PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fuego Salsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Eric Luchador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Salsa
vs
Eric Luchador

168 cm
24
152 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

172 cm
20
158 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fuego Salsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ken Eric Luchador!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luchador misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Salsa shoots in and drives through. Luchador sprawls well.
Luchador tries to land a leg kick but Salsa saw it coming and moves away.
Luchador looks to throw the jab but Salsa is out of range.
Luchador stuns Salsa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Salsa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Luchador misses with an uppercut.
Salsa swings for the body but Luchador moves out of range.
Luchador is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salsa.
Luchador connects with a nice looking jab.
Salsa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luchador.
Salsa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Luchador counters with a two punch combo.
Salsa takes one on the button.
Salsa with a poor takedown
enabling Luchador to counter with a crisp jab.
Salsa misses with a hook to the body
and Luchador counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Luchador counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fuego Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luchador throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Luchador throws a leg kick but Salsa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Salsa slips a jab from Luchador.
Salsa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Salsa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Luchador.
Luchador missing with a left hand there. Salsa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salsa misses with a wild body shot.
Luchador loads up on a big right hand but Salsa slips the punch.
Luchador connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Salsa's hands.
Salsa misses with a takedown attempt
and Luchador counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Salsa thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa misses with a takedown
and Luchador counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salsa just misses with a punch to the body.
Luchador fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Salsa fails with the takedown
and Salsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Luchador works Salsa's body with a nice hook.
Luchador throws a nice inside leg kick.
Salsa defending well as Luchador loads up on a big left hand.
Salsa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Luchador counters with a slapping leg kick.
Luchador scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Luchador.
Salsa dodges the punch combination from Luchador.
Luchador is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Salsa had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Salsa has his takedown stuffed
enabling Luchador to counter with a crisp jab.

Salsa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Salsa swings around for an armbar but Luchador sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Salsa's guard.
Luchador throws a big right hand that misses.
Luchador wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Luchador looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Salsa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Luchador defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luchador is pushing down on Salsa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Salsa is fighting to maintain full guard but Luchador has managed to sneak the leg through.
Luchador is trying to control. Salsa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Salsa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Salsa.

Salsa is looking for a triangle but Luchador pushes his legs off easily.

Salsa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Luchador defends it easily.

Salsa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Salsa is breathing heavily.

Salsa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Luchador escapes and throws Salsa's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Salsa looks to move to half guard but instead Luchador has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Eric Luchador dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salsa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luchador moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salsa. Luchador does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luchador throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salsa on the side of the head.
Luchador misses with a wild body shot.
Luchador throws the left hand but Salsa avoids the punch easily.
Luchador pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salsa tries for a takedown but Luchador circles away easily
letting Luchador counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salsa fails with the takedown
and Luchador counters with a straight right hand.
Salsa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luchador was well out of range. Poor timing from Salsa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa walks into a jab.
Luchador uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salsa.
Salsa fails with the takedown
and Luchador counters with a three punch combo that has Salsa backing up. Salsa nods at Luchador to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fuego Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luchador misses the jab.
Fuego Salsa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salsa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luchador moves away.
Luchador scores with a hook to the body. Salsa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Salsa throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Luchador works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Luchador takes a swing at Salsa's ribcage but misses.
Salsa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Luchador counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salsa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luchador throws a hook to the side of Salsa's head but Salsa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Luchador throws a looping overhand right but Salsa ducks down to avoid it.
Salsa misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Luchador counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salsa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Luchador counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salsa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Luchador counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salsa tries for a takedown but Luchador circles away easily
and Luchador counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Salsa misses with a takedown
enabling Luchador to counter with a crisp jab.
Luchador swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa misses with a body punch
and Luchador counters with a nice body shot.
Salsa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Luchador counters with a one-two to the body.
Salsa has his takedown stuffed
and Luchador counters with a straight right hand.
Salsa staying out of range there.
Salsa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luchador.
Ken Eric Luchador seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Salsa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luchador was well out of range. Poor timing from Salsa.
Salsa swings away with a body shot that misses
and Luchador counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salsa. Luchador does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luchador missing with a left hand there. Salsa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salsa tries for a takedown but Luchador circles away easily
enabling Luchador to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luchador misses the jab.
Salsa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Luchador tries to bum rush Salsa with a series of wild strikes but Salsa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salsa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Salsa shoots and misses
and Salsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salsa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Salsa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Salsa fails with the takedown
and Luchador counters with a nice uppercut.
Luchador scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Salsa throws a predictable looking body shot
and Luchador counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salsa misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Eric Luchador showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Salsa moves out of range of the strikes.
Luchador works the jab nicely.
Salsa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Salsa just misses with a punch to the body.

Salsa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Salsa moves into full mount! Luchador won't be happy about that!

Salsa jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Luchador is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Luchador and Salsa has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Salsa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Luchador, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Luchador's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Salsa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Luchador is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
I wouldn't like to be where Luchador is right now.
Luchador manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Salsa seems to be working for a kimura but Luchador defends the submission attempt.

That's two 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.

Salsa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Luchador has managed to free his arm - good work.
Salsa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Salsa is trying to work for a kimura but Luchador is defending well.

Salsa wants to work for an arm triangle but Luchador is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fuego Salsa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luchador wants to get back to full guard.

Salsa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Luchador is just riding it out for now. Salsa eventually gives up the hold.

Salsa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Luchador is just riding it out for now. Salsa eventually gives up the hold.
Ken Eric Luchador is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salsa drops his hands momentarily and Luchador takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ken Eric Luchador is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Luchador looks to throw the jab but Salsa is out of range.
Salsa takes a swing at Luchador's ribcage but misses.
Luchador lands a really nice looking cross but Salsa seems unphased.
Salsa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luchador.
Salsa misses with a takedown attempt
and Luchador connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salsa shoots and misses
and Luchador counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Luchador swings for the body but Salsa moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luchador lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Salsa at a distance.
Luchador connects with a body shot.
Salsa misses with a takedown attempt
and Luchador counters with a three punch combo that has Salsa backing up. Salsa nods at Luchador to acknowledge the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Eric Luchador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Luchador winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Eric Luchador!