PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Kyle Kovingten (ranked 21916 p4p, 21546 weight class) and Marco Salamanca (ranked 494 p4p, 498 weight class). Kovingten kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Tool - Schism. Salamanca has chosen Superstar Cypress Hill as his entrance music. Marco Salamanca acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Kovingten
vs
Salamanca

181 cm
35
170
38 - 19 - 2

176 cm
32
157
20 - 9 - 3

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Kovingten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 3, fighting out of Sydney, Marco Salamanca!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salamanca throws out a loose jab but Kovingten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca lands a jab-cross combination.
Kovingten scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Salamanca moves out of range as Kovingten throws a body kick.
Salamanca takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Salamanca tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kovingten manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salamanca lands with a thumping leg kick.
Salamanca takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Salamanca throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kovingten.
Salamanca lands with a nice combination. Kovingten backs away looking to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovingten walks into a straight right hand from Salamanca.
Kovingten has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Salamanca.
Kovingten moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salamanca takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Salamanca throws an off balance right hand
enabling Kovingten to counter with a crisp jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kovingten.
Kovingten has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Salamanca closes the distance and pushes Kovingten back into the ropes.
Kovingten lands an elbow just above Salamanca 's eye.

Kovingten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salamanca misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovingten circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kovingten takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kovingten steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salamanca.
Kovingten is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salamanca.
Salamanca connects with a right hand. Kovingten shakes it off.
Kovingten lands with an uppercut that bounces Salamanca off the ropes and back into range.
Kovingten on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Salamanca. Salamanca obviously looking to wear him down.

Salamanca takes the fight into the clinch.
Salamanca misses with some punches.
Kovingten has had enough of the clinch but Salamanca keeps him there for the moment.
Kovingten looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kovingten prevents a body shot from Salamanca.
Kovingten is trying to break the clinch but Salamanca has him pressed against the ropes.
Kovingten wants to get back to striking at distance but Salamanca won't allow it.
Kovingten tries to work over Salamanca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovingten avoids the elbow strike from Salamanca, against the ropes.
A short right from Salamanca.

Kovingten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten lands a slapping body shot.
Kovingten bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Salamanca has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salamanca throws a hook but Kovingten avoids it easily.
Salamanca misses with a low kick.
Salamanca scores with a nice strike.
Salamanca paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.
A lazy body kick from Kovingten
and Salamanca counters with a leg kick.
Kovingten fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kovingten just misses with a punch to the body.
Kovingten misses with a leg kick.
Salamanca plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kovingten tried to score with a low kick but Salamanca checks it.
Salamanca scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kovingten throws a leg kick but Salamanca sees it coming and moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovingten swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kovingten tries to keep at a distance but Salamanca has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kovingten manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Salamanca dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kovingten has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Salamanca finds it's way round the side to connect with Kovingten's head.
Kovingten pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salamanca fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kovingten misses with a body kick.
Salamanca tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovingten throws a leg kick that misses.
Salamanca throws a head kick but Kovingten moves out of range.
Kovingten displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Salamanca throws out the jab.
Salamanca scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kovingten goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kovingten moves out of range of the body kick from Salamanca.
Kovingten fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kovingten looks to score with a jab to the body but Salamanca is just out of range.

Salamanca moves into range and clinches up with Kovingten.
Salamanca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kovingten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovingten dodges an elbow strike from Salamanca.
Salamanca trying to land knees to the body.
Kovingten blocks a body shot from Salamanca.
Kovingten on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovingten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovingten blocking some punches.
Salamanca working aggressively here.
Salamanca lands a shoulder strike.

Kovingten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salamanca looks to land a right hand but Kovingten moved out of range.
And Kovingten counters with a quick kick to the body but Salamanca blocks it.
Kovingten looks to throw a body kick
and Salamanca counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kovingten throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The fighters circling - Salamanca throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kovingten avoids the head kick by Salamanca.
Kovingten scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kovingten throws a body kick that misses.
Salamanca lands a nice hook to Kovingten's body. Kovingten takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kovingten pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Salamanca throws a low kick, looking for Kovingten's leg but Kovingten calmly moves out of range.
Salamanca fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kovingten shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kovingten throws a nice outside leg kick.
Salamanca moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salamanca takes one to the side of the head.
Salamanca tests Kovingten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kovingten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salamanca throws the left hand but Kovingten avoids the punch easily.
Kovingten punishes Salamanca's body with a nice straight punch.
Kovingten sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kovingten throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Salamanca's head.
Kovingten tries a low kick but Salamanca avoids it.
Salamanca takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd cheers as Salamanca lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kovingten doesn't seem phased though.
Kovingten tried to score with a low kick but Salamanca checks it.
Kovingten tries a low kick but Salamanca avoids it.
Salamanca's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kovingten under the eye.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten scores with a jab to the body.
Salamanca checks a low kick from Kovingten.
Salamanca ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kovingten defending well as Salamanca loads up on a big left hand.
Salamanca throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovingten.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marco Salamanca will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Salamanca scores with a nice right hand.
A lazy left from Salamanca finds it's target.
Salamanca throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovingten.
Kovingten is looking to wear down Salamanca with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kovingten scores with a hook.
A leg kick checked by Salamanca.
Salamanca tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kovingten manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Salamanca misses.
Kovingten was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Salamanca lands with a nice body punch.
Salamanca misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Salamanca misses the target.
Salamanca looks to land a combination but Kovingten avoids it well.
Kovingten cracks Salamanca with a good jab.
Salamanca looks to land a body kick but Kovingten moved away.
Kovingten throws a leg kick which misses Salamanca's front leg but catches the back leg as Salamanca tries to avoid it.
Kovingten misses the shot to the body.
Salamanca tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kovingten manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovingten throws a low kick but Salamanca moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salamanca steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kovingten. That one must have hurt.
Kovingten throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Salamanca.
Salamanca with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kovingten to score with a decent uppercut.
Salamanca explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kovingten connects with a good right hand that stumbles Salamanca. Salamanca circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Salamanca digs a good hook to Kovingten's body.
Salamanca dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Salamanca.
Salamanca connects with a high kick.
Kovingten defending well as Salamanca loads up on a big left hand.
Salamanca ducks under a wild hook from Kovingten.
Salamanca throws a hook but Kovingten avoids it easily.
Kovingten throws a push kick but Salamanca slaps the foot to one side.
Marco Salamanca seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kovingten takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
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 jab from Salamanca misses.
Kovingten connects with an inside leg kick.
Salamanca throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kovingten misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.
Kovingten lands a nice looking kick to the body. Salamanca takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca scores with a nice right hand.
A lazy left from Kovingten finds it's target.
Kovingten listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Salamanca throws a body kick that misses.
Kovingten ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
Salamanca thuds his shin into the meat of Kovingten's side.
Salamanca scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kovingten clobbers Salamanca with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Salamanca tries to move into range but Kovingten moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Salamanca misses with an uppercut. Kovingten saw that one coming.
That kick from Salamanca tenderised Kovingten's leg. Kovingten is trying to keep his angry face on.
A slapping leg kick lands for Salamanca.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovingten is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Salamanca throws a hook but Kovingten avoids it easily.
Salamanca lands a jab to the head.
A low kick lands for Salamanca.
Kovingten throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Salamanca really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salamanca buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salamanca looks to land a left hand but Kovingten moved out of range nicely.
Kovingten connects with a body shot.
Salamanca looks to land a right hand but Kovingten moved out of range.
Salamanca swings widly with a right hand
letting Kovingten counter with a right hand.
Kovingten swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salamanca lands a leg kick that knocks Kovingten off balance momentarily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovingten.
Kovingten uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salamanca.
Kovingten jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
A jab from Kovingten finds it's way through Salamanca's defenses.
Salamanca rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Salamanca takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kovingten throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kovingten throws a push kick but Salamanca slaps the foot to one side.
Salamanca throws out a counter right but Kovingten avoids it with no problem.
Salamanca paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salamanca misses with an attempted mid kick.
Salamanca tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kovingten is able to avoid easily.
A jab from Kovingten misses.
Salamanca moves out of range of the body kick.
Salamanca chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kovingten can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salamanca is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kovingten throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kovingten takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A combination from Kovingten does no damage.
Salamanca misses with a wild combination.
Kovingten on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kovingten misses with a body kick.
Salamanca throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kovingten moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salamanca tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Salamanca connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kovingten. Kovingten circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Good standup being displayed there by Salamanca as he connects with a hook.
Salamanca throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kovingten checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kovingten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salamanca.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten throws a sloppy head kick and Salamanca moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salamanca looks to land a right hand but Kovingten moved out of range.
Kovingten looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Salamanca blocks the body kick.
A combination from Salamanca does no damage.
Kovingten throws a hook but Salamanca blocks it.
Salamanca counters with a body kick.
Salamanca avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kovingten is looking to chop away at Salamanca's legs.
Salamanca tried to score with a low kick but Kovingten checks it.
Salamanca wants to clinch up but Kovingten keeps it at a distance.
Salamanca moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Salamanca lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Salamanca swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Kovingten misses its target.
Kovingten does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Salamanca ducks right into an uppercut from Kovingten.
Nice uppercut lands for Salamanca. That snapped Kovingten's head back.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salamanca misses with an uppercut.
Salamanca throws a right and a left that Kovingten avoids nicely.
Kovingten jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Salamanca takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Kyle Kovingten will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. 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.

Kovingten lands a nice looking body kick.
Kovingten misses with a leg kick
and Salamanca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovingten throws a body punch but Salamanca moves out of range.
Salamanca misses with a hook. Kovingten ducked under it nicely.
Kovingten lands with a cross.
Kovingten pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salamanca is out of range and Kovingten settles back down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Salamanca.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Salamanca checks a leg kick.
Kovingten looks to land a body kick but Salamanca moved away.
Kovingten misses with a leg kick
and Salamanca counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Salamanca moves into range and clinches up with Kovingten.

Kovingten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid body kick from Kovingten.
Kovingten misses with a hook.
Kovingten avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kovingten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kovingten loads up on a big right hand but Salamanca slips the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body kick from Kovingten.
Marco Salamanca is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Salamanca. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Salamanca.
A good leg kick by Salamanca.
Kovingten slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kovingten moves away from the strike by Salamanca.
Salamanca jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kovingten jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Salamanca looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovingten is just out of range.
Kovingten bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kovingten throws a wild body kick that Salamanca sees coming a mile off.
Kovingten takes a swing at Salamanca's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Kovingten misses.
Salamanca takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Salamanca clinches.
Salamanca creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kovingten's defenses.

Kovingten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salamanca throws a looping overhand right but Kovingten ducks down to avoid it.
A quick step to the side and Kovingten tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salamanca throws a big shot that misses.
Kyle Kovingten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovingten tries to bum rush Salamanca with a series of wild strikes but Salamanca uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kovingten misses with an uppercut. Salamanca saw that one coming.
Good shot there by Kovingten.
Kovingten takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Salamanca defending well as Kovingten loads up on a big left hand.
Salamanca fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kovingten.
Salamanca scoring well with a low kick there.
Salamanca digs a good hook to Kovingten's body.
A left lands for Salamanca.
Kovingten takes a kick to the side of the head.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Salamanca.
Salamanca lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Salamanca tries to land a front kick but Kovingten steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kovingten jabs Salamanca to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kovingten dips to his left and cracks Salamanca with an uppercut!
Kovingten throws a leg kick
and Salamanca counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marco Salamanca.
Well Salamanca has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 46:50
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Salamanca!
After winning the bout, Marco Salamanca thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.