PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Young Frazier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Saldanha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Frazier
vs
Saldanha

162 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Young Frazier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carlos Saldanha!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saldanha fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saldanha fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick from Frazier lands but Saldanha takes it in his stride.
Frazier shoots in looking for a takedown. Saldanha tries to sprawl out of it but Frazier keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saldanha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saldanha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Frazier circles away.

Frazier has Saldanha up against the cage in a clinch.
Frazier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saldanha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Frazier jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Saldanha walks away with a smile on his face. Frazier gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Young Frazier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Frazier. No joy for Saldanha on that attempt.
Saldanha shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Frazier sprawls well. Frazier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saldanha gets slowly back to his feet.
Frazier could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frazier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saldanha circles away quickly and effectively.
Saldanha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Frazier swats away the attempt to clinch by Saldanha.
Frazier shoots in for a double leg but Saldanha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saldanha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Frazier pinned against the cage. Frazier gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saldanha tries for a takedown but Frazier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Frazier keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Saldanha fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saldanha looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Frazier is fending him off so far but Saldanha persists. Nope, Frazier circles away and we're back to standing.
Saldanha looks winded!
Frazier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saldanha shoots for a double leg takedown but Frazier sprawls well. He's pushed Saldanha's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Frazier is looking to clinch but Saldanha is avoiding it.

Frazier closes the distance and clinches.
Frazier is trying to maintain a safe position but Saldanha gets an underhook and turns Frazier into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saldanha.
Frazier presses Saldanha against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Frazier goes for a takedown attempt but Saldanha pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saldanha tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Frazier counters with a good, hard body kick but Saldanha shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Frazier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saldanha fails to land the takedown.
Frazier connects with a leg kick. Saldanha looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Saldanha shoots in for a double leg but Frazier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Frazier pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Saldanha back to the cage. Frazier follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Carlos Saldanha has been cut.
Frazier moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Frazier shoots in looking for a takedown. Saldanha tries to sprawl out of it but Frazier keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saldanha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saldanha avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saldanha circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saldanha.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Frazier dodges the punch combination from Saldanha.
Frazier looks for a takedown but Saldanha sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Frazier looks for a takedown but Saldanha sprawls well.
Frazier throws a half hearted mid kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Young Frazier dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Saldanha's cut.
That's time! Frazier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saldanha fails with the takedown.
Saldanha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saldanha shoots for a takedown but Frazier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Frazier tries to clinch but Saldanha moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Frazier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saldanha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Frazier.
Saldanha throws a front kick that sends Frazier stumbling back into the cage.
Frazier goes for a double leg but Saldanha avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saldanha continues to drive forward.
Frazier tries to pull guard but Saldanha won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Young Frazier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saldanha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Frazier smiles and moves away.
Young Frazier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saldanha rushes Frazier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Saldanha ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Saldanha no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Saldanha controls Frazier momentarily but Frazier frees himself.
Frazier trying to control but Saldanha is working from the bottom.
Saldanha looking for a sweep. Not yet Saldanha, not yet.
Frazier wants to control from the top but Saldanha keeps moving.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Saldanha manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Frazier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Saldanha or perhaps it was just good defense by Frazier which made him look bad.
Saldanha tries to clinch up but Frazier circles away and keeps his distance.
Frazier changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saldanha tries to avoid it but Frazier manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saldanha to the ground. Saldanha escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Saldanha dives in for a single leg takedown but Frazier sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Saldanha tries to circle away but Frazier has him pinned against the cage.
Frazier is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Frazier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Saldanha unloads a knee to the mid-section. Frazier lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frazier tries to throw a body punch but Saldanha avoids it by throwing Frazier back against the cage.
Saldanha is trying to force a seperation but Frazier has the dominant position.
Saldanha working aggressively here.
Saldanha throws a punch but it's blocked by Frazier.
Frazier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saldanha smiles and moves away.
A good leg kick by Saldanha.
Frazier fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Frazier lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Saldanha. No joy for Frazier on that attempt.
Frazier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Saldanha.
Frazier takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Frazier wants to clinch up but Saldanha keeps it at a distance.
Saldanha tries to clinch but Frazier moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Saldanha. No joy for Frazier on that attempt.
Saldanha dives in and grabs Frazier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Frazier pushes down on Saldanha's head and hops out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Frazier shoots for a double leg takedown but Saldanha sprawls well. He's pushed Frazier's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saldanha moves in looking to clinch but Frazier pushes him off.
Saldanha tries to score a power double leg takedown but Frazier sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saldanha somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Saldanha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carlos Saldanha's cut.
That's time! Frazier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Frazier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saldanha circles away.
Frazier looks for a takedown but Saldanha sprawls well.
Saldanha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Frazier but Frazier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saldanha throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saldanha scores with a jab to the body.
Frazier darts in looking for a takedown but Saldanha gets double underhooks and turns Frazier into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Young Frazier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saldanha is trying to force a seperation but Frazier has the dominant position.
Saldanha stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frazier wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saldanha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Frazier's elbow.
Frazier has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saldanha is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Saldanha is trying to pull guard but Frazier has him pressed against the cage.

Frazier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saldanha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Frazier defends well and Saldanha ends up having to push Frazier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Frazier trying to land knees to the body.
Saldanha is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Frazier is defending well.
Saldanha tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Frazier just stands there and leans against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frazier gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Frazier looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Frazier prevents Saldanha from breaking the clinch.
Frazier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saldanha smiles and moves away.
Frazier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Saldanha.
Frazier misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frazier circles away from the clinch attempt
and Frazier counters with a stiff right hand.
Saldanha shoots in for a takedown but Frazier shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Frazier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saldanha swivels and escapes.
Saldanha doesn't manage to clinch there - Frazier circles away.
Saldanha circles away from the clinch attempt.
Frazier tries to bum rush Saldanha with a series of wild strikes but Saldanha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saldanha takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Frazier closes the distance looking to clinch
and Saldanha counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Frazier is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frazier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Frazier tries for a takedown but Saldanha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Frazier. No joy for Saldanha on that attempt.
Saldanha dives in and grabs Frazier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Frazier pushes down on Saldanha's head and hops out.
Young Frazier is winning the standup battle so far.
Saldanha thows a body shot but no joy.
Saldanha fails with a takedown attempt.
Frazier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saldanha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Frazier somewhat.

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 Young Frazier.
I think Frazier 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Young Frazier!