PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Costin Claudiu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuco Salamanca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Claudiu comes to the ring accompanied by Mice and Gods. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Claudiu
vs
Salamanca

190 cm
22
190 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
198 lbs
10 - 6 - 2

World class MT
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Heavy handed

Sully's Bar & Grill
Sydney Fight Gear

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Costin Claudiu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 2, fighting out of London, Tuco Salamanca!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claudiu moves away from the strike by Salamanca.
Claudiu missing with a left hand there. Salamanca was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salamanca ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Claudiu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Claudiu.
Claudiu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Salamanca lands a leg kick that knocks Claudiu off balance momentarily.
Salamanca tries to clinch up but Claudiu circles away and keeps his distance.
Salamanca fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Claudiu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Claudiu throws a wild body kick that Salamanca sees coming a mile off.
Salamanca catches Claudiu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Claudiu misses with a low kick.
Salamanca defending well as Claudiu loads up on a big left hand.
Salamanca has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Salamanca slips a straight right by Claudiu.
Salamanca is looking to clinch.
Claudiu throws a quick counter kick to the body but Salamanca avoids it.
Tuco Salamanca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some bone on bone action there as Salamanca checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Salamanca fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Claudiu is out of range.

Salamanca clinches with his opponent.
Salamanca blocks a body shot from Claudiu.
Salamanca blocks an elbow strike from Claudiu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salamanca takes an elbow to the forehead.
Claudiu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salamanca backwards.
Salamanca can't find room to land a body shot as Claudiu controls the action.
A hook to the body from Claudiu.
Claudiu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Claudiu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Salamanca blocks an elbow strike from Claudiu.
Claudiu presses Salamanca against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Salamanca lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Claudiu misses with a punch to the body.
Claudiu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Salamanca fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Claudiu throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Salamanca lands a body shot.
Claudiu is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Claudiu lands a left hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Claudiu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Claudiu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Claudiu misses with some punches.

Salamanca breaks the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Salamanca.
Salamanca misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salamanca swinging wildly here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Claudiu checks a leg kick.
Salamanca misses with a low kick.
Claudiu quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Claudiu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Claudiu takes a jab right on the kisser.
A good leg kick by Claudiu.
Claudiu moves away from the strike by Salamanca.
Claudiu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Claudiu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Salamanca.
Claudiu throws a series of punches but Salamanca avoids them all with ease.
Claudiu lands a jab.
Claudiu is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca lands a jab to the nose.
Nice defenses there by Salamanca.
Salamanca looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Good leg kick by Claudiu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Salamanca tries to clinch but Claudiu is having none of it.
Claudiu takes a head kick and keeps coming.
That kick from Salamanca tenderised Claudiu's leg. Claudiu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Salamanca stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Claudiu.
Salamanca scores with a body shot.
Good leg kick by Claudiu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Claudiu pushes Salamanca up against the ropes in a clinch.
Salamanca softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Salamanca has a couple of punches blocked by Claudiu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salamanca misses with a hook from the clinch.
Claudiu lands a shoulder strike.
Salamanca swings wildly with an uppercut but Claudiu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca being controlled against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Claudiu.
Salamanca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salamanca wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salamanca blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salamanca.

Salamanca pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from Salamanca is predictable there
enabling Claudiu to counter with a crisp jab.
Salamanca scores with a jab.
Claudiu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salamanca throws a wild body kick that Claudiu sees coming a mile off.
Salamanca misses with a head kick.
Salamanca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Claudiu lands a nice hook to Salamanca's body. Salamanca takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jab, jab by Claudiu - just one landing.
Salamanca is looking to clinch but Claudiu is avoiding it.
Claudiu connects with a single shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Costin Claudiu will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Salamanca throws a leg kick but Claudiu sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Claudiu.
Salamanca is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Claudiu throws a leg kick but Salamanca moved away.
Claudiu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Claudiu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salamanca scores with a punch to the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Salamanca darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Salamanca throws a right hand that misses
and Claudiu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Claudiu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salamanca throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salamanca circles away from the clinch attempt.

Claudiu closes the distance and clinches.
Claudiu throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salamanca struggles to land a body shot inside as Claudiu controls his hands.
Salamanca's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Claudiu slows down the pace here.
A short left from Salamanca.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Claudiu.
Salamanca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Claudiu looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Claudiu takes a shot to the head.
A short left from Claudiu.
Salamanca fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Claudiu throws an elbow that misses.
Claudiu can't find room to land a body shot as Salamanca controls the action.
Claudiu throws a punch but it's blocked by Salamanca.
Claudiu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Salamanca blocks an uppercut.
Salamanca blocking some punches.
Claudiu gets through Salamanca's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Claudiu fails to land.
Claudiu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Claudiu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Salamanca backwards.
Claudiu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Claudiu has a couple of punches blocked by Salamanca.
Costin Claudiu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salamanca is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Claudiu is keeping busy.
Claudiu throws a head punch that misses.
Salamanca takes an elbow to the forehead.
Claudiu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Claudiu tries to work over Salamanca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Claudiu prevents Salamanca from breaking the clinch.
Salamanca blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Salamanca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salamanca darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Salamanca tries to clinch but Claudiu moves out of range.
Salamanca feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Claudiu's calf.
Claudiu drops his hands momentarily and Salamanca takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Salamanca misses with a left hand
and Claudiu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Claudiu tries a head kick but it misses.
Claudiu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salamanca was well out of range. Poor timing from Claudiu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca misses with a wild body shot.
Salamanca displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Salamanca avoids the head kick by Claudiu.
Claudiu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Salamanca checks it well.
Claudiu slips a jab from Salamanca.
Both fighters circling a little - Claudiu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nice cross by Salamanca.
Claudiu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little feinted left hand from Claudiu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Claudiu lands a right hook to the body.
Salamanca takes a kick to the side of the head.
Claudiu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Claudiu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Salamanca.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Claudiu moves out of range as Salamanca throws a body kick.
Salamanca goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Claudiu.
Salamanca blocks a head kick by Claudiu.

Claudiu moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca is trying to force a seperation but Claudiu has the dominant position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Claudiu.
Salamanca doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Claudiu.
A shot in the inside from Salamanca.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Claudiu working aggressively here.
Claudiu working aggressively here.
Salamanca blocks the elbow strike.
Claudiu lands an elbow inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Claudiu.
Claudiu misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Claudiu.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salamanca blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salamanca swings wildly with an uppercut but Claudiu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca throws a punch but it's blocked by Claudiu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Costin Claudiu dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Salamanca sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Claudiu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Claudiu wants to clinch up but Salamanca keeps it at a distance.
Claudiu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Claudiu staying out of range there.
Claudiu throws a sloppy head kick and Salamanca moves out of range easily.
Salamanca walks forward, straight into a front kick from Claudiu.
Salamanca swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Salamanca buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salamanca tries to clinch but Claudiu moves out of range.
Claudiu lands a jab-cross combination.
Salamanca lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Salamanca with a body punch. A glancing blow.
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!
Salamanca keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Claudiu.
Nice shot by Claudiu.
Claudiu throws a leg kick but Salamanca sees it coming and moves out of range.
It seemed like Salamanca was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Salamanca misses with a leg kick
and Claudiu counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiu bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salamanca's head.
Salamanca waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Claudiu.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.
Claudiu throws a head kick that Salamanca semi-blocks.
Claudiu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salamanca.
Salamanca scores with a kick to the midsection.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Claudiu, as that shot connected.
Salamanca is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salamanca scores with a spinning back kick!
Claudiu motions for Salamanca to come forward. Claudiu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Salamanca fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Claudiu.
Claudiu pushes Salamanca away with a front kick.
Claudiu misses with a wild body shot.
Nice body kick there by Salamanca.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salamanca is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice shot by Salamanca.
Claudiu pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salamanca is out of range and Claudiu settles back down.
Salamanca tries to counter by closing the distance.
Salamanca clobbers Claudiu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Claudiu just misses with a punch to the body.
Salamanca lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Salamanca throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Claudiu.
Salamanca motions for Claudiu to come forward. Salamanca throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Salamanca connects with a body shot that sends Claudiu's belly button to the back.
Salamanca throws a sloppy body shot
and Claudiu counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Claudiu feints and then cracks Salamanca's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salamanca down.
Claudiu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salamanca.
Salamanca throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Claudiu's head.
Claudiu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Claudiu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Salamanca misses the target.
Claudiu tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Salamanca manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca with a hook.
Salamanca swings widly with a right hand
and Salamanca takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
An inside leg kick lands from Claudiu.
Claudiu ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
Claudiu looks to score with a jab to the body but Salamanca is just out of range.
Claudiu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Claudiu appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Salamanca checks a low kick from Claudiu.
Salamanca throws a body kick that misses.
Claudiu moves out of range of the strikes.
Salamanca lands a head kick. Claudiu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Salamanca takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salamanca clobbers Claudiu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Salamanca cracks Claudiu with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Claudiu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Salamancas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Claudiu tries to score with a low kick but Salamanca moves his leg out of the way.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice shot by Salamanca.
Salamanca throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Claudiu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Claudiu ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
Claudiu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Salamanca swings widly with a right hand
and Claudiu counters with a nice body kick.
Claudiu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Claudiu lunges at Salamanca with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Salamanca's hand.
A jab lands there for Claudiu.
Salamanca fails in his attempt to clinch.
Costin Claudiu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A big left from Salamanca misses.
Tuco Salamanca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Claudiu throws a hook to the side of Salamanca's head but Salamanca sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Salamanca! But no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salamanca. Claudiu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salamanca pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.
Salamanca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Claudiu throws a chopping leg kick but Salamanca manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Claudiu backing away here, and Salamanca unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Claudiu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

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 Costin Claudiu.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Claudiu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Costin Claudiu!
Costin Claudiu decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.