PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Tuco Salamanca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Levin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Salamanca
vs
Levin

186 cm
25
198 lbs
12 - 7 - 2

183 cm
24
188 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

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 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of London, Tuco Salamanca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Levin!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levin scores with a spinning back kick!
A slapping leg kick lands for Salamanca.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Levin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Levin slips a straight right by Salamanca.
A swing and a miss from Levin.
Salamanca displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Levin throws out the jab.
Levin staying out of range there.
Levin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salamanca works over Levin's head and body with a nice combination.
Levin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salamanca. That did some damage!
Salamanca misses with an uppercut.
Salamanca throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salamanca connects with a body shot.
Salamanca throws the left hand but Levin avoids the punch easily.
Levin tries to clinch but Salamanca moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Salamanca. That snapped Levin's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Levin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salamanca.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salamanca. Levin does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levin is looking to clinch.
Salamanca connects with a crisp jab.
Levin avoids the body shot from Salamanca.
A big left from Levin misses.
Salamanca throws out a loose jab but Levin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Levin connects with a leg kick. Salamanca looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tuco Salamanca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salamanca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Levin was well out of range. Poor timing from Salamanca.
Salamanca misses with a hook.
Salamanca dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Levin. That did some damage!
Levin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Salamanca has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Netherlands Top Team & KT in the buildup to the fight.
Salamanca throws a head kick that misses.
Salamanca looks to score with a jab to the body but Levin is just out of range.
Salamanca misses with a hook. Levin ducked under it nicely.
Levin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Salamanca scores with a one two! Levin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A right-left combo lands from Salamanca.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salamanca throws a nice inside leg kick.
Salamanca misses with a straight right.
Levin ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
Salamanca keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salamanca throws a right hand that misses
and Levin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.
Levin throws out a loose jab but Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Salamanca dips to his left and cracks Levin with an uppercut!
Salamanca misses with a hook
and Salamanca takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salamanca throws the left hand but Levin avoids the punch easily.
Salamanca fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Levin walks into a stiff left hand from Salamanca.
Salamanca misses with a head kick.
Levin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Salamanca misses with an uppercut
and Levin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salamanca scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Levin on the side of the head.
Levin tries to clinch up.
Levin with a nice cross.
Salamanca throws a hook to the side of Levin's head but Levin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Levin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A good leg kick by Levin.
Salamanca throws a solid leg kick but Levin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Salamanca.
Levin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salamanca.
Salamanca backing away here, and Levin unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Levin lands with a hook. Salamanca tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Salamanca throws a hook to the side of Levin's head but Levin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salamanca misses with a lunging right hand
and Levin counters with a leg kick.
Salamanca scores with a jab to the body.
Salamanca has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Levin.
Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Levin.
Salamanca scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salamanca thows a leg kick but Levin checks it
and Levin counters with a low kick, right behind Salamanca 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salamanca tries to keep at a distance but Levin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Levin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Salamanca scores with a hook to the body.

Salamanca pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salamanca connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Levin momentarily.
Salamanca scores with a hook.
Salamanca swings away with a body shot that misses
and Levin counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Salamanca scores with a body shot.
Salamanca throws a one two combo.
Salamanca misses with a wild body shot.
Levin looks to land a left hand but Salamanca moved out of range nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Levin finds it's way through Salamanca's defenses.
Levin slips under a jab.
Salamanca's jab looks to have found its range, popping Levin under the eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A punch lands to the side of Levin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Levin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salamanca.
Salamanca misses with a series of wild punches.
A little jabbing left from Levin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Salamanca misses with a shot to the body
and Levin counters with a solid body kick.
Salamanca feints a jab promting Levin to slip. Salamanca then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Levin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Salamanca lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Salamanca motions for Levin to come forward. Salamanca throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Levin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Levin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salamanca.
Salamanca throws a body shot but no joy.

Levin moves into the clinch successfully.
Levin lands an elbow just above Salamanca 's eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salamanca is trying to force a seperation but Levin has the dominant position.
Salamanca misses with some punches.
Salamanca can't find room to land a body shot as Levin controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salamanca manages to break the clinch.
Levin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Salamanca paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salamanca looks to throw the jab but Levin is out of range.
Salamanca misses with a looping right.
Levin slips under a jab from Salamanca.
Levin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Levin staying out of range there.
Levin ducks under a wild hook from Salamanca.
A chopping leg kick lands by Salamanca.
Salamanca looks to throw the jab but Levin is out of range.
Levin is looking to chop away at Salamanca's legs.
Levin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salamanca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Levin was well out of range. Poor timing from Salamanca.
Salamanca rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Levin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little jabbing left from Levin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Levin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Salamanca throws a jab but it's blocked by Levin.
Levin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca throws a head kick that half lands.
Levin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Levin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salamanca on the side of the head.
Salamanca throws a series of punches but Levin moves out of range.
Levin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Levin.
Salamanca is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Levin can do to turn this around?
Salamanca throws a right and a left that Levin avoids nicely.
Salamanca tries to land a front kick but Levin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Levin! But no joy.
Levin 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.
Salamanca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Levin throws a hook but Salamanca avoids it easily.
A low kick from Salamanca misses
enabling Levin to counter with a crisp jab.
Salamanca looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Salamanca swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salamanca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Levin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salamanca. Levin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Levin moves out of range as Salamanca strikes.
Levin tries a quick counter leg kick but Salamanca is wise to it.
Levin avoids the head kick by Salamanca.
Nice defenses there by Levin.
Levin feints a counter leg kick.
Salamanca moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Salamanca on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Levin. Levin obviously looking to wear him down.
Levin connects with a leg kick. Salamanca looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Levin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Salamanca wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Salamanca is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Levin.
Salamanca punishes Levin's body with a nice straight punch.
Levin looks to throw the jab but Salamanca is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Salamanca.
Levin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Salamanca is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Levin closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Levin obliges.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Salamanca leaning against his opponent.
Levin misses with a punch on the inside.
Levin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salamanca throws a punch but it's blocked by Levin.
Salamanca wants to break free but Levin has control.
Levin lands with a right to the head.
Levin gets through Salamanca's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Levin lands an elbow inside.
A short uppercut from Levin.
Levin missing with knees to the body.
Artem Levin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Levin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Salamanca backwards.
Levin misses with some punches.
Levin scores with a shot to the side of Salamanca's head.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Levin throws an elbow but misses.

Salamanca breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tuco Salamanca will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Levin tests Salamanca's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Levin throws out a loose jab but Salamanca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Levin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Salamanca pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salamanca swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Levin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Levin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salamanca.
Salamanca jabs Levin right on the nose. Levin blinks but takes it well.
Levin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Salamanca misses the jab.
Levin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salamanca throws a right and a left that both miss.
Levin misses with a body shot.
Levin tries to clinch up but Salamanca circles away and keeps his distance.
Salamanca scores with a jab.
Levin on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Salamanca.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Salamanca!
Salamanca loads up on a big right hand but Levin slips the punch.
Salamanca loads up on a big right hand but Levin slips the punch.
A swing and a miss from Levin.

Levin takes the fight into the clinch.
Levin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Salamanca lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salamanca gets through Levin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Salamanca.
Salamanca throws a punch but it's blocked by Levin.
Levin misses with an elbow over the top.
Levin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Levin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Levin fails to land.
Artem Levin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Salamanca is defending well for now.
Levin lands a hook to the side of the head.

Salamanca escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salamanca throws a one two combo.
Levin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salamanca attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Levin fakes the leg kick and cracks Salamanca in the body.
Nice shot lands for Levin.
Salamanca checks a leg kick nicely.
Levin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Salamanca looks to throw the jab but Levin is out of range.
Levin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salamanca avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Salamanca throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big right from Salamanca misses.
Levin slips a jab from Salamanca.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salamanca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Levin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Salamanca throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Levin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Levin looks to land a right hand but Salamanca moved out of range.
Jab by Levin.
A slow jab from Levin misses its intended target.
Salamanca lands with a hook. Levin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Levin tries to clinch up.
Salamanca swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Levin counters with a nice leg kick.
Salamanca takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
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.
Tuco Salamanca is winning the standup battle so far.
Levin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salamanca.
Salamanca takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Levin tries to close the distance and clinch but Salamanca swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salamanca takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salamanca keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Salamanca takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Levin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Levin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Levin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Salamanca takes an elbow to the temple.
Levin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Levin lands an elbow inside that Salamanca shrugs off.
Salamanca throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Levin.
Levin gets through Salamanca's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Levin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Salamanca misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Levin.
Good body shot from Salamanca.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Artem Levin.
I think Salamanca 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuco Salamanca!
Tuco Salamanca was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.