PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chito Jacare Salazar (ranked 2449 p4p, 1846 weight class) and Uestus Johnston (ranked 300 p4p, 238 weight class). Johnston has chosen Clint Eastwood- Gorillaz as his entrance music. Chito Jacare Salazar had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Salazar
vs
Johnston

172 cm
29
160
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
157
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chito Jacare Salazar !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Uestus Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salazar tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johnston counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnston circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Johnston to counter with a crisp jab.
Salazar shoots and misses
and Johnston cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnston fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Salazar darts in trying to clinch
and Johnston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnston circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Johnston to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar misses with a takedown
and Johnston counters with a series of strikes. Salazar will be more careful next time no doubt.
Salazar closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnston counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnston looks to land a combination. Salazar sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar walks into a left hand.
Salazar tries to clinch but Johnston moves away
and Johnston cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salazar misses with a takedown attempt
and Salazar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chito Jacare Salazar . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salazar takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Salazar has his takedown stuffed
and Salazar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnston cracks Salazar with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Salazar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnston counters with a nice body shot.
Johnston has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Johnston keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Johnston digs a good body shot into Salazar 's ribs.
Salazar dives in and grabs Johnston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnston pushes down on Salazar 's head and hops out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salazar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salazar with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a one-two to the body.
Salazar fails with the takedown
and Johnston cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salazar with a poor takedown
and Johnston counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Salazar is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Johnston lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Salazar backs up against the cage.
Johnston uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Salazar wants to clinch but Johnston slips to the side
and Johnston counters with a straight right hand.
Salazar tries to clinch up
and Johnston counters with a right hand to the body.
Johnston jabs Salazar to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Johnston has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Salazar tries to clinch up
and Johnston counters with a two punch combo.
Salazar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnston as he avoids it easily.
Johnston is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Salazar had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Salazar moves to clinch but Johnston breaks away
and Johnston counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salazar doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Johnston lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnston lands with a good body shot.
Johnston lands with a hook. Salazar tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnston is working the combinations to good effect here.
Salazar tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Johnston makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Salazar looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Johnston scores with the left hand. Salazar knows he should have avoided that one.
Salazar takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Salazar darts in trying to clinch
and Johnston counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salazar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnston counters with a one-two to the body.
Salazar shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnston connects with a good right hand that stumbles Salazar . Salazar circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Uestus Johnston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A decent looking cross lands there for Johnston.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Salazar . He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Salazar with a poor takedown
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Johnston scores with a sloppy right hand. Salazar should have avoided that one.
Salazar moves to clinch but Johnston breaks away
and Johnston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salazar gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnston.
Johnston jabs Salazar to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Salazar misses with a takedown
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Salazar darts in trying to clinch
and Salazar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salazar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnston tries to avoid it but Salazar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnston to the ground. Johnston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Salazar backs off Johnston throws a huge counter combo but Salazar manages to avoid it all.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salazar wants to clinch
and Johnston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salazar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Salazar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Uestus Johnston 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.

Salazar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salazar looks to clinch
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Salazar doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnston throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Salazar tries to clinch but Johnston moves away
and Johnston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salazar looks to clinch
and Johnston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salazar with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chito Jacare Salazar . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salazar looks to clinch
and Johnston counters with a nice uppercut.
Chito Jacare Salazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnston gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Salazar to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnston has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salazar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston pulls Salazar in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnston can do anything to dispel that myth.
Salazar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salazar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Salazar is in close to Johnston's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Salazar landing some decent shots from guard.
Salazar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salazar throwing strikes but missing.
Johnston is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Johnston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Salazar is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnston has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salazar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnston is trying to keep Salazar in close.
Salazar throws a big right hand that misses.
Salazar works over Johnston with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnston is pulling down on Salazar 's head. It's preventing any offense from Salazar , at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
Johnston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Salazar throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salazar is fighting to break Johnston's control of his arms but Johnston is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Salazar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've been hearing that Salazar has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Salazar is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnston has wrist control.
Salazar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Salazar preventing the sweep.
Johnston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salazar is fighting to break Johnston's control of his arms but Johnston is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Salazar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnston has momentary wrist control but Salazar slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnston has Salazar pulled in close to control his posture.
Salazar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnston is pulling down on Salazar 's head to control his posture.
Johnston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Salazar .
Johnston controls Salazar momentarily but Salazar frees himself.
Johnston 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.
Salazar content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salazar scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Salazar throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
Johnston has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Salazar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
Johnston has control of Salazar 's left arm, preventing Salazar from doing any damage.
Salazar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnston 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.
Johnston seems keen to control Salazar 's posture.
Salazar working some strikes from top position.
Salazar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Salazar throws a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnston holds on and takes a little breather.
Salazar lands a couple of elbows.
Salazar throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnston has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Johnston trying to keep a closed guard but Salazar is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chito Jacare Salazar dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Salazar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Johnston scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Uestus Johnston seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnston stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Salazar tries for a takedown but Johnston circles away easily
and Johnston counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salazar tries to clinch up
and Johnston counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salazar tries to clinch up
and Johnston counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar looks to clinch
and Johnston counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johnston jabs Salazar right on the nose. Salazar blinks but takes it well.
Johnston's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Johnston duly obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salazar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Johnston shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Salazar eats them both and turns towards Johnston to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Salazar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnston as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chito Jacare Salazar . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnston leaves Salazar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnston is looking for the big counter here.
Salazar doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a nice uppercut.
Salazar drops his hands momentarily and Johnston takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Salazar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnston manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnston scores with a jab to the body.
Salazar misses with a takedown
and Johnston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnston wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnston counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Salazar thinking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salazar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnston throws a one two combo.
Salazar tries for a takedown but Johnston circles away easily
and Johnston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnston lands a jab to the head.
Johnston lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnston.
Johnston lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Salazar wants to clinch but Johnston slips to the side
and Johnston makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnston throws a good cross that connects.
Salazar moves to clinch but Johnston breaks away
and Johnston counters with a stiff right hand.
A left and a right from Johnston both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar wants to clinch but Johnston slips to the side
and Johnston cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salazar with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnston cracks a nice hook into Salazar 's ribs.
Salazar wants to clinch
and Johnston counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salazar moves to clinch but Johnston breaks away
and Johnston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnston scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Salazar wants to clinch
and Johnston counters with a right hand to the body.
Salazar is looking to clinch but Johnston is avoiding it.
Johnston unleashes a big counter combination but Salazar bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Salazar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Salazar fails with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston circles away from the clinch attempt
and Johnston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnston's jab looks to have found its range, popping Salazar under the eye.
Salazar tries for a takedown but Johnston circles away easily
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Uestus Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salazar takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johnston sizes up Salazar with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Salazar closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnston counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Salazar thinking.
Johnston lands with a nice combination. Salazar backs away looking to recover.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good shot there by Johnston.
Salazar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnston counters with a three punch combo that has Salazar backing up. Salazar nods at Johnston to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnston connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uestus Johnston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnston 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 26:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 26:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uestus Johnston!
Uestus Johnston took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.