PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diego Salvador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Salvador
vs
Thai

180 cm
25
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

MadDogs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Salvador!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Thai!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salvador.
Thai throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Salvador moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salvador is defended easily by Thai.
Salvador avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thai throws a head kick that Salvador semi-blocks.
Thai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salvador.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Salvador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Thai.
Salvador closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thai circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvador thows a body shot but no joy.
Salvador fails with a takedown attempt.
Thai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salvador.
Thai tries to score with a low kick but Salvador moves his leg out of the way.
Thai scores with a head kick.
Thai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salvador shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Thai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salvador on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thai. Thai obviously looking to wear him down.
Thai throws a chopping leg kick but Salvador manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Salvador tries for a takedown but Thai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Salvador moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvador avoids the head kick by Thai.
Salvador walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thai.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salvador has his takedown stuffed
and Thai counters with a good low kick that Salvador was not able to check.
Salvador shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thai as he avoids it easily.
Salvador takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thai throws a leg kick which misses Salvador's front leg but catches the back leg as Salvador tries to avoid it.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Salvador. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Salvador looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thai!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Salvador looking for a guillotine from mount but Thai is having none of it.
Salvador is breathing heavily.
Thai can't escape the position.
Thai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Salvador has hold of Thai's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thai manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salvador with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvador lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Salvador has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thai working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salvador wants to finish this one by submission but Thai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salvador.
Thai is looking to get to half guard.
Salvador avoids the attempt from Thai to control.
Thai is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Salvador raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Salvador working for a guillotine from mount but Thai is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thai?

Salvador is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thai is surviving well by controlling Salvador's body position as best he can.
Salvador pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Salvador with good strikes from the mount here!
Salvador working Thai over with strikes here.

Salvador is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thai is surviving well by controlling Salvador's body position as best he can.
Salvador working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Thai is rocked!
Salvador thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Salvador unloading with bombs!

Salvador looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Thai wants to hold on but Salvador pushes him away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Salvador punishing his opponent with strikes.
Thai wants to hold on but Salvador pushes him away.
Salvador throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Thai because Salvador loaded up on that one.

Thai defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Salvador.

Salvador wants to finish this one by submission but Thai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Salvador.
Salvador fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Salvador landing punches.
Thai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salvador. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salvador thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Salvador is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thai is surviving well by controlling Salvador's body position as best he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Salvador looking to secure an arm triangle but Thai defends it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thai tries to lock up and control but Salvador gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Salvador thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thai takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thai working to try and regain half guard.

Salvador is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Thai is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Diego Salvador!
Diego Salvador retains his middleweight title!