PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hadj Salim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Havoc (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.

Salim
vs
Havoc

177 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hadj Salim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Havoc!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salim clinches.

Salim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salim looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Salim has taken the fight to the clinch.

Havoc jumps into guard, dragging Salim to the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Havoc keeping moving, preventing Salim from controlling successfully.
Salim passes Havoc's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Salim throwing shots but Havoc is blocking nicely.
Havoc trying to control here.
Havoc tries to get to full guard but Salim has control of the leg.
Havoc wants to control but Salim is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Salim really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Havoc does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Havoc keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Salim thows a huge punch but Havoc dodges it nicely.
Havoc is refusing to be controlled, as Salim sits in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Havoc scores with a nice strike.
Salim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Havoc looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Salim trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salim wants to stand and escape but Havoc is having none of it.
Salim trying to control the position.

Salim kicks Havoc off and gets to his feet.
Salim is looking to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Havoc looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Salim!
Salim is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salim manages to work his way to half guard, despite Havoc's best efforts.

Havoc is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Salim is just riding it out for now. Havoc eventually gives up the hold.
Havoc stops Salim from getting back to his feet.
Salim is breathing heavily.
Salim trying to control from the bottom.
Salim is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Havoc tries to pass the half guard into mount. Salim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Havoc really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salim. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Havoc keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Jean Havoc has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Havoc throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Havoc dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Havoc manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Salim on his heels. He'll look to pass Salim's guard now, I'm sure.
Havoc pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salim is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salim is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Havoc is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Salim defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jean Havoc will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Salim tries to clinch up but Havoc circles away and keeps his distance.
Salim fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Salim takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Havoc changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Salim looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Salim manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Havoc wants to get back to full guard.
Salim seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Havoc is in trouble now - Salim has advanced to mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salim looking to control but Havoc is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Havoc is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Salim working for a guillotine from mount but Havoc is in no mood to give up.
Havoc holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Salim tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Salim trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Havoc is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Havoc is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Salim looking to control but Havoc is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Havoc is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Havoc flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Havoc is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Havoc keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Salim with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Havoc tries to lock up and control but Salim gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jean Havoc has got the better of the ground game so far.
Havoc is desperately trying to improve his position but Salim has a good base and remains in mount.
Havoc tries to hold on but Salim postures up.

Salim wants to finish this one by submission but Havoc is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salim.
Salim tries to control but Havoc wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Havoc tries to hold on but Salim pushes him away.
Salim prevents Havoc from getting the reversal.
Havoc tries to control Salim's body but Salim pushes him off. Havoc squirms to his side and now Salim has his back!
Salim controlling well, preventing Havoc from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salim throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Havoc just trying to survive but Salim is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Salim is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Havoc has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hadj Salim will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Havoc shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Salim moves into full guard.
Havoc throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Havoc is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Salim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Havoc doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Havoc manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Havoc controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Havoc trying to control but Salim is working from the bottom.
Salim keeping full guard, as Havoc tries to pass.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jean Havoc was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Havoc manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Salim on his heels. He'll look to pass Salim's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Havoc looking to sit in guard and control but Salim gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Salim trying to control but Havoc is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Havoc is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Salim wants to control from the top but Havoc keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Salim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Havoc throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Havoc closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Salim quickly recovers to half guard.

Havoc is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Salim defends it well.
Havoc not doing much here.
Salim trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Havoc is stalling here. Salim is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Havoc seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Salim has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Havoc is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Salim is controlling him well.
Salim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Havoc keeps working.
Havoc wants to get back to his feet.
Salim throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Havoc is trying to improve his position.

Salim stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Havoc comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Havoc 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight for Jean Havoc!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Jean Havoc!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Jean Havoc!

Jean Havoc wins by unanimous decision!