PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toto Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Salazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bell
vs
Salazar

195 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Toto Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Martin Salazar!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salazar throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salazar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Salazar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bell tries to clinch but Salazar is having none of it.
Bell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Salazar moves into the clinch.
Bell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Salazar breaks from the clinch.
Salazar throws a right hand that Bell ducks under and follows up with a left that Bell also avoids with ease.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Salazar, right into the meat.
Salazar misses with a two punch combination.
Bell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salazar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bell somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toto Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Salazar clinches up with Bell and pushes him back against the cage.
Bell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Salazar fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salazar moves into the clinch successfully.
Bell tries to pull guard but Salazar holds him up against the cage and eventually Bell drops back down to his feet.
Salazar gets underhooks to prevent Bell's takedown attempt.
Salazar missing with knees to the body.
Bell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Salazar after a bit of a struggle.
Bell looking for a takedown.
Salazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Bell won't want to take too many of those.
Salazar working Bell over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salazar breaks from the clinch.

Salazar takes the fight into the clinch.
Salazar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bell is defending well for now.

Salazar breaks the clinch.
Salazar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salazar lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salazar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bell clinches up against the cage.
Bell misses with an elbow strike.
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!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bell tries to land knees in the clinch but Salazar avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salazar prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salazar tries to clinch but Bell moves out of range.
Salazar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Salazar clinches.

Salazar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Salazar instigates a clinch.
Salazar keeps control of Bell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martin Salazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bell slips a jab and a cross from Salazar.
Bell dives in and grabs Salazar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salazar pushes down on Bell's head and hops out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bell works over Salazar's head and body with a nice combination.
Salazar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bell is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salazar swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Salazar dominated that round.
That's time! Bell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Salazar looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
No joy there for Salazar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toto Bell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salazar is looking to clinch.
Bell looks for a takedown but Salazar sprawls well.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Salazar in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Bell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salazar sprawls well. Salazar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bell gets slowly back to his feet.
Bell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toto Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Salazar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bell is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Salazar obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell stalling in the clinch but Salazar improves position.
Bell is trying to pull guard but Salazar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Salazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Bell won't want to take too many of those.
Bell jumps guard but Salazar stands there with Bell around his waist. Bell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Salazar missing with knees to the body.
Salazar unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Salazar walks away with a smile on his face. Bell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Salazar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Salazar tries a head kick but it misses.
Salazar throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bell shoots in looking for a takedown but Salazar manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bell's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Salazar wants to clinch up but Bell keeps it at a distance.
Salazar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Salazar closes the distance and clinches.

Salazar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salazar throws a front kick that sends Bell stumbling back into the cage.

Salazar moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salazar gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bell slips a jab and a cross from Salazar.
Bell circles away from the clinch attempt.

Salazar clinches.
Bell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Salazar prevents it.
Bell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Salazar is defending well.
Knees to the body from Salazar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell tries for a takedown. No joy.
Salazar landing knees to the body.
Bell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Salazar is defending well.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martin Salazar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bell on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Salazar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Salazar tries to clinch up but Bell circles away and keeps his distance.

Salazar moves into range and clinches up with Bell.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bell managing to block the knees to the body from Salazar.
Salazar using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
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!
Salazar scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Salazar 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!

Salazar fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Salazar misses with a series of wild punches.
Salazar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Salazar closes the distance and pushes Bell back into the cage.
Salazar missing with knees to the body.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Bell. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Bell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Bell is trying to control the position but Salazar postures up.

Salazar gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Salazar throws a right hand that Bell ducks under and follows up with a left that Bell also avoids with ease.
Bell moves in looking to clinch but Salazar pushes him off.
A head kick from Salazar lands but Bell takes it in his stride.

Salazar has closed the distance and engaged Bell in a clinch.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bell has Salazar up against the cage in a clinch.
Bell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Salazar walks away with a smile on his face. Bell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Salazar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salazar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salazar moves away.
Salazar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Salazar has Bell up against the cage in a clinch.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salazar has Bell up against the cage in a clinch.
Salazar missing with knees to the body.
Bell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toto Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salazar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salazar throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Salazar misses with a head kick.
Salazar scores with a head kick.
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!
Salazar looks to clinch
and Bell counters with a one-two to the body.
Bell moves out of range of the body kick from Salazar.
Salazar tries to close the distance and clinch but Bell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar connects with a leg kick. Bell looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nice takedown defense from Salazar. No joy for Bell on that attempt.
Salazar tries a head kick but it misses.
Salazar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salazar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bell tries for a takedown but Salazar manages to get underhooks.
Salazar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Salazar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bell is defending well for now.
Bell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salazar tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bell avoids it.
Bell goes for a takedown attempt but Salazar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Salazar closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Salazar breaks from the clinch.
Toto Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martin Salazar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salazar lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Salazar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salazar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Martin Salazar!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Martin Salazar!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Martin Salazar!

Martin Salazar wins by unanimous decision!
Post fight, Martin Salazar took to the microphone: 'CESAR GRACIE JIU JITSU STOCKTON 209! WUT!'.