PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between zac mirionto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and faisal salahuddin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

mirionto
vs
salahuddin

169 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, zac mirionto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, faisal salahuddin !
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - mirionto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
salahuddin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from mirionto.

salahuddin moves into range and clinches up with mirionto.
salahuddin tries to break free but mirionto pushes him back against the cage.
mirionto tries to pull guard but salahuddin won't allow it.
mirionto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as salahuddin walks away with a smile on his face. mirionto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for zac mirionto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

mirionto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in salahuddin 's half guard.
salahuddin trying to control from the bottom.
mirionto stops salahuddin from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mirionto thows a huge punch but salahuddin dodges it nicely.
salahuddin taking some punishment here, with mirionto in his half guard.
salahuddin trying to hold on to mirionto's head to control him but mirionto postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
mirionto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
mirionto trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
salahuddin tries to kick mirionto off but mirionto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
mirionto wants to take a breather but salahuddin is having none of it.

salahuddin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but mirionto pulls his head out easily.
mirionto is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
salahuddin is looking to control mirionto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can salahuddin avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mirionto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
mirionto wants to free his trapped foot but salahuddin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

mirionto is trying to work for a kimura but salahuddin is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
mirionto controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

zac mirionto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

mirionto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
salahuddin swinging wilding here.
salahuddin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and mirionto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by mirionto.
mirionto is pushing down on salahuddin 's leg trying to pass to half guard. salahuddin is fighting to maintain full guard but mirionto has managed to sneak the leg through.
mirionto passes to full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
salahuddin wants to hold on but mirionto pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mirionto landing strikes, looking to finish!
mirionto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
mirionto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. zac mirionto just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

mirionto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
salahuddin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
salahuddin struggling a bit here.
mirionto throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
salahuddin looks to move to half guard but instead mirionto has passed into mount! Damn!
mirionto working away from the top, dropping strikes.
mirionto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
mirionto fails to move to back control.
salahuddin tries to hold on but mirionto postures up.

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.

mirionto with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
salahuddin wants to control but mirionto is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

zac mirionto dominated that second round.
That's time! mirionto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

salahuddin checks a low kick from mirionto.
salahuddin tries a head kick but it misses.

mirionto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. salahuddin is trying to defend but mirionto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
salahuddin wants to control but mirionto is keeping busy.

mirionto decides to stand and escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
salahuddin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
mirionto is trying hard to land a takedown here. salahuddin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
salahuddin doesn't manage to clinch there - mirionto circles away.
mirionto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from salahuddin .
salahuddin leaves mirionto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
salahuddin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

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.
salahuddin wants to clinch up but mirionto keeps it at a distance.
salahuddin circles away from the clinch attempt
and salahuddin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
salahuddin doesn't manage to clinch there - mirionto circles away.
salahuddin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and mirionto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
mirionto advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mirionto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
mirionto is figuring out what he wants to do next.
salahuddin wants to get back to his feet.
salahuddin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
mirionto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed salahuddin 's head.
mirionto perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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.
mirionto tries to pass the half guard into mount. salahuddin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

mirionto stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows salahuddin to get to his feet.
faisal salahuddin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
zac mirionto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

mirionto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - mirionto lands in his opponent's guard.
mirionto content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
zac mirionto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for mirionto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... zac mirionto!