PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liam James (ranked 703 p4p, 103 weight class) and Eerikki Salmi (ranked 1273 p4p, 176 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think James might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Come To Daddy by Aphex Twin. 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.

James
vs
Salmi

190 cm
25
215 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

190 cm
25
217 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eerikki Salmi!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salmi moves away from the strike by James.
Salmi throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salmi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.
Salmi thows a body kick. James tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Eerikki Salmi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salmi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
James misses with a hook.
Salmi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salmi misses with a low kick.

Salmi gets a clinch.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Salmi moves away from the strike by James.
Salmi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Salmi.
James misses with a left hand
and Salmi counters with a nice uppercut.
James fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salmi looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
Salmi lands with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
James throws a hook but Salmi avoids it easily.
James loads up on a big right hand but Salmi slips the punch.
James misses with an uppercut. Salmi saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a looping overhand right but Salmi ducks down to avoid it.
Salmi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
James misses with a hook.
Salmi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice jab there from James.
Salmi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Salmi throws out a powerful jab.
James is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Salmi connects with a good right hand that stumbles James. James circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Salmi blocks a jab.
A little jabbing left from Salmi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
James misses with a double jab.
Salmi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
James looks to throw the jab but Salmi is out of range.
Salmi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
James checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salmi misses with a straight left.
Salmi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salmi slips under a jab from James.
James keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salmi.
An attempted straight right counter from James misses the target.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salmi throws a jab when James was well out of range.
Salmi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salmi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salmi avoids the body shot from James.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Salmi's shoulder, as Salmi tries to avoid the shot.
James lands a nice hook to Salmi's body. Salmi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James misses with a double jab.
Salmi misses with a head kick.
Salmi wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James throws a jab but it's blocked by Salmi.
Salmi tries a quick counter leg kick but James is wise to it.
Salmi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Salmi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Salmi clinches.
James misses with a short punch on the inside.
James lands a nice uppercut.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salmi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.

James breaks the clinch.
Salmi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James is looking for a counter combo.
Salmi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! James had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from James.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salmi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James misses with a looping left.
A little jabbing left from Salmi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
James misses with a looping left.
Salmi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
James loads up on a big right hand but Salmi slips the punch.
James defending well as Salmi loads up on a big left hand.
Salmi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salmi scoring well with a low kick there.
James lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by James.
A shot to the body from James misses
enabling Salmi to counter with a crisp jab.
Salmi defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
It seemed like Salmi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Salmi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donk. Salmi catches James right on the button with a cross.
Salmi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
Salmi throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.

Salmi has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salmi misses with the head strike.

James manages to break the clinch.
Salmi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to James's calf.
Salmi misses with a right hand
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
Salmi throws a front kick aimed at James's knee but James avoids it well.
James misses with a straight left.

Salmi closes the distance and clinches.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Salmi moves into the clinch.
James misses with a punch to the body.
Salmi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Salmi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Salmi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salmi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Salmi lands a really nice looking cross but James seems unphased.
Salmi scores with a punch to the head.
Salmi slips a jab from James.
Salmi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Salmi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. James looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eerikki Salmi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James looks to land a right hand but Salmi moved out of range.
Salmi misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
Salmi misses with a low kick.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salmi.
Salmi slips a straight right by James.
Salmi throws out a counter right but James avoids it with no problem.
Salmi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from James.
James sets himself, and Salmi steps forward looking for the clinch! James avoids it this time.
Salmi slips a straight right by James.
Crunch! Salmi slams his shin into James's torso.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salmi.
James takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Eerikki Salmi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James misses with an uppercut. Salmi saw that one coming.
Salmi just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salmi lands a jab.
Salmi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
James throws a lazy right hand but Salmi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Salmi rushes James and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salmi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James manages to break the clinch.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Salmi slips under a jab from James.
Salmi thumps James with a low kick.
Salmi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
James scores with a nice strike.
James misses with a hook.
Salmi defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
Salmi throws a head kick that James semi-blocks.

It looks like Liam James has been cut.
James throws a hook to the side of Salmi's head but Salmi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salmi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
James tries to bum rush Salmi with a series of wild strikes but Salmi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salmi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That kick from Salmi tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
Salmi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice uppercut there from Salmi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James throws a jab when Salmi was well out of range.
Salmi wants to counter the offense by James and move into the clinch position.
James moves away from the strike by Salmi.
James stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Salmi scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salmi.
Salmi swings for the body but James moves out of range.
Salmi misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
Salmi avoids a punch combination nicely.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
James's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Salmi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! James scrambles back to his feet.
Salmi cracks the inside of James's front leg.
Good exchange - Salmi coming out on top.
Salmi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salmi darts in trying to clinch
and Salmi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salmi throws a jab when James was well out of range.
James looks to land a right hand but Salmi moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salmi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
James throws a looping overhand right but Salmi ducks down to avoid it.
James looks to throw the jab but Salmi is out of range.
James takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Salmi scores with a push kick.
Salmi slips a jab from James.
James lands with a shot to the body.
James swings for the body but Salmi moves out of range.
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Salmi closes the distance looking to clinch
and James counters with a straight right hand.
James swings widly with a right hand
enabling Salmi to counter with a crisp jab.

Salmi has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salmi lands a nice shot that snaps James's head back.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Salmi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

James is rocked!
Salmi throws a poor cross that misses
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
James darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Salmi tries to clinch but James moves out of range.

Salmi closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salmi misses with a looping right.
James walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The fighters circling - Salmi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Salmi loads up on a big right hand but James slips the punch.
James checks the leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salmi throws a right hand that misses
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salmi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Salmi lunges at James with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by James's hand.
A jab lands there for Salmi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eerikki Salmi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Liam James's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Salmi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
James throws a hook to the side of Salmi's head but Salmi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
James throws a body shot but no joy.
A big right from James misses.
Salmi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.
James is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Salmi ducks under a wild hook from James.
Salmi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Salmi cracks James with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! James looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Salmi finish him?
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Salmi misses with a straight left.

Salmi drops James with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but James looks back up at him and smiles so Salmi waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James misses with a body shot.
Salmi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
James misses the jab.
A jab from James finds it's way through Salmi's defenses.
Salmi misses with a wild body shot.
James connects with a jab.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
Salmi walks into a jab.

Salmi is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands an uppercut, right on the button! Salmi tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Liam James!
A victorious Liam James thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.