PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rich Gaspari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willie Salazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Gaspari has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gaspari
vs
Salazar

174 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rich Gaspari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willie Salazar!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salazar throws a nice looking combination but Gaspari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gaspari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salazar was well out of range. Poor timing from Gaspari.

Salazar drives through and clinches with Gaspari against the cage.

Salazar breaks the clinch.
Gaspari throws a series of punches but Salazar moves out of range.
Gaspari throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gaspari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gaspari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Salazar moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Salazar misses.
Salazar avoids the body shot from Gaspari.
Gaspari swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Salazar counter with a right hand.

Salazar instigates a clinch.
Gaspari gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Salazar.
Gaspari misses with a punch to the body.
Salazar cracks Gaspari with a nice body shot.
Salazar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
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!
Gaspari throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Salazars head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gaspari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gaspari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Salazar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gaspari or not.
Gaspari is defending well against a takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Salazar.
Gaspari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gaspari misses with a punch on the inside.

Salazar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaspari throws an overhand right that lands on Salazar's shoulder, as Salazar tries to avoid the shot.
Salazar throws a one two combo.
Salazar takes a swing at Gaspari's ribcage but misses.
Gaspari avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big left from Gaspari misses.
Gaspari jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaspari swats away the attempt to clinch by Salazar.
Salazar misses with a two punch combination.

Salazar closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaspari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gaspari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gaspari throws a punch but it's blocked by Salazar.
Salazar wants to take the fight to the mat but Gaspari manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rich Gaspari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Salazar.
A head punch on the inside from Gaspari fails to land.
Gaspari swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaspari listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Salazar closes the distance and pushes Gaspari back into the cage.
Gaspari throws a head punch that misses.

Salazar breaks the clinch.
Gaspari misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspari throws a right and a left that Salazar avoids nicely.
A slow jab from Gaspari misses its intended target.
Despite the aggression on Salazar's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Salazar gets a takedown into half guard.
Salazar controlling the pace.

Salazar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gaspari blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salazar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar thows a huge punch but Gaspari dodges it nicely.

Salazar is looking for a kimura here.
Salazar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Salazar with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Salazar is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Salazar looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salazar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gaspari waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salazar.
Gaspari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rich Gaspari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaspari throws a poor cross that misses
and Salazar counters with a right hand to the body.
Salazar goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Rich Gaspari has been cut.
Salazar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gaspari is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Salazar's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gaspari keeps the fight on the outside.
Gaspari tries to counter with a takedown but Salazar is quick to defend against it.
Salazar tries to clinch there but Gaspari circles away.
Gaspari falls off balance throwing a combination
and Salazar counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaspari lands a body shot.
Gaspari clobbers Salazar with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspari misses with a left hand
and Salazar counters with a one-two to the body.
Salazar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaspari.
Salazar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Salazar lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Gaspari takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Salazar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaspari.
Salazar's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Salazar duly obliges.
Salazar bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gaspari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A shot to the liver by Salazar. Beautiful body shot.
Gaspari throws a right hand that misses

and Salazar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salazar.
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 escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaspari cracks Salazar with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaspari looks to land a left hand but Salazar moved out of range nicely.
Gaspari avoids the body shot from Salazar.
Gaspari tries to bum rush Salazar with a series of wild strikes but Salazar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gaspari swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Salazar.

Salazar drives through with a takedown into guard.
Salazar is looking to work some ground and pound but Gaspari has wrist control.
Gaspari might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salazar stands up over Gaspari, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Salazar passes into half guard.
Salazar is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Salazar there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Salazar controlling the action here.
Salazar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Salazar looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gaspari with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gaspari taking some punishment here, with Salazar in his half guard.

Salazar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gaspari defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salazar trying to control the pace.
Salazar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar moves nicely into side control.

Salazar is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gaspari has escaped the position, nice work there.

Salazar stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Salazar throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gaspari was covering up waiting for the punch and Salazar finishes the takedown easily into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gaspari throws a series of punches but Salazar avoids them all with ease.
Gaspari scores with a jab. Salazar acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Gaspari. No joy for Salazar on that attempt.
Salazar wants to clinch.
Salazar is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gaspari rather than just go for the knockout.
Salazar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gaspari.
Gaspari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salazar manages to avoid it.
A left and a right from Salazar both land. Nice combination.
Gaspari misses with a body punch
and Salazar counters with a left and a right that stings Gaspari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gaspari misses with a straight right.
Salazar ducks under a wild hook from Gaspari.
Gaspari throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Salazar to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspari misses with a looping left.
Salazar unleashes a big counter combination but Gaspari bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Salazar is looking to clinch but Gaspari is avoiding it.
Gaspari fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Salazar moves into range and clinches up with Gaspari.
Salazar displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gaspari up against the cage.
Gaspari misses with a short punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Salazar.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gaspari.
Gaspari throws a head punch that misses.
Gaspari working aggressively here.
Gaspari lands a nice uppercut.
Salazar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Salazar breaks the clinch.

Salazar clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar missing with knees to the body.
Gaspari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gaspari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gaspari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gaspari misses with the head strike.
Salazar leaning his opponent against the cage.

Salazar lands a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salazar makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Salazar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salazar scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspari avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Salazar throws a big right hand that misses.
Willie Salazar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salazar's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Salazar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Salazar looking to pass the guard.

Salazar decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gaspari, up you get!

Salazar takes the fight into the clinch.
Gaspari swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaspari avoiding damage as Salazar throws knees to the body.
Salazar prevents a body shot from Gaspari.
Salazar is working for takedown but Gaspari is calmly controlling the position for now.

Salazar wants the takedown. Gaspari is fighting it off but Salazar persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gaspari's guard against the cage.
Salazar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaspari is keeping the position for now.
Salazar passes Gaspari's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Salazar lands strikes from half guard.
Willie Salazar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Salazar working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willie Salazar!