PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Enzo Salvatore (ranked 1565 p4p, 179 weight class) and Raymond Donde (ranked 1100 p4p, 129 weight class). Salvatore kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Reich mir die Hand. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salvatore
vs
Donde

172 cm
23
160 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Enzo Salvatore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raymond Donde!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salvatore scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Donde regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Donde manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Donde wants to sweep here but Salvatore controlling him for the moment.
Salvatore landing with the ground and pound.
Salvatore trying to control but Donde is working from the bottom.

Donde escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Salvatore gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Salvatore has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Salvatore preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Donde looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Salvatore working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Salvatore controlling from the top position.

Donde throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donde manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salvatore manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salvatore is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Donde defends well.

Donde postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Salvatore is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Donde, into his guard.

Donde tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Donde can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Salvatore controls the pace.
Donde can't keep his opponent in guard - Salvatore advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donde moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Salvatore trying to control but Donde is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvatore sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Donde's guard.
Donde tries to get to full guard but Salvatore has control of the leg.

Salvatore wants to work for an arm triangle but Donde is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Salvatore is looking to take a break and control but Donde is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Salvatore wants to work for an arm triangle but Donde is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Donde works his way to full guard. Good work.
Salvatore passes into half guard.

Salvatore is working for a kimura but Donde is defending it quite comfortably.
Donde gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Donde looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Salvatore passes into half guard.

Donde is defending against the submission attempts here by Salvatore.
Donde works his way to full guard. Good work.
Salvatore is looking to stand up but Donde won't let him.
Donde tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Donde is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Salvatore defends well.
Salvatore preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Salvatore wants to control from the top but Donde keeps moving.
Salvatore stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Donde swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Donde keeping moving, preventing Salvatore from controlling successfully.

Salvatore postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Donde is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Salvatore, into his guard.

Donde pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salvatore is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Salvatore dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Donde drives through and clinches with Salvatore against the cage.
Donde is trying to drag Salvatore to the mat but Salvatore just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Donde gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Donde seems to be working for a kimura but Salvatore defends the submission attempt.
Salvatore moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Donde looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donde stopping the sweep attempt from Salvatore.
Donde trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Donde pushing down on Salvatore's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Donde is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Salvatore defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donde works his foot free and advances to mount.
Donde fails to advance to Salvatore's back.

Donde goes for an armbar but Salvatore turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Salvatore.
Salvatore trying to control the position from guard on top but Donde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salvatore with a flurry of punches that miss.
Salvatore forces his way into half guard.
Donde tries to roll over but Salvatore keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donde is defending against the submission attempts here by Salvatore.

Salvatore is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Donde defends it well.
Salvatore is looking to take a break and control but Donde is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Donde is looking for a sweep. Salvatore is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Salvatore working the head and body with strikes.

Donde looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Donde wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donde moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Donde is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are battling for position here. Salvatore manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Salvatore looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Donde is pushing down on Salvatore's leg trying to pass to half guard. Salvatore is fighting to maintain full guard but Donde has managed to sneak the leg through.

Donde is looking for a kimura but Salvatore is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Donde to get the leverage.
Donde wants to advance to full mount but Salvatore doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Donde trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Donde is still trying to improve position.

Donde has gone for a leg lock! Salvatore slips out almost immediately though and dives into Donde's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore stopping the sweep attempt from Donde.

Salvatore got a little sloppy there for a moment and Donde has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salvatore has managed to get both his arms back between Donde's legs - danger averted.
Salvatore sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Donde's guard.

Salvatore is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Donde has managed to free his arm - good work.
Salvatore prevents Donde from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Salvatore wants to work for an arm triangle but Donde is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Donde taking some punishment here, with Salvatore in his half guard.
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 Enzo Salvatore will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Salvatore leaves Donde with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Donde looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Salvatore tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Donde trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Donde forces his way into half guard.

Donde is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Salvatore wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donde passes the guard and advances to mount!

Donde swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Salvatore is now in Donde's guard. A big mistake from Donde there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salvatore is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Salvatore is working Donde over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Salvatore wants to control from the top but Donde keeps moving.
Donde looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salvatore is one step ahead there.

Donde escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Salvatore gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Salvatore trying to control but Donde is working from the bottom.
Salvatore wants to stand but Donde is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salvatore stopping the sweep attempt from Donde.

Salvatore stands up and waves to Donde to follow him.
Salvatore bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Donde's head backwards.
Salvatore loads up on a big right hand but Donde slips the punch.
Donde tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salvatore swivels and escapes.
Donde slips under a jab.
Donde moves in looking to clinch but Salvatore pushes him off.

Salvatore gets the takedown into side control.
Donde is looking to regain half guard here but Salvatore keeps moving and retains side control.

Salvatore decides to stand up, so the ref orders Donde to his feet.

Salvatore drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Donde takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Enzo Salvatore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Donde escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Salvatore gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Salvatore seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Donde is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Donde has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Salvatore defend it? Donde steps over the head and cranks it - Salvatore is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Donde!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Raymond Donde!
A relieved looking Raymond Donde thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.