PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alvaro Salazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vadim Kharghai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salazar comes to the cage accompanied by Don Omar ft Tego Calderon - Bandolero. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salazar
vs
Kharghai

180 cm
28
201 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

182 cm
32
200 lbs
24 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alvaro Salazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vadim Kharghai!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salazar misses with a straight left.
A jab from Salazar misses.

Salazar clinches.
Kharghai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salazar smiles and moves away.

Salazar gets a takedown into half guard.
Salazar trying to control from half guard but Kharghai is working away.
Kharghai is looking for a sweep. Salazar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kharghai gets full guard.
Salazar postures up.
Salazar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Salazar trying to control the position from guard on top but Kharghai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salazar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kharghai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kharghai is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar content to stall in guard here.
Salazar postures up and lands a big shot to Kharghai's brow.
Kharghai 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.

Kharghai looking for a guillotine here but Salazar defends easily.
Kharghai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kharghai holds on and takes a little breather.
Kharghai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Salazar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai keeping moving, preventing Salazar from controlling successfully.

Kharghai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Salazar is aware though and is defending well.
Kharghai wants to sweep here but Salazar controlling him for the moment.
Salazar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kharghai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salazar pushing down on Kharghai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kharghai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Salazar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kharghai is pulling down on Salazar's head to control his posture.

Kharghai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salazar defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kharghai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salazar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salazar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salazar preventing the sweep.
Salazar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kharghai is keeping the position for now.
Kharghai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kharghai is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kharghai wants to sweep here but Salazar controlling him for the moment.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kharghai is keeping the position for now.
Kharghai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salazar is one step ahead there.
Kharghai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salazar wants to control from the top but Kharghai keeps moving.
Salazar passes Kharghai's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kharghai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Salazar dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Salazar connects with a body shot that sends Kharghai's belly button to the back.

Kharghai clinches.
Kharghai is looking to take this one to the mat.
Salazar drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salazar is leaning against Kharghai and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kharghai changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Salazar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kharghai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Salazar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Salazar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kharghai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salazar somewhat.
Salazar scores with a hook.
A cross from Kharghai lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Salazar shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kharghai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharghai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kharghai looking to control.
Kharghai is controlling Salazar's posture.
Salazar postures up.
Kharghai keeping full guard, as Salazar tries to pass.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Vadim Kharghai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Salazar rushes Kharghai and presses him up against the cage.
Salazar misses with a body punch.

Kharghai is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Salazar can't fight it off and eventually Kharghai manages to take the fight to the floor. Salazar looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Salazar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kharghai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salazar is really struggling to control Kharghai but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Salazar has Kharghai pulled in close to control his posture.
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!
Kharghai content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salazar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alvaro Salazar.
Kharghai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Salazar swats away the attempt to clinch by Kharghai.
Kharghai cracks Salazar with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kharghai is defended easily by Salazar.
Alvaro Salazar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vadim Kharghai.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kharghai.
Kharghai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salazar tries to avoid it but Kharghai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salazar to the ground. Salazar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alvaro Salazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Salazar shoots in and bounces Kharghai off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kharghai looking for a sweep. Not yet Kharghai, not yet.
Kharghai can't keep his opponent in guard - Salazar advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Salazar thows a huge punch but Kharghai dodges it nicely.
Salazar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kharghai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Salazar is working away from the top position though.
Salazar working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salazar is trying to control. Kharghai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Salazar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Salazar is trying to control. Kharghai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Salazar sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kharghai wants to improve his position but Salazar is controlling well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kharghai is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Salazar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Salazar's back!
Salazar can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Salazar dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Salazar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Salazar throws a lazy right hand but Kharghai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Salazar fails with the takedown.
Salazar throws a big shot that misses.
No joy there for Salazar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Kharghai feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kharghai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kharghai throwing strikes from guard but Salazar blocks nicely.
Salazar controls Kharghai momentarily but Kharghai frees himself.
Salazar pulls Kharghai in close to prevent any damage.
Salazar trying to control the position.
Salazar 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kharghai is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alvaro Salazar just wasn't active enough.
A jab lands there for Salazar.
Kharghai misses with a body shot.
Kharghai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kharghai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Salazar under the eye.
Salazar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salazar throws out a loose jab but Kharghai uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kharghai scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kharghai creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kharghai scoring with punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salazar is trying to buck Kharghai off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kharghai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kharghai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai tries to advance to mount but can't.

Kharghai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Salazar, who protects the arm well.
Salazar can't do much from the bottom here.
Kharghai working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Salazar is trying to improve his position.
Kharghai tries to move to mount but Salazar blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar tries to buck Kharghai off but Kharghai is having none of it.

Kharghai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kharghai working the ground and pound.
Salazar is looking for a sweep.
Salazar is working hard here to advance position.
Kharghai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salazar keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Salazar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Salazar tries to buck Kharghai off but Kharghai is having none of it.
Alvaro Salazar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai tries to score with some ground and pound. Salazar controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kharghai trying to control the position but Salazar is working away.
Kharghai working away.
Kharghai throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kharghai working away.
Kharghai in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Salazar is looking for a sweep.
Vadim Kharghai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salazar is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kharghai off and has taken his back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kharghai tries to roll but Salazar sticks to his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vadim Kharghai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Salazar has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvaro Salazar!
Alvaro Salazar seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.