PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Salsalani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Acevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdul Salsalani could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Derek Acevedo's chin.

Salsalani
vs
Acevedo

185 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

160 cm
26
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 7 - 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Acevedo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salsalani fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Acevedo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Salsalani moves into the clinch.
Salsalani is trying to push Acevedo away but Acevedo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Acevedo fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Salsalani pulls guard effortlessly.
Salsalani is looking to stand up but Acevedo isn't so interested in that idea.
Acevedo being controlled here momentarily.
Salsalani throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Salsalani wants to sweep but no luck.
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.
Salsalani looking to control.
Acevedo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Salsalani is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acevedo trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsalani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Salsalani lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Acevedo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Acevedo slips a jab and a cross from Salsalani.
Salsalani throws a right hand that Acevedo ducks under and follows up with a left that Acevedo also avoids with ease.
Salsalani lands a glancing blow to the side of Acevedo's head.
Salsalani throws a right and a left that Acevedo avoids nicely.
Salsalani plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Acevedo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Salsalani counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsalani works over Acevedo's head and body with a nice combination.
Salsalani misses with a double jab.
Acevedo dodges the punch combination from Salsalani.
Acevedo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Salsalani. That one must have hurt.
Salsalani takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Derek Acevedo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salsalani comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Acevedo with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Salsalani to counter with a crisp jab.
Abdul Salsalani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Acevedo.
A combination from Salsalani does no damage.
Salsalani connects with a body shot.
A punch combination from Salsalani misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsalani scores with a jab to the body.
Salsalani connects with a crisp jab.
Salsalani goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Salsalani throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salsalani shoots in looking for a takedown. Acevedo tries to sprawl out of it but Salsalani keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Acevedo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Salsalani is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Salsalani swinging wildly here.
Salsalani misses with the combination.
Acevedo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Salsalani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Salsalani stuffs the takedown.
Salsalani lands a jab-cross combination.
Nice straight punches there by Salsalani. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Salsalani.
Salsalani will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Salsalani tries to close the distance and clinch up but Acevedo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Acevedo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salsalani as he jumps to the side.
Salsalani keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Salsalani dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A punch combination from Salsalani misses.
Acevedo is trying desperately to land a takedown but Salsalani is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Acevedo.
Salsalani closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Acevedo shoots in but no luck this time.
A punch combination from Salsalani misses.
Acevedo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Salsalani scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Salsalani scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Salsalani scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Salsalani misses with a few strikes there.
Acevedo misses with a takedown
and Salsalani counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Acevedo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Salsalani counters with a two punch combo.
Abdul Salsalani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Acevedo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Salsalani!
Salsalani throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Acevedo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Acevedo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salsalani throws a one two combo.
Salsalani feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Acevedos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A nice combination there by Salsalani.
Acevedo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Salsalani counters with a right hand to the body.
Salsalani defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Acevedo.
Salsalani stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salsalani wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Salsalani rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Acevedo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Acevedo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salsalani sprawls well. Salsalani wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Acevedo gets slowly back to his feet.

Acevedo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Acevedo won't allow Salsalani to get back to his feet.
Salsalani will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Acevedo postures up and lands a big shot to Salsalani's brow.

Salsalani had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Acevedo defends it easily.

Salsalani is working an open guard so Acevedo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo tries to clinch but Salsalani is having none of it.
Acevedo fails with the takedown.
Salsalani fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Acevedo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salsalani sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Acevedo somewhat.

Acevedo scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Acevedo raining down shots from the mount!
Acevedo looking to finish Salsalani with some ground and pound. This is bad for Salsalani!
Acevedo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Salsalani is looking to improve his position but Acevedo isn't that keen on the idea.
Acevedo landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Acevedo 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!

Acevedo tries to clinch but Salsalani moves away
and Salsalani counters with a straight right hand.
Salsalani lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Salsalani tries to close the distance and clinch up but Acevedo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Acevedo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Abdul Salsalani is winning the standup battle so far.
Salsalani throws a right hand that Acevedo ducks under and follows up with a left that Acevedo also avoids with ease.
Acevedo tries to close the distance and clinch but Salsalani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salsalani shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Acevedo eats them both and turns towards Salsalani to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Acevedo misses with a body shot
and Salsalani counters with a one-two to the body.
Acevedo walks into a stiff left hand from Salsalani.
Acevedo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Salsalani throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Acevedo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salsalani tries to bum rush Acevedo with a series of wild strikes but Acevedo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsalani stalks Acevedo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Acevedo's face. Acevedo staggers backwards, shaken.
Acevedo tries to clinch but Salsalani is having none of it.
Salsalani lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Salsalani cracks a nice hook into Acevedo's ribs.
Salsalani is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Salsalani swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Acevedo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Salsalani manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Acevedo chips away with some ground and pound.
Acevedo looking to pass the guard.
Acevedo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsalani is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Acevedo is controlling him.
Acevedo forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salsalani is trying to stand back up but Acevedo is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo trying to mount his opponent but Salsalani defends it.
Salsalani blocking the ground and pound attempt from Acevedo.
Salsalani wants to control but Acevedo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Salsalani wants to get back to his feet.
Salsalani is staying active underneath Acevedo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Salsalani is trying to maintain the position but Acevedo is very close to passing his half guard.
Acevedo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Salsalani's head.

That's four 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.
Acevedo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Acevedo throws a combination that misses
and Salsalani cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Acevedo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Salsalani circles away quickly and effectively.
A left lands for Salsalani.
Acevedo misses with a takedown attempt
and Salsalani counters with a three punch combo that has Acevedo backing up. Acevedo nods at Salsalani to acknowledge the strikes.

Acevedo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Salsalani knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Acevedo on the ground.
Nice strikes from Acevedo there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Acevedo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Acevedo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Acevedo!