PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Jonas Valanciunas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuco Salamanca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Valanciunas
vs
Salamanca

192 cm
37
195 lbs
27 - 15 - 0

186 cm
25
198 lbs
11 - 7 - 2

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
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 27 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonas Valanciunas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 2, fighting out of London, Tuco Salamanca!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Valanciunas misses.
Valanciunas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salamanca sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salamanca changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Valanciunas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Valanciunas misses with a right hand
and Salamanca counters with a stiff right hand.
Valanciunas throws a hook but Salamanca blocks it.
A jab from Salamanca misses.
Salamanca fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Valanciunas looks to land a combination but Salamanca avoids it well.
Salamanca throws a body kick that misses.
Salamanca throws a leg kick which misses Valanciunas's front leg but catches the back leg as Valanciunas tries to avoid it.
Salamanca slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Salamanca throws a hook but Valanciunas blocks it.
Salamanca stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valanciunas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Valanciunas feints and then cracks Salamanca's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salamanca down.
Salamanca takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Salamanca misses with a body kick.
Salamanca scores with a nice strike.
We've been informed that Salamanca has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Valanciunas moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valanciunas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Salamanca scores with a jab. Valanciunas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Valanciunas scores with a decent looking hook.
Salamanca avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Salamanca smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Valanciunas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salamanca throws the left hand but Valanciunas avoids the punch easily.
Valanciunas misses with a head kick.
Salamanca lands with a nice body punch.
Valanciunas clobbers Salamanca with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Valanciunas misses with a looping left.
Valanciunas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Salamanca throws a series of punches but Valanciunas moves out of range.
Valanciunas throws out a loose jab but Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca checks a leg kick nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valanciunas tries to land a leg kick but Salamanca saw it coming and moves away.
Valanciunas takes a swing at Salamanca's ribcage but misses.
Valanciunas closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas lands a leg kick that knocks Salamanca off balance momentarily.
Salamanca fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Salamanca throws a shot from downtown. Valanciunas moves away and avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Valanciunas misses the target.
Nice uppercut there from Valanciunas.
Salamanca misses with a body kick.
Salamanca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valanciunas misses with a looping right.
Valanciunas throws a leg kick but Salamanca checks it.
Valanciunas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Valanciunas cracks Salamanca with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tuco Salamanca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salamanca changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Salamanca slips a jab and a cross from Valanciunas.
Salamanca scores with the left hand. Valanciunas knows he should have avoided that one.
Valanciunas slips a jab and a cross from Salamanca.
Salamanca dips to his left and cracks Valanciunas with an uppercut!
Valanciunas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salamanca.
Salamanca checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas takes one to the side of the head.
Salamanca pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salamanca is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Valanciunas had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Valanciunas loads up on a big right hand but Salamanca slips the punch.
Valanciunas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valanciunas throws a head kick that misses.
Salamanca is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Valanciunas with a body shot.
Valanciunas throws the left hand but Salamanca avoids the punch easily.
Valanciunas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salamanca manages to avoid it.
Salamanca's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Salamanca duly obliges.
Salamanca checks a low kick from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salamanca.
A combination from Valanciunas does no damage.
Valanciunas cracks Salamanca with a right hand to the side of the head.
Valanciunas pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salamanca is out of range and Valanciunas settles back down.
Valanciunas sets himself, and Salamanca steps forward looking for the clinch! Valanciunas avoids it this time.
Salamanca connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valanciunas throws out a loose jab but Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca throws a good cross that connects.
Salamanca lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Valanciunas dodges the punch combination from Salamanca.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valanciunas.
Salamanca lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Valanciunas wants to land a leg kick but Salamanca is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Valanciunas misses the target.
Salamanca steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Valanciunas.
Salamanca moves away from the strike by Valanciunas.
Salamanca avoids the head kick by Valanciunas.
Danga de danga de dang - Valanciunas scores with a four punch combination!
Salamanca throws a lazy right hand but Valanciunas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valanciunas is looking to counter with a body kick.
Valanciunas sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Valanciunas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valanciunas steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Salamanca. That one must have hurt.
Salamanca lands with a slapping head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salamanca connects with a crisp jab.
Valanciunas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Salamanca scores with a hook to the body. Valanciunas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sloppy strikes from Salamanca. Those never looked like landing.
Valanciunas paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tuco Salamanca will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valanciunas.
Tuco Salamanca seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valanciunas tries a head kick but it misses.
Jonas Valanciunas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salamanca pushes Valanciunas away with a front kick.
Good leg kick by Salamanca there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Valanciunas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salamanca looks to land a combination. Valanciunas sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Salamanca throws a series of punches but Valanciunas avoids them all with ease.
Valanciunas tries a head kick but it misses.
Valanciunas swinging wildly here.
Valanciunas gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Valanciunas throws a head kick but Salamanca moves out of range.
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 throws a head kick but Valanciunas moves out of range.
Valanciunas just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Valanciunas misses.
Valanciunas misses with a straight left.
Valanciunas misses with a straight right.
Salamanca blocks a leg kick.
A head kick from Valanciunas lands but Salamanca takes it in his stride.
Valanciunas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Valanciunas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Salamanca looks to land a body kick but Valanciunas moved away.
Salamanca misses with an uppercut. Valanciunas saw that one coming.
Salamanca jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Valanciunas lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
Valanciunas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Salamanca misses with a wild combination.
Valanciunas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valanciunas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Salamanca backs up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salamanca dodges the punch combination from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas throws a head kick but Salamanca moves out of range.
Salamanca tries to counter by closing the distance.
Valanciunas thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Salamanca if he has to take too many more of those.
Salamanca throws a sloppy head kick and Valanciunas moves out of range easily.
Valanciunas lands a jab to Salamanca's midsection.
Valanciunas throws a lazy uppercut
and Salamanca cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salamanca throws a leg kick but Valanciunas moved away.
Valanciunas is looking to counter punch.
Valanciunas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salamanca.
Valanciunas takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Salamanca throws a head kick but Valanciunas moves out of range.
Valanciunas appears to be looking for a big counter.
Salamanca misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salamanca lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Valanciunas at a distance.
No joy there for Salamanca, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valanciunas scores with a one two! Salamanca had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Salamanca blocks the leg kick.
Despite the aggression on Salamanca's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Salamanca lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Valanciunas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Salamanca is rocked!
Salamanca slips under a jab from Valanciunas.
Salamanca is still on wobbly legs! Can Valanciunas finish him?
A big right from Valanciunas misses.
Valanciunas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Salamanca counter with a right hand.
Salamanca seems to have recovered his senses.
Valanciunas throws a solid leg kick but Salamanca takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Valanciunas.
Valanciunas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Salamanca counter with a right hand.
Valanciunas has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Salamanca.
Salamanca waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valanciunas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valanciunas takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A clash of legs there as Salamanca blocks the low kick.
Salamanca doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Valanciunas looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Valanciunas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salamanca.
Valanciunas is looking to score with low kicks.
Salamanca goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Salamanca checks a leg kick.
Salamanca lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Salamanca scores with a head kick.
Salamanca on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Salamanca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valanciunas.
Salamanca lands with a nice body punch.
Valanciunas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salamanca works Valanciunas's body with a nice hook.
Salamanca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valanciunas.
Salamanca lands a nice hook to Valanciunas's body. Valanciunas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salamanca scores with a body shot.
Valanciunas avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuco Salamanca showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Valanciunas closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Valanciunas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Valanciunas throws a jab but it's blocked by Salamanca.
Good exchange - Salamanca coming out on top.
Valanciunas takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Salamanca throws a hook but Valanciunas avoids it easily.
Salamanca loads up on a big right hand but Valanciunas slips the punch.
Salamanca scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Salamanca misses with a straight right.
Salamanca lands a jab to Valanciunas's midsection.
A jab lands there for Salamanca.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salamanca throws a jab when Valanciunas was well out of range.
Valanciunas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salamanca.
Valanciunas throws a series of punches but Salamanca avoids them all with ease.
Salamanca misses with a few strikes there.
Salamanca swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salamanca explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Salamanca misses with a straight right.
Salamanca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valanciunas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salamanca misses with a looping left.
Valanciunas looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Valanciunas throws a sloppy head kick and Salamanca moves out of range easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salamanca.
Salamanca fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Valanciunas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valanciunas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Salamanca moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Valanciunas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Salamanca lands with a right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Salamanca. Those never looked like landing.
Salamanca throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Valanciunas moves out of range as Salamanca throws a body kick.
The fighters circling - Valanciunas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valanciunas misses with a straight right.
Salamanca wants to counter with a clinch but Valanciunas pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas throws a low kick but Salamanca moves out of range easily.
Valanciunas blocks a head kick by Salamanca.
Valanciunas swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Salamanca ducks under a wild hook from Valanciunas.
A jab lands there for Salamanca.
Salamanca paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Salamanca connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Valanciunas throws a big shot that misses.
Salamanca throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas misses with a double jab
and Salamanca counters with a straight right hand.
Valanciunas moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Salamanca loads up on a big right hand but Valanciunas slips the punch.
Valanciunas was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Salamanca takes a swing at Valanciunas's ribcage but misses.
Valanciunas was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Valanciunas misses with an uppercut.
Salamanca ducks under a wild hook from Valanciunas.
Salamanca misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
Salamanca throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valanciunas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salamanca swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valanciunas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salamanca connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Valanciunas tries to move into range but Salamanca moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Valanciunas thumps Salamanca with a low kick.
Salamanca uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valanciunas.
Salamanca slips under a jab from Valanciunas.
Salamanca displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valanciunas throws out the jab.
Salamanca throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valanciunas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valanciunas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Salamanca lands a nice leg kick that just misses Valanciunas's sensitive parts.
Valanciunas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salamanca. That did some damage!
Salamanca ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valanciunas moves away.
Valanciunas misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas slips under a jab from Salamanca.
Valanciunas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salamanca.
Salamanca fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Valanciunas on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valanciunas is looking to score with low kicks.
Valanciunas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Salamanca throws out a loose jab but Valanciunas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jonas Valanciunas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salamanca lands a jab to Valanciunas's midsection.
Salamanca cracks a nice hook into Valanciunas's ribs.
Salamanca with a jab.
Valanciunas throws the kick towards the body but Salamanca avoids it.
Valanciunas moves out of range of the body kick.
Valanciunas throws out a loose jab but Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Salamanca looks to land a right hand but Valanciunas moved out of range.
Salamanca pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valanciunas fires out a quick counter leg kick but Salamanca just manages to avoid it.
Salamanca missing with a left hand there. Valanciunas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Valanciunas drops his hands momentarily and Salamanca takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tuco Salamanca comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Salamanca 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuco Salamanca!
Tuco Salamanca decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.