PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fuego Salsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Azazel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azazel has chosen Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow as his entrance music. The Azazel will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Salsa
vs
Azazel

168 cm
29
152 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

186 cm
29
227 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 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 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, The Azazel!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azazel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azazel shoots and misses
and Salsa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Azazel throws a lazy uppercut

and Salsa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Salsa trying to control the pace.

Azazel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salsa stalling.

Azazel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa passes to side control.
Salsa wants to control but Azazel is keeping him busy.
Salsa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Salsa trying to control the action but Azazel is working from the bottom.
Salsa is really struggling to control Azazel but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Azazel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa is pressing down on Azazel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Salsa keeping full guard, as Azazel tries to pass.

Salsa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azazel defends it easily.
Salsa keeping moving, preventing Azazel from controlling successfully.
Azazel tries to free his leg and advance position but Salsa is retaining full guard.

Azazel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Azazel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salsa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Salsa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azazel wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Salsa controls Azazel momentarily but Azazel frees himself.

Azazel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Azazel wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Azazel wants to pass the guard but Salsa is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azazel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Azazel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Salsa pulls Azazel in close to his closed guard and prevents Azazel from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azazel is pushing down on Salsa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Salsa is fighting to maintain full guard but Azazel has managed to sneak the leg through.
Salsa trying to control here.
Azazel has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Azazel tries to control but Salsa wriggling away.
Salsa is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Azazel is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Salsa has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Salsa!

Azazel throws his legs up looking for a submission but Salsa uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fuego Salsa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Salsa loads up on a big right hand but Azazel slips the punch.
Salsa ducks right into an uppercut from Azazel.

It looks like Fuego Salsa has been cut.
Azazel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salsa defending well as Azazel loads up on a big left hand.
Azazel misses with a hook. Salsa ducked under it nicely.
Salsa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Salsa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Salsa trying to control the action but Azazel is working from the bottom.
Salsa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Azazel will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azazel gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Salsa wants to control the action but instead Azazel gets a body lock and reverses into Salsa's guard! Nice work!

Azazel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Azazel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salsa trying to keep a closed guard but Azazel is proving a slippery customer.
Azazel trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salsa working a defensive guard here.
Fuego Salsa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fuego Salsa.
Azazel with a poor takedown
and Salsa counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice cross by Salsa.
Salsa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Azazel.
Salsa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azazel.
Salsa slips a straight right by Azazel.
Azazel misses with a looping left.
Azazel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salsa.
Azazel shoots in for a takedown but Salsa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fuego Salsa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Azazel.

Azazel gets caught napping as Salsa dives in and scores a takedown. Azazel manages to retain guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Azazel working for a triangle but Salsa defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Azazel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azazel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Salsa controls the pace.
Azazel trying to control the position.
Salsa wants to control from the top but Azazel keeps moving.
Azazel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salsa manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa is looking to stand up but Azazel isn't so interested in that idea.
Azazel wants to pass the guard but Salsa is keeping the position.
Azazel advances to half guard.
Salsa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salsa is trying to stand.

Azazel is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Salsa is trying to maintain the position but Azazel is very close to passing his half guard.
Salsa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Azazel is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Azazel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Salsa trying to control but Azazel postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fuego Salsa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fuego Salsa's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Azazel misses.
Salsa moves out of range as Azazel strikes.
Salsa throws a hook but Azazel blocks it.
Salsa shoots in but Azazel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Azazel throws out a loose jab but Salsa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azazel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salsa sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Salsa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Azazel sprawls well initially but Salsa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Salsa trying to mount his opponent but Azazel defends it.
Azazel wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azazel wants to control but Salsa is keeping busy.
Salsa works his way into full mount!
Azazel is squirming around, avoiding Salsa's attempts to control the action.
Salsa controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa trying to control but Azazel is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fuego Salsa.
Azazel scores with a jab.

Azazel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Salsa was covering up waiting for the punch and Azazel finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salsa pulls Azazel in to control the position.
Fuego Salsa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salsa looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Azazel looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fuego Salsa just wasn't active enough.
Azazel misses with a straight right.
Salsa slips a straight right by Azazel.

Salsa drives through with a takedown into Azazel's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Azazel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salsa is one step ahead there.
Salsa content to stall in guard here.
Salsa trying to control but Azazel is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa wants to pass the guard but Azazel is keeping the position.

Azazel isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Salsa stacks Azazel on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Salsa!
The Azazel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azazel is trying to escape the position but Salsa is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azazel is looking for a sweep.
Azazel can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fuego Salsa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Salsa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fuego Salsa!