PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rob Salek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Purcell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Rob Salek had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Salek
vs
Purcell

160 cm
19
137 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

165 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Elite Clothing

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Salek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Purcell!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Purcell checks the leg kick.
Salek fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Purcell tries to close the distance and clinch but Salek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salek scores with a leg kick.
Purcell looks to land a combination but Salek avoids it well.
Purcell throws a series of punches but Salek avoids them all with ease.
Purcell looks to throw the jab but Salek is out of range.
Purcell looks gassed!
Purcell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salek closes this distance looking for a takedown but Purcell circles away.
Purcell lands an overhand right.

Salek scores a takedown into full mount!
Purcell squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Purcell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Purcell bucks up and throws Salek to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Purcell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Purcell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salek manages to avoid it.
Salek tries to clinch up
and Purcell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Purcell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Salek is looking to clinch.
Salek throws a sloppy head kick and Purcell moves out of range easily.
Salek is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Purcell looks to land a combination. Salek sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Salek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Purcell, pushing him back against the cage.

Purcell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Purcell forces Salek back against the cage and clinches.
Purcell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Purcell is trying to break free.

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.
Purcell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Salek pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Purcell blocks the elbow strike.

Purcell turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Purcell in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Salek is trying to buck Purcell off.
Purcell scores with a couple of short elbows.

Purcell stands up and beckons Salek to his feet.
Salek tries to clinch but Purcell moves out of range.
Salek takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Salek fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Purcell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Purcell.

Purcell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Salek with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salek unloads a knee to the mid-section. Purcell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Purcell looking for a takedown.
Purcell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Purcell can't break the clinch.
Salek stalling in the clinch.
Purcell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Salek.
Salek goes for a takedown attempt but Purcell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Salek misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Purcell.
Rick Purcell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Salek gets a clinch.
Salek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Salek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Purcell.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Purcell.
Salek effectively controlling the action here.
Salek looking to throw knees to the head but Purcell is blocking nicely.
Salek throws a knee to the head but misses.

Purcell has Salek pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Purcell pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Salek tumbling to the mat - Purcell dives into Salek's guard.
Purcell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Salek, as that shot connected.
Purcell lands a two punch combo.
Purcell throws a right hand that Salek ducks under and follows up with a left that Salek also avoids with ease.
Salek fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salek fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salek fails with the takedown.
Purcell connects with a crisp jab.
Purcell clobbers Salek with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Purcell closes the distance and clinches.
Salek can't break the clinch.
The referee calls for Salek to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Purcell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Purcell can't break the clinch.
Salek avoiding damage.
Salek misses with some punches.

Salek breaks from the clinch.
Purcell connects with a body shot.
Salek lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Purcell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Salek.
Purcell's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Purcell duly obliges.
Purcell tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salek.
Salek misses with a knee to the head.
Purcell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Salek gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Purcell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Purcell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Salek prevents it.
Purcell has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Salek tries to land a knee to the head but Purcell blocks with his arms.
Purcell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salek is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Purcell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Salek looking to slow down the pace here.
Purcell is trying to break free.
Purcell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Purcell tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.

Purcell breaks from the clinch.
Purcell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salek as he jumps to the side.
Rob Salek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Purcell.
Salek is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salek misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Salek looks to land a left hand but Purcell moved out of range nicely.
Salek is looking to clinch but Purcell is avoiding it.
Purcell darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Salek tries to clinch but Purcell moves out of range.
Purcell works Salek's body with a nice hook.
Salek displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Purcell throws out the jab.
Salek tries to clinch there but Purcell circles away.
Salek doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Purcell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice body punch from Purcell - that landed with a thud.
Purcell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Salek pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Purcell can't get the takedown.

Salek gets control of Purcell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Salek will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Purcell prevents Salek from getting back to his feet.
Purcell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Salek is proving hard to escape from.

Purcell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Purcell fails to land with a series of punches.

Salek scores a takedown into full mount!
Purcell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Purcell is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Purcell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Purcell falls off balance throwing a combination
and Salek counters with a low kick, right behind Purcell 's knee.
Purcell throws a leg kick

and Salek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salek.
A right hook to the body lands for Purcell.
Salek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Purcell blocks it with crossed arms.
Purcell tries to break the clinch but Salek is controlling the position.
Purcell tries to land knees in the clinch but Salek avoids the damage to the body.
Purcell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Purcell pushes off an throws an elbow but Salek leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Purcell has had enough of the clinch but Salek keeps him there for the moment.
Purcell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salek keeps control of Purcell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salek taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Purcell is trying to break the clinch but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Salek stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Salek takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salek tries to stall but Purcell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Salek just misses with a elbow thrown towards Purcell's brow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Purcell as Salek tries to tie him up.
Purcell trying to land knees to the body.
Purcell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salek has him pressed against the cage.
Purcell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salek looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Salek can't get the takedown.
Salek wants to stall.
Knees to the body from Salek.
Salek connects with a knee to the head.

Purcell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rob Salek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salek misses with the combination.
A solid body kick from Salek.
Salek doesn't manage to clinch there - Purcell circles away.
Purcell throws a nice looking combination but Salek bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Salek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Purcell pinned against the cage. Purcell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Salek tries to clinch up.
Salek doesn't manage to clinch there - Purcell circles away.
Purcell lands the left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Salek.

Salek darts in and clinches Purcell up against the cage.
Purcell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A knee to the head by Salek.
Purcell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salek gets underhooks to prevent Purcell's takedown attempt.
Salek jumps guard but Purcell stands there with Salek around his waist. Salek gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Salek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salek has Purcell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Purcell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Salek keeps control of Purcell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Salek scores with a shot to the side of Purcell's head.
Purcell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Purcell is trying to break free.

Salek manages to break the clinch.
Purcell throws a combination. Salek tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Some wild striking there from Purcell.
Purcell throws out a loose jab but Salek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Purcell connects with the punch.
Purcell throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nice takedown defense from Purcell. No joy for Salek on that attempt.
Salek lands a high kick!
Salek fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Salek rushes Purcell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salek is pressed up against the cage. Purcell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Salek down to the mat. Salek avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Salek doesn't manage to clinch there - Purcell circles away.
Purcell misses with a combination
and Salek counters with a good low kick that Purcell was not able to check.
Purcell misses with a series of wild punches.
Salek tries to clinch but Purcell is having none of it.
Purcell falls off balance throwing a combination
and Salek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Purcell misses with a straight right.
Purcell has his takedown stuffed

and Salek moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Salek showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Purcell 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 James Glass scores the fight for Rick Purcell!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Rick Purcell!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Rick Purcell!

Rick Purcell wins by unanimous decision!