PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Salsalani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kacper Siemion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kacper Siemion has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Abdul Salsalani's chin.

Salsalani
vs
Siemion

185 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Salsalani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kacper Siemion!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Siemion misses with the combination.

Siemion shoots in and gets a takedown into Salsalani's guard.

Siemion gets to his feet - Salsalani follows without any prompting.
Salsalani throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Siemion counters with a nice double leg into side control. Salsalani won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Siemion decides to stand up, so the ref orders Salsalani to his feet.
Siemion wants to clinch up but Salsalani keeps it at a distance.
Salsalani really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Siemion shoots and misses
and Salsalani counters with a left to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Siemion tries to clinch there but Salsalani circles away.

Siemion scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Salsalani knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Siemion on the ground.
Siemion is controlling the pace.
Siemion is looking to take a break and control but Salsalani is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Siemion is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Salsalani sees it coming and defends easily.
Siemion tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Siemion looks gassed!
Siemion is looking to stall here but Salsalani recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Siemion works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Siemion seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Siemion prevents Salsalani from improving his position.
Siemion wants to pass to mount but Salsalani is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsalani tries to get to full guard but Siemion has control of the leg.
Siemion is taking a breather. Salsalani 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.
Salsalani trying to control but Siemion postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salsalani avoids the head kick by Siemion.

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.
Siemion moves in looking to clinch but Salsalani pushes him off.
Salsalani tries to bum rush Siemion with a series of wild strikes but Siemion uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Siemion is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Salsalani's half guard.
Siemion seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Siemion trying to control the pace.
I looks like Siemion might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kacper Siemion dominated that 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Siemion throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Siemion is trying to break the clinch but Salsalani has him pressed against the cage.

Siemion successfully pulls guard.
Siemion looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Siemion has Salsalani pulled in close to control his posture.
Siemion keeping moving, preventing Salsalani from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Siemion fails with the takedown
and Salsalani counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siemion swings away with a body shot that misses
and Salsalani counters with a nice low kick that buckles Siemion's knee momentarily.
Salsalani lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Siemion clobbers Salsalani with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Siemion looks to score with a jab to the body but Salsalani is just out of range.
Siemion misses with an uppercut
and Salsalani counters with a two punch combo.
Siemion ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salsalani moves away.
Siemion pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Siemion fails with a takedown attempt.
Siemion throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siemion showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Salsalani.

Siemion rushes Salsalani and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Siemion tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Abdul Salsalani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kacper Siemion.

Siemion ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Siemion no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Salsalani trying to control the position from guard on top but Siemion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Siemion looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Siemion is on top in guard.
Siemion is looking to work some ground and pound but Salsalani has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Siemion stands up from Salsalani's guard - Siemion perhaps looking for a knockout.

Siemion rushes Salsalani and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Siemion pulls guard successfully.
Salsalani is fighting to break Siemion's control of his arms but Siemion is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Siemion pushes Salsalani off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Abdul Salsalani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsalani misses with a few strikes there.
Siemion doesn't manage to clinch there - Salsalani circles away.

Siemion shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Salsalani is trying to defend but Siemion finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Siemion is trying to control. Salsalani wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Siemion not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kacper Siemion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Siemion is looking to clinch.
Siemion misses with a takedown attempt
and Salsalani counters with a two punch combo.
Salsalani tries to clinch but Siemion moves out of range.
Salsalani misses with a double jab.

Siemion darts in and clinches Salsalani up against the cage.

Siemion breaks the clinch.
Siemion is looking to clinch.
Salsalani throws a sloppy head kick and Siemion moves out of range easily.
Kacper Siemion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Siemion shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Siemion controls from within his opponent's guard.
Siemion passes Salsalani's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsalani has a hand on Siemion's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Siemion takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Siemion scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Salsalani is trying to reverse the position but instead Siemion has taken his back - oops!
Siemion biding his time, looking for the opening.
Kacper Siemion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salsalani looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Salsalani is trying to defend against the choke here but Siemion has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Siemion Tightens the hold and Salsalani taps out furiously! Siemion displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kacper Siemion!