PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Salvador (ranked 1564 p4p, 212 weight class) and Alexander Usikov (ranked 1988 p4p, 263 weight class). Alexander Usikov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with George Salvador's chin.

Salvador
vs
Usikov

183 cm
21
203 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
29
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, George Salvador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Usikov!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usikov tries to clinch there but Salvador circles away.
Salvador lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Alexander Usikov has been cut.
Donk. Salvador catches Usikov right on the button with a cross.
Salvador is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Usikov.
Salvador jabs at Usikov's body.

Usikov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Usikov.
Salvador fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Salvador - that landed with a thud.
Usikov looking to throw knees to the head but Salvador is blocking nicely.
Usikov lands a nice knee to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Usikov fails to land.
Salvador misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salvador lands a body punch.
Salvador pushes Usikov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Salvador working aggressively here.
Salvador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salvador managing to block the knees to the body from Usikov.
Salvador swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usikov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Usikov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Salvador throws a punch but it's blocked by Usikov.
Salvador lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
I was talking to Salvador's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Salvador working aggressively here.
Salvador tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Usikov's elbow.
Usikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Usikov blocks an uppercut.
Usikov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salvador's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Usikov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Salvador avoids it.
Usikov working aggressively here.
Salvador lands with a right to the head.
Salvador scores with a hook to the body.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but Salvador blocks with his arms.
Salvador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salvador lands a hook that snaps the head of Usikov backwards.
Usikov trying to stall but Salvador improves his position.
Knees to the body from Usikov.

That's two 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!
Usikov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Salvador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salvador throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Salvador scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Salvador fails to land.
Salvador blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short uppercut from Salvador.
Salvador lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Salvador misses with a hook from the clinch.
Usikov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Salvador.
Usikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Salvador breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Usikov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salvador is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Usikov.
Usikov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Salvador with a nice cross.
Usikov tries to clinch there but Salvador circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salvador.
Salvador keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Usikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Usikov feints and then cracks Salvador's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salvador down.
Salvador paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Salvador misses with a lunging right hand
and Usikov counters with a body kick that stops Salvador in his tracks momentarily.
Salvador loads up on a big right hand but Usikov slips the punch.
A swing and a miss from Salvador.
Salvador scores with a nice strike.
Salvador throws a looping overhand right but Usikov ducks down to avoid it.
Usikov misses with a right hand
and Salvador counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Usikov has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Salvador throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Usikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salvador.
Usikov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Salvador manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Usikov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salvador.
Salvador is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usikov doesn't manage to clinch there - Salvador circles away.
Usikov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Usikov misses with a low kick.

Usikov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salvador, pushing him back against the cage.
Usikov blocking some punches.
Usikov lands a knee to the head.
Usikov lands a good knee to the midsection. Salvador won't want to take too many of those.
Salvador misses with a body punch.
Salvador lands a left hand that snaps the head of Usikov backwards.
Salvador misses with some punches.
Usikov looking to throw knees to the head but Salvador is blocking nicely.
Salvador working aggressively here.
Salvador has a couple of punches blocked by Usikov.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Usikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Salvador has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Salvador lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Salvador misses with a hook from the clinch.
Salvador throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Usikovs head.
Usikov looking to throw knees to the head but Salvador is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Salvador dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Usikov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Usikov tries to clinch but Salvador is having none of it.
Salvador misses with a wild combination.
Usikov tries to clinch up but Salvador circles away and keeps his distance.
Usikov tries to clinch but Salvador is having none of it.
Usikov is looking to clinch.
Salvador throws a shot to the body.
Salvador falls off balance throwing a combination
and Usikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Usikov throws a hook to the side of Salvador's head but Salvador sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salvador seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Salvador rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Usikov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Usikov unleashes a big counter combination but Salvador bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvador misses with a looping left.
Usikov moves away from the strike by Salvador.
Some wild striking there from Salvador.
Decent striking displayed by Salvador there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvador lands a jab.
Salvador throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Usikov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Salvador misses with a two punch combination.
Salvador misses with a looping left.
Salvador thuds his right hand into Usikov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Usikov takes a swing at Salvador's ribcage but misses.
Usikov moves in looking to clinch but Salvador pushes him off.
Usikov misses with a wild body shot.
Salvador swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Salvador avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Usikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Usikov staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Usikov.
Salvador throws a hook but Usikov blocks it.
George Salvador is winning the standup battle so far.
Usikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salvador.
Usikov tries to clinch up.
Usikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvador paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Usikov moves away from the strike by Salvador.
Salvador misses with a straight right.
Usikov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Salvador thows a left - swing and a miss!
Usikov moves in looking to clinch but Salvador pushes him off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salvador scores with a decent looking hook.
A punch combination from Salvador misses.
Usikov wants to clinch up but Salvador keeps it at a distance.
Salvador is looking to counter punch.
Usikov tries to clinch but Salvador moves out of range.
Usikov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Salvador throws out the jab.
Usikov misses the jab.
Usikov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Salvador throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Usikov tries to counter by closing the distance.

Usikov pushes Salvador up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Salvador blocks it with crossed arms.
Salvador lands a body shot.
Salvador lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Usikov prevents a body shot from Salvador.
Salvador pushes Usikov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Salvador.
Usikov is breathing heavily.
Salvador lands with a short shot to the head.
Usikov misses with a knee to the head.
A shot in the inside from Salvador.
Salvador swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Usikov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salvador misses with the head strike.
Salvador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Usikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Salvador avoids the damage to the body.
Usikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Salvador.

Salvador's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Usikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Salvador swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salvador misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador throws a body shot but no joy.
Usikov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Salvador is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Usikov can do to turn this around?
Usikov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Salvador cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Usikov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Salvador under the eye.
Salvador pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Usikov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Salvador connects with a right hand. Usikov shakes it off.
Usikov tries to clinch up.
Salvador is looking to counter punch.
Usikov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salvador. That did some damage!
Salvador keeps the fight on the outside.
Salvador connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Salvador throws the left hand but Usikov avoids the punch easily.
Salvador backing away here, and Usikov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Salvador misses with a straight left.
Salvador throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Usikov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salvador, pushing him back against the cage.

Salvador escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salvador is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Usikov.
Salvador looks to land a right hand but Usikov moved out of range.
Usikov tries to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Salvador dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Usikov's cut.
That's time! Salvador's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Usikov slips under a jab.
Salvador fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salvador misses with a straight right.
Usikov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salvador paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salvador throwing a counter right hand but Usikov manages to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Salvador.
Salvador circles away from the clinch attempt
and Salvador counters with a left to the body.
Usikov is looking to clinch but Salvador is avoiding it.
Salvador misses with a straight right.
Salvador keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvador uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Usikov.

Usikov moves into range and clinches up with Salvador.
Usikov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Usikov has a couple of punches blocked by Salvador.
Usikov tries a knee to the head but Salvador blocks it.
Usikov misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usikov tries to land a knee to the head but Salvador blocks with his arms.
Salvador misses with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Salvador.
Usikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salvador scores with a shot to the side of Usikov's head.
Salvador scores with a nice hook to the head.
Usikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Salvador softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Salvador lands with a right to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Salvador fails to land.

Salvador drops Usikov onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Usikov is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Usikov is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Salvador fails to land.
Usikov is still on wobbly legs! Can Salvador finish him?
Salvador misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Usikov.
Salvador creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Usikov with a big uppercut! Usikov tries to clinch up but Salvador pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Usikov to the mat! Usikov covers up and Salvador unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). George Salvador!
A relieved looking George Salvador thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.