PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hol Kali (ranked 9112 p4p, 701 weight class) and Mo Salah (ranked 8988 p4p, 692 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kali
vs
Salah

193 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

195 cm
18
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Hol Kali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mo Salah!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kali throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salah on the side of the head.
Kali avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salah moves away from the strike by Kali.
Salah tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hol Kali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kali lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Salah clinches.
Salah scores with a nice hook to the head.
Salah lands a nice shot to the body.
Salah misses with a punch to the body.
Salah lands an elbow just above Kali 's eye.

It looks like Hol Kali has been cut.
Salah missing with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salah lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
Salah prevents Kali from breaking the clinch.
Kali stalling in the clinch but Salah improves position.
Salah cracks Kali with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kali trying to control the position but instead, Salah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kali into the cage.
Salah lands a body shot.
Kali misses with a body punch.
Salah trying to land knees to the body.
Salah scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kali looking to stall.
Kali is trying to stall.
Kali wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kali takes a shot to the head.
Salah tries a body shot but Kali blocks it.
Salah lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salah lands a body punch.
Salah working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Salah.
Salah should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Salah lands a shot to the body.
Kali throws a punch but it's blocked by Salah.
Salah tries to score a body lock takedown but Kali shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kali definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Salah lands a nice uppercut.
Salah works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Salah lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kali.
Kali trying to control the position but instead, Salah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kali into the cage.
Kali on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salah throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kalis head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Salah.
Salah throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Salah.
Salah scores with a hook to the body.
Salah digs a right hand into Kali's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kali's gas tank.
Kali is breathing heavily.
Salah lands a body punch.
Salah is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nice body punch from Salah.
Kali on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Salah creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Salah working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Salah working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Salah scores with a shot to the side of Kali's head.
Salah throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kalis head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salah lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Salah lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
A hook to the body from Salah.
Salah tries a knee to the head but Kali blocks it.
Salah is leaning against Kali and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Salah lands a hook that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
Salah works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kali's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Salah on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Salah can't get the takedown.
Hol Kali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Salah.
Kali misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Salah dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hol Kali's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A jab from Salah misses.
Kali displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salah.
Kali avoids a punch combination nicely.
Salah walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Salah has Kali up against the cage in a clinch.
Salah tries to throw a body punch but Kali avoids it by throwing Salah back against the cage.
Salah pushes Kali back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kali is trying to stall.
Salah lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Salah lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Salah.
Kali's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short left from Salah.
A left hand lands to the body for Salah.
Salah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
A short right from Salah.
A left hand lands to the body for Salah.
Salah scores with a shot to the side of Kali's head.

Kali is rocked!
A right hand to the body from Salah.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mo Salah seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kali takes a shot to the head.
Kali is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Salah is keeping busy.
Salah has Kali pressed against the cage, preventing Kali from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kali is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Salah.
Salah digs a right hand into Kali's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kali's gas tank.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salah trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Salah on the inside.
Salah tries for a takedown but Kali manages to get underhooks.
Kali is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Salah has Kali pressed against the cage, preventing Kali from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch on the inside from Kali fails to land.
Salah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Salah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kali has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Salah lands a left hand.
Salah prevents Kali from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salah blocking some punches.
Salah works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Salah lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kali.
A short right from Salah on the inside.
Salah lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Salah.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kali gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Salah.
Hol Kali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Salah.
Salah misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kali.
Salah tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Salah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salah tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kali is trying to push Salah away but Salah has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Salah blocking some punches.
Salah is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kali is defending well for now.
Salah lands with a right to the head.
Salah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Salah tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kali looking to slow down the pace here.
Salah tries to land knees in the clinch but Kali avoids the damage to the body.
Salah lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Salah creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Salah lands a body shot.
Kali blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Salah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hol Kali's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kali tries to keep at a distance but Salah has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kali on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salah lands a shoulder strike.
Salah lands with a right to the head.
Salah scores with a shot to the side of Kali's head.
Salah lands a nice shot to the body.
Salah throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short left from Salah.
Kali wants to get back to striking at distance but Salah won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salah lands with a light punch inside.
Oh Kali is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Still in the clinch, Salah scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kali tries to break the clinch but Salah is controlling the position.
Salah has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kali after a bit of a struggle.
Salah lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Salah creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kali avoids a wild elbow strike from Salah.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Salah scores with a hook to the body.
Salah scores with a shoulder strike.
Salah is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kali tries to circle away but Salah has him pinned against the cage.
Kali working aggressively here.
A body shot lands from Salah.
Kali seems to have got his legs back now.
Salah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kali trying to stall but Salah improves his position.
Salah lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kali backwards.
Kali is trying to break free.
Salah makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Salah working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mo Salah is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kali tries to break the clinch but Salah is controlling the position.
Salah trying to land knees to the body.
Kali wants to get back to striking at distance but Salah won't allow it.
Kali looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kali tries to break the clinch but Salah is controlling the position.
Salah lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kali backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kali stalling in the clinch but Salah improves position.
Kali wants to stall.
Kali trying to stall but Salah improves his position.
Kali is trying to break the clinch but Salah has him pressed against the cage.
Salah blocks an uppercut.
Salah lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kali tries to stall but Salah uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kali fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kali is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Salah with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salah lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hol Kali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kali misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo Salah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Salah winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 26:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Salah!