PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esko Salo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucio Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vera has chosen Iron Man - Black Sabbath as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Salo
vs
Vera

175 cm
22
184 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
179 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Salo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucio Vera!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera throws a low kick but Salo avoids it.
A punch combination from Salo misses.
Vera throws a shot to the body.
Lucio Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salo takes a swing at Vera's ribcage but misses.
A shot to the liver by Salo. Beautiful body shot.
Salo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Vera tries to bum rush Salo with a series of wild strikes but Salo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vera shoots in for a double leg but Salo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vera misses with an uppercut. Salo saw that one coming.
Salo throws a body punch but Vera moves out of range.
Vera looks to throw the jab but Salo is out of range.
Vera throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vera is defended easily by Salo.
Salo misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Vera lands an impressive looking overhand right. Salo doesn't seem phased though.

Salo closes the distance and clinches.
A right handed body shot lands from Salo.
Salo cracks Vera with a nice body shot.
Vera looks gassed!
Salo lands a body shot.
Salo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Esko Salo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Vera.
Vera takes a shot to the head.

Salo breaks the clinch.
A left lands for Salo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salo connects with a right hand. Vera shakes it off.
Salo scores with a spinning back kick!
Vera takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Salo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vera manages to avoid it.
Vera tries to work over Salo's front leg with a kick but Salo checks it.
Vera lands a lovely overhand right.
Salo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Salo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vera shoots in for a takedown but Salo shows good takedown defense.
Salo lands a jab to Vera's midsection.
Salo scores with the left hand. Vera knows he should have avoided that one.
Salo jabs at Vera's body.
Salo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Salo connects with a solid leg kick.
Salo jabs at Vera's body.
Salo lands with a shot to the body.
Salo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salo.
Salo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice body punch from Salo.
Esko Salo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vera stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Salo.
Nice cross by Salo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo connects with a looping right hand.
Vera on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Salo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Vera is trying desperately to land a takedown but Salo is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Vera.
Salo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Salo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salo blocks a jab.
Vera shoots in and drives through. Salo sprawls well.
Salo jabs at Vera's body.
Salo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jab by Salo.
Salo slips a straight right by Vera.
Salo is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Vera throws a combination that misses

and Salo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salo.
Salo lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salo breaks from the clinch.
Salo blocks a jab.
Salo slips a jab from Vera.
Salo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Salo scores with a nice head shot.
Salo is looking to wear down Vera with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vera takes one on the button.
Vera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vera, right into the meat.
Vera misses with a shot to the body
and Salo counters with a nice uppercut.
Salo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vera throws a solid leg kick but Salo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vera.
The fighters circling - Vera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vera's hands.
Vera lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Vera scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Vera scores with a jab to the body.
Salo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vera can do to turn this around?
Vera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salo was well out of range. Poor timing from Vera.
Vera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salo.
Salo throws the left hand but Vera avoids the punch easily.
Vera misses with a straight left.
Salo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Vera misses with a head kick.
Salo misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Vera.
A head kick misses from Salo.
Vera throws an overhand right that lands on Salo's shoulder, as Salo tries to avoid the shot.
Salo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera throws a nice looking combination but Salo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vera misses with a hook.
Esko Salo is winning the standup battle so far.
Salo throws an overhand right that lands on Vera's shoulder, as Vera tries to avoid the shot.
Vera lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vera cracks the inside of Salo's front leg.
Vera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Salo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Vera clobbers Salo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vera misses with a head kick.
Salo slips a straight right by Vera.
Vera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salo.
Vera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salo. That did some damage!
Salo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salo.
Vera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera just misses with a punch to the body.
Vera cracks a nice hook into Salo's ribs.
Salo throws a leg kick but Vera moved away.
Vera shoots for a takedown but Salo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Salo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Vera looks to score with a jab to the body but Salo is just out of range.
Salo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salo misses with a double jab.
Salo throws a jab when Vera was well out of range.
Vera clobbers Salo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vera misses with a looping right.
Salo tests Vera's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Vera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Salo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Salo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vera was well out of range. Poor timing from Salo.
Vera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vera throws a hook to the side of Salo's head but Salo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vera cracks the inside of Salo's front leg.
Salo ducks under a wild hook from Vera.
Vera throws a low kick but it's checked well by Salo.
Salo throws a head kick that misses.
Salo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vera's calf.
Vera darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Salo works over Vera's head and body with a nice combination.
Vera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salo moves out of range as Vera strikes.
Salo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vera misses with a hook.
Vera throws a leg kick but Salo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Salo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vera checks the leg kick.
Vera misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Salo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Salo swings for the body but Vera moves out of range.
Vera connects with a solid leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Vera scores with a four punch combination!
Vera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vera there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vera feints and then cracks Salo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salo down.
Vera buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucio Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Salo.
Salo slips a straight right by Vera.
Salo avoids the body shot from Vera.
Vera cracks Salo with an open hand slap.
Salo moves away from the strike by Vera.
Salo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vera.
Salo ducks under a wild hook from Vera.
Vera fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Salo checks it well.
Salo connects with a jab.
Salo blocks a jab.
Vera throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Salo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vera misses with a body punch
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vera throws a low kick, looking for Salo's leg but Salo calmly moves out of range.
Vera checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo scores with a jab. Vera acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Salo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Salo cracks a nice hook into Vera's ribs.
Vera fails with the takedown
letting Salo counter with a right hand.
Salo digs a good body shot into Vera's ribs.
Salo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vera is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Salo.
Vera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vera doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Salo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vera doesn't seem bothered though.
Vera takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Vera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Salo.
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!
Salo lands with a shot to the body.
Vera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Salo. Salo obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice shot by Salo.
Vera throws a leg kick

and Salo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salo.
Salo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Salo manages to break the clinch.
Vera throws a hook but Salo blocks it.
Vera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Salo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salo wants to clinch.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vera loads up on a big right hand but Salo slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Vera throws a wild body kick that Salo sees coming a mile off.
Vera throws a leg kick
and Salo counters with an outside leg kick.
Vera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vera looks to land a left hand but Salo moved out of range nicely.
Vera drops his hands momentarily and Salo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Salo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salo swivels and escapes.
A left lands for Salo.
Salo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salo. Vera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vera fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Salo momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Vera misses.
Vera checks the leg kick.
A big right from Vera misses.
Vera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Salo throws out the jab.
Salo thows a leg kick but Vera checks it
and Vera counters with an outside leg kick.
Salo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A low kick from Vera misses
and Salo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vera throws a body punch but Salo moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Salo misses the target.
Vera misses with a takedown attempt
and Salo counters with a left to the body.
Esko Salo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Vera.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salo scores with a sloppy right hand. Vera should have avoided that one.
Salo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Salo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Salo!