PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Saltalamacchia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Hovi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mike Saltalamacchia's chin.

Hovi
vs
Saltalamacchia

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Hovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Saltalamacchia!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hovi moves in looking to clinch but Saltalamacchia pushes him off.
Saltalamacchia uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hovi.
Hovi cracks a nice hook into Saltalamacchia's ribs.
Some bone on bone action there as Saltalamacchia checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Saltalamacchia misses with a takedown attempt - Hovi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hovi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Saltalamacchia is out of range and Hovi settles back down.
Hovi stuffs the takedown.
Saltalamacchia blocks a jab.
Saltalamacchia swats away the attempt to clinch by Hovi.

Hovi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hovi tries to land knees in the clinch but Saltalamacchia avoids the damage to the body.
Hovi throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hovi is trying to break free.
Hovi tries to land knees in the clinch but Saltalamacchia avoids the damage to the body.
Hovi misses with a knee to the head.
Hovi is trying to break free.
Saltalamacchia has had enough of the clinch but Hovi keeps him there for the moment.
Saltalamacchia tries to pull guard but Hovi holds him up against the cage and eventually Saltalamacchia drops back down to his feet.
Seppo Hovi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Saltalamacchia.
Hovi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saltalamacchia prevents Hovi from breaking the clinch.
Saltalamacchia managing to block the knees to the body from Hovi.
Saltalamacchia missing with knees to the body.
Hovi lands a knee to the body.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hovi prevents the takedown attempt.
Saltalamacchia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saltalamacchia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hovi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Saltalamacchia tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hovi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saltalamacchia blocks it with crossed arms.
Hovi tries to break the clinch but Saltalamacchia is controlling the position.
Hovi tries to land a knee to the head but Saltalamacchia blocks with his arms.
Hovi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hovi tries to break the clinch but Saltalamacchia is controlling the position.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saltalamacchia tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hovi has had enough of the clinch but Saltalamacchia keeps him there for the moment.

Hovi breaks from the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hovi.

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.
Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hovi counters by moving into the clinch.
Saltalamacchia keeps control of Hovi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hovi tries to land a knee to the head but Saltalamacchia blocks with his arms.
Hovi tries to land a knee to the head but Saltalamacchia blocks with his arms.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hovi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Saltalamacchia's brow.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Saltalamacchia jumps into guard, dragging Hovi to the mat.
Saltalamacchia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hovi is breathing heavily.
Hovi tries to kick Saltalamacchia off but Saltalamacchia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hovi wants to improve his position but Saltalamacchia is controlling well.
Hovi is working hard here to advance position.
Hovi is staying active underneath Saltalamacchia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saltalamacchia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hovi tries to get to full guard but Saltalamacchia has control of the leg.

Saltalamacchia is looking for a kimura but Hovi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saltalamacchia to get the leverage.
Hovi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saltalamacchia on the ground.
Hovi wants to improve his position but Saltalamacchia is controlling well.
Hovi is trying to stand.
Saltalamacchia is trying to control the action in half guard but Hovi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saltalamacchia wants to pass to mount but Hovi is defending the position.
Hovi wants to improve his position but Saltalamacchia is controlling well.

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.
Saltalamacchia slows the pace down in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Saltalamacchia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hovi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hovi looks to land a right hand but Saltalamacchia moved out of range.
Hovi keeps the fight on the outside.
Saltalamacchia looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hovi stuffs the takedown attempt from Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia gets slowly back to his feet.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Saltalamacchia clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saltalamacchia has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hovi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hovi managing to block the knees to the body from Saltalamacchia.
Hovi wants to break free but Saltalamacchia has control.
Saltalamacchia trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hovi misses with the head strike.
Hovi throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Hovi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saltalamacchia moves into the clinch.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hovi tries to break the clinch but Saltalamacchia is controlling the position.
Hovi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saltalamacchia has him pressed against the cage.
Saltalamacchia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hovi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saltalamacchia keeps control of Hovi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hovi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hovi is trying to break free.
Saltalamacchia tries to pull guard but Hovi holds him up against the cage and eventually Saltalamacchia drops back down to his feet.
Saltalamacchia managing to block the knees to the body from Hovi.
Hovi is trying to break free.
Hovi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saltalamacchia.
Saltalamacchia keeps control of Hovi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Hovi on the inside.
Saltalamacchia tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Seppo Hovi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Saltalamacchia.
Saltalamacchia drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Saltalamacchia gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hovi regains guard.
Hovi keeping moving, preventing Saltalamacchia from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi wants to stand but Saltalamacchia is controlling the position.
Saltalamacchia stays in close to Hovi's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hovi pushes Saltalamacchia off and scrambles back to his feet.
Seppo Hovi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hovi misses with a wild combination.
Seppo Hovi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saltalamacchia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saltalamacchia on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hovi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saltalamacchia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hovi scores with a jab. Saltalamacchia acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Saltalamacchia shoots in but Hovi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saltalamacchia takes one to the side of the head.
Saltalamacchia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hovi as he avoids it easily.
Saltalamacchia looks to land a combination but Hovi avoids it well.

Saltalamacchia darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Saltalamacchia trying to control from half guard but Hovi is working away.

Saltalamacchia is working for a kimura but Hovi is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saltalamacchia controlling the action here.

Saltalamacchia postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hovi to stand up.
Saltalamacchia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hovi throws out the jab.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hovi wants to clinch.

Saltalamacchia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saltalamacchia has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Saltalamacchia stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Saltalamacchia chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hovi, as that shot connected.
A choreographed right hand from Hovi misses the target.
Hovi is looking to land body kicks.
Hovi cracks Saltalamacchia with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hovi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hovi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Saltalamacchia avoids a punch combination nicely.

Hovi has managed to clinch.
Hovi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hovi lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Saltalamacchia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hovi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hovi, right into the meat.
Saltalamacchia slips a jab and a cross from Hovi.
Hovi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Hovi moves into range and clinches up with Saltalamacchia.
Hovi wants to get back to striking at distance but Saltalamacchia won't allow it.
Hovi lands an elbow that stopped Saltalamacchia in his tracks for a moment.
Hovi is pressed up against the cage. Saltalamacchia has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hovi down to the mat. Hovi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jab by Hovi.
Hovi misses with a combination

so Saltalamacchia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hovi has his hands on Saltalamacchia's head, controlling the position.
Saltalamacchia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hovi keeping moving, preventing Saltalamacchia from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saltalamacchia wants to stand but Hovi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Saltalamacchia trying to control the position from guard on top but Hovi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saltalamacchia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hovi is keeping the position for now.
Saltalamacchia trying to control but Hovi is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hovi throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Saltalamacchia circles away from the clinch attempt.

Saltalamacchia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hovi is looking to get to half guard.
Saltalamacchia blocks Hovi's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hovi is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saltalamacchia seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Hovi is holding on tight.
Hovi is squirming around, avoiding Saltalamacchia's attempts to control the action.
Hovi tries to hold on but Saltalamacchia postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saltalamacchia is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hovi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Saltalamacchia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hovi is looking to escape.

Hovi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Saltalamacchia.
Saltalamacchia with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Saltalamacchia trying to control but Hovi is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hovi tries to hold on but Saltalamacchia postures up.
Saltalamacchia looking to finish with strikes here!
Saltalamacchia avoids the attempt from Hovi to control.
Saltalamacchia looking to ground and pound but Hovi is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Saltalamacchia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saltalamacchia 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Saltalamacchia!