PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Milleer Salazar (ranked 2968 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Anthony (ranked 5782 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.

Salazar
vs
Anthony

180 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

191 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Milleer Salazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Salazar clinches up against the cage.
Salazar prevents Anthony from breaking the clinch.
Salazar tries to score a body lock takedown but Anthony shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anthony is trying to force a seperation but Salazar has the dominant position.
Anthony wants to take the fight to the mat but Salazar manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Anthony just misses with a elbow thrown towards Salazar's brow.
Salazar effectively controlling the action here.
Anthony jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Salazar walks away with a smile on his face. Anthony gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Milleer Salazar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Anthony.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salazar throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Anthony leaves Salazar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Anthony shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salazar pinned against the cage. Salazar gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Anthony fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Salazar to the ground. Anthony is now in Salazar's guard.
Salazar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Anthony looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Salazar seems keen to control Anthony's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony tries to free his leg and advance position but Salazar is retaining full guard.
Anthony must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Anthony in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salazar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Anthony drops back, looking for a kneebar! Salazar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Salazar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Salazar!

Anthony is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salazar decides to stand up, so the ref orders Anthony to his feet.
Salazar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anthony is fending him off so far but Salazar persists. Nope, Anthony circles away and we're back to standing.
Anthony tries a head kick but it misses.
Salazar tries to clinch but Anthony is having none of it.
Salazar is looking to clinch but Anthony is avoiding it.

Salazar clinches.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anthony shoots in and drives through. Salazar sprawls well.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt - Salazar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Anthony 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.

Salazar clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salazar gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Well, if Salazar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Anthony trying to control but Salazar postures up.
It looks like Salazar is going to stand back up.
Anthony wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anthony won't allow Salazar to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milleer Salazar dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Salazar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anthony as he jumps to the side.
Salazar looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anthony fails to land the takedown.
Salazar tries to clinch up but Anthony circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anthony looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anthony looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice body kick from Salazar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salazar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Salazar pushes Anthony up against the cage in a clinch.
Anthony has had enough of the clinch but Salazar keeps him there for the moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Anthony.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar unloads a knee to the mid-section. Anthony lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Salazar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Salazar.
Salazar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Anthony stalling against the cage.
Salazar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anthony can do to turn this around?
Anthony is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Salazar.

It looks like Alex Anthony has been cut.
Salazar blocks a body shot from Anthony.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar blocking some punches.
Anthony looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Salazar prevents Anthony from breaking the clinch.
Anthony fails to pull guard.
Milleer Salazar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Anthony.
Salazar tries to score a body lock takedown but Anthony shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Salazar is fighting off a takedown attempt but Anthony is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Salazar to the mat. Salazar regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Salazar has his foot on Anthony's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Anthony works his way back into a safe position though.
Salazar looking to control.
Anthony passes Salazar's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Anthony wants to control but Salazar is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony wants to stand up but Salazar manages to regain full guard.

Anthony stands up from Salazar's guard - Anthony perhaps looking for a knockout.
Salazar thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Anthony if he has to take too many more of those.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salazar sprawls well. Salazar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Anthony gets slowly back to his feet.

Salazar rushes Anthony and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Salazar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Salazar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salazar has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Salazar there as he acknowledges the shot.

Anthony shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Anthony showed some decent athleticism there.
Salazar pushes Anthony off but Anthony dives into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony working the strikes but Salazar uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Anthony thows a huge punch but Salazar dodges it nicely.
Anthony is stalling here. Salazar is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Anthony seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Salazar has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milleer Salazar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Anthony's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Anthony stuffs the takedown.
Milleer Salazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salazar tries for a takedown but Anthony sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Salazar doesn't manage to clinch there - Anthony circles away.

Anthony clinches with his opponent.
Anthony is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Salazar to keep the fight standing.

Anthony breaks the clinch.

Salazar moves into the clinch successfully.
Anthony is trying to drag Salazar to the mat but Salazar just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Anthony goes for a takedown attempt but Salazar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Milleer Salazar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Anthony.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt - Salazar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar tries to close the distance and clinch but Anthony swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anthony is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Anthony tries to clinch but Salazar moves out of range.
Milleer Salazar is winning the standup battle so far.
Anthony fails with the takedown.
That kick from Salazar tenderised Anthony's leg. Anthony is trying to keep his angry face on.

Salazar lands a big head kick that sends Anthony tumbling to the mat! Salazar takes a step backwards and waves Anthony back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Anthony avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salazar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Anthony manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salazar slaps away a takedown attempt from Anthony, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anthony punishes Salazar's body with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salazar tries to clinch up but Anthony circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salazar moves into the clinch.
Anthony tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Salazar is looking to control Anthony's arms but Anthony gets an underhook and turns him. Now Salazar has his back to the cage.
Anthony displaying some good clinch control by pressing Salazar up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Salazar.
Salazar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salazar lands a shoulder strike.
Anthony can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Anthony goes for a takedown attempt but Salazar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Anthony closes the distance and clinches up with Salazar, looking for a takedown. Anthony pushes Salazar against the cage but Salazar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Salazar moves into the clinch.
Salazar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Anthony up against the cage.
Come on Anthony - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Anthony takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is trying to pull guard but Salazar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Salazar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Anthony gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Anthony is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Salazar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Milleer Salazar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Anthony takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Anthony leaning his opponent against the cage.
Salazar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Alex Anthony has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anthony tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salazar's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Milleer Salazar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Salazar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milleer Salazar!
An out of breath Milleer Salazar thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.