PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between sekert saletti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and WIlle Waara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). WIlle Waara will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

saletti
vs
Waara

160 cm
22
132 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, sekert saletti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, WIlle Waara!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
saletti fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Waara on the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from saletti.
Waara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A combination from saletti does no damage.
Waara takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jab, jab by saletti - just one landing.

saletti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Waara doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Waara wants to sweep but no luck.
saletti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Waara is keeping the position for now.
saletti knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Waara on the ground.
saletti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
saletti preventing the sweep.
Waara keeping moving, preventing saletti from controlling successfully.
saletti sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

saletti gets a takedown into half guard.

Waara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Waara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Waara throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Waara keeping moving, preventing saletti from controlling successfully.
Waara is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Waara lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for saletti!

Waara is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, saletti has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
saletti tries to hold on but Waara pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Waara looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Waara controlling his opponent.
saletti is desperately trying to improve his position but Waara has a good base and remains in mount.
saletti avoids a series of strikes thrown by Waara.
Waara trying to control but saletti is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
saletti can't escape the position.
saletti tries to hold on but Waara postures up.

Waara is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, saletti has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Waara has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Waara looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
saletti manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Waara is pressing down on saletti's thigh, looking to free his foot. saletti is holding on for now.
saletti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
saletti is refusing to be controlled, as Waara sits in half guard.

Waara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and saletti defends it well.
saletti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Waara is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Waara is thwarting saletti's attempts to control the position.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

saletti fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Waara sprawls well initially but saletti persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
saletti wants to control but Waara is keeping him busy.
saletti trying to mount his opponent but Waara defends it.
Waara is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of saletti's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take saletti's back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Waara's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
saletti trying to control the hands but Waara breaks the grip.
Waara struggling to land strikes to the head as saletti covers up.

Waara working for a choke but saletti is defending well.
Waara is hanging on to saletti's back as he tries to escape.
saletti is working hard here to advance position.
saletti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Waara patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

sekert saletti dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

saletti lands a nice hook to Waara's body. Waara takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
saletti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waara as he jumps to the side.
saletti shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Waara as he avoids it easily.
saletti scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
saletti fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for sekert saletti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
saletti shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Waara but Waara pushes him off and we're back to square one.

saletti gets a takedown into half guard.
saletti moves nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Waara's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Waara is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on saletti's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
saletti trying to control the action but Waara is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waara is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but saletti pulls his head out easily.
Waara tries to get to full guard but saletti has control of the leg.
Waara trying to hold on to saletti's head to control him but saletti postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. saletti lands a nice short elbow.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Waara doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Waara tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but saletti swivels and escapes.

saletti shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than saletti was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Waara regains half guard.
saletti working Waara over with strikes.
saletti content to control rather than advance.
saletti wants to free his trapped foot but Waara is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waara wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Waara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Waara trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Waara keeping full guard, as saletti tries to pass.
Waara is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
saletti wants to pass the guard but Waara is keeping the position.
Waara striking off his back but it's not causing saletti any problems.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Waara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has saletti pinned against the cage. saletti gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by saletti.
Waara manages to work his way to half guard, despite saletti's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
saletti is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
saletti wants to lay and pray for a moment but Waara keeps working.
Waara is trying to maintain the position but saletti is very close to passing his half guard.
Waara tries to get to full guard but saletti has control of the leg.
saletti slips a nice elbow through Waara's hands, connecting with Waara's forehead.
saletti perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Waara makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Waara.
saletti slips nicely into half guard.
saletti lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
saletti looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
saletti wants to control but Waara is keeping him busy.
Waara tries to get to full guard but saletti has control of the leg.

Waara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Waara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Waara looking for submissions off his back.
Waara gets full guard.
Waara tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

saletti decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Waara moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Waara is on top in guard.
Waara passes saletti's left leg - he's now in half guard.
saletti is looking to improve his position.
saletti is refusing to be controlled, as Waara sits in half guard.
saletti wants to improve his position but Waara is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

sekert saletti dominated that second round.
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!

saletti feints and as Waara raises his hands in defense, saletti changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
saletti trying to control the position from guard on top but Waara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
saletti tries to free his leg and advance position but Waara is retaining full guard.
Waara looking for a sweep. Not yet Waara, not yet.
saletti wants to pass the guard but Waara is keeping the position.
Waara manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. saletti manages to get himself to full guard.
Waara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Waara works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Waara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Waara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
saletti tries to get to full guard but Waara has control of the leg.
Waara thows a huge punch but saletti dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
saletti won't allow Waara to pass to mount.

Waara is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
saletti wants to get back to full guard.
Waara passes to side control.
saletti is not content to let Waara control the position.

Waara thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
saletti defending against the ground and pound.
saletti defending against the ground and pound.
An elbow from Waara crashes against the mat.
saletti tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Waara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Waara tries for a kimura but saletti is defending well.
Waara misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
saletti is trying to control Waara's posture but Waara avoids it.
Waara trying to control the action but saletti is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Waara.
saletti scores with a nice right hand.
sekert saletti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
saletti scores with a decent looking hook.
saletti slow jab from Waara misses its intended target.
saletti moves out of range of the body kick.
Waara throws a jab but it's blocked by saletti.
A jab from saletti does it's job there.
Waara fails to land the takedown.
saletti thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

saletti changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Waara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Waara sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
saletti controlling the pace.

Waara looking for submissions off his back.
saletti scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Waara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
saletti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Waara is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! saletti rolls with it to try and escape but Waara cranks on the arm and saletti is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). WIlle Waara!