Ishizaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salmelainen tries to avoid it but Ishizaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salmelainen to the ground. Salmelainen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Salmelainen wants to clinch up but Ishizaki keeps it at a distance.
Salmelainen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kari Salmelainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salmelainen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ishizaki lands a nice shot that snaps Salmelainen's head back.
Salmelainen avoids the head kick by Ishizaki.
A head kick misses from Ishizaki.
Keizou Ishizaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ishizaki throws a nice looking combination but Salmelainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ishizaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Salmelainen shoots in for a double leg but Ishizaki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A head kick misses from Ishizaki.
Ishizaki takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Keizou Ishizaki has been cut.
Ishizaki circles away from the clinch attempt.

Salmelainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmelainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Salmelainen trying to control but Ishizaki is working from the bottom.
Ishizaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Salmelainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salmelainen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Salmelainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ishizaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Salmelainen wants to control from the top but Ishizaki keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ishizaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Salmelainen fails with the takedown

and Ishizaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ishizaki.

Salmelainen has his feet on Ishizaki's thighs here. He's pushed Ishizaki off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Ishizaki screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kari Salmelainen!