PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleon Salmon (ranked 7543 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thabo Dlamini (ranked 3791 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salmon
vs
Dlamini

196 cm
25
240 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
280 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cleon Salmon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thabo Dlamini!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salmon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dlamini is fending him off so far but Salmon persists. Nope, Dlamini circles away and we're back to standing.
Dlamini wants to counter with a clinch but Salmon pushes him away.
Salmon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dlamini counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Dlamini is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Salmon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dlamini.

Dlamini is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dlamini scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dlamini winds up and cracks Salmon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dlamini controlling the action here.
Dlamini seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dlamini is looking to take a break and control but Salmon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salmon wants to control but Dlamini is keeping busy.
Dlamini working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Salmon trying to control from the bottom.
Dlamini performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Salmon wants to improve his position but Dlamini is controlling well.
Salmon trying to hold on to Dlamini's head to control him but Dlamini postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dlamini throwing shots but Salmon is blocking nicely.
Dlamini is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Dlamini is looking to take a break and control but Salmon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dlamini working the head and body with strikes.
Dlamini is taking a breather. Salmon says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dlamini not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dlamini is trying to control the action in half guard but Salmon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dlamini is looking for a kimura here.
Dlamini is trying to control the action in half guard but Salmon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Salmon is defending against the submission attempts here by Dlamini.
Dlamini takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dlamini missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dlamini is nestled in close to Salmon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dlamini thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Salmon is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dlamini is taking a breather. Salmon says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Salmon has hold of Dlamini's hands but Dlamini slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Salmon manages to get to full guard.
Salmon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dlamini.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salmon keeping moving, preventing Dlamini from controlling successfully.
Dlamini has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Dlamini postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Salmon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dlamini, into his guard.

Dlamini managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thabo Dlamini dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dlamini shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Salmon defends it nicely.
Cleon Salmon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salmon closes the distance looking to clinch

and Dlamini decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salmon's guard.
Dlamini looking to pass the guard.
Dlamini lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dlamini in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salmon keeping moving, preventing Dlamini from controlling successfully.
Dlamini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salmon is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dlamini is looking to work some ground and pound but Salmon has wrist control.
Dlamini slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dlamini looking to pass the guard.
Dlamini trying to control the position from guard on top but Salmon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dlamini throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dlamini's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thabo Dlamini has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salmon keeping moving, preventing Dlamini from controlling successfully.
Dlamini not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two 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 has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dlamini dives in and scores a takedown into Salmon's guard.

Salmon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dlamini defends it easily.
Salmon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dlamini passes into half guard.
Dlamini frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dlamini with good strikes from the mount here!
Dlamini looking to finish Salmon with some ground and pound. This is bad for Salmon!

Dlamini jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Salmon manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Dlamini taking a break here but Salmon is having none of it and regains half guard.
Dlamini throwing shots but Salmon is blocking nicely.
Dlamini slows the pace down in half guard.
Dlamini looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dlamini is trying to control the action in half guard but Salmon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dlamini tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Salmon.
Dlamini is controlling the pace.
Dlamini working Salmon over with strikes.

Dlamini is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dlamini moves into full mount! Salmon won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thabo Dlamini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dlamini has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dlamini misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salmon is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Dlamini turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dlamini manages to end up in side control.
Salmon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dlamini wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Check out the look on Dlamini's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dlamini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salmon keeps working.
Dlamini scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Salmon to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dlamini wants to control but Salmon is keeping him busy.
Dlamini is chipping away with strikes.

Dlamini is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Salmon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Salmon can't do much from the bottom here.
Dlamini creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dlamini is putting a hurting on Salmon here, landing some big shots from side control.
Dlamini misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Salmon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Dlamini tries for a kimura but Salmon is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dlamini working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Dlamini stands up and beckons Salmon to his feet.
Cleon Salmon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dlamini pushes Salmon up against the cage in a clinch.

Dlamini breaks from the clinch.

Dlamini looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dlamini scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Salmon is looking to control Dlamini's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Salmon avoid being mounted?
Dlamini working Salmon over with strikes.
Dlamini thows a huge punch but Salmon dodges it nicely.
Dlamini is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dlamini lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Salmon is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dlamini scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dlamini throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dlamini missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salmon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dlamini scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dlamini not doing much here.
Salmon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Salmon trying to control here.
Salmon is refusing to be controlled, as Dlamini sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dlamini is looking for a kimura but Salmon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dlamini to get the leverage.
Cleon Salmon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thabo Dlamini is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dlamini takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thabo Dlamini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dlamini 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thabo Dlamini!