PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Salazar (ranked 888 p4p, 131 weight class) and Sam McCullen (ranked 669 p4p, 107 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McCullen's choice of entrance music: The Foggy Dew. 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
McCullen

193 cm
24
215 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

195 cm
31
215 lbs
17 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Salazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Sam McCullen!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salazar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McCullen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Salazar just misses with a punch to the body.
Salazar misses with an uppercut. McCullen saw that one coming.
Salazar throws a leg kick but McCullen sees it coming and moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for McCullen.
Nice cross by Salazar.
Salazar scoring well with a low kick there.
McCullen thuds his right hand into Salazar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Michael Salazar has been cut.
McCullen misses the jab.
Salazar throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and McCullen counters with a nice uppercut.
McCullen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCullen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
McCullen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Salazar.
McCullen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Salazar connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice defenses there by Salazar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullen blocks a low kick nicely.
Salazar looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed right hand from McCullen misses the target.
A jab lands there for Salazar.
McCullen misses with a head kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that McCullen 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.
Salazar with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Salazar closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Salazar fails to land.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Salazar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McCullen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salazar's elbow.
McCullen prevents a body shot from Salazar.

McCullen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salazar connects with a right hand. McCullen shakes it off.
Salazar checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCullen misses the jab.
Salazar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And McCullen responds with a good body kick, but Salazar manages to step out the way in time.
Salazar misses with a low kick.
McCullen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salazar jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
McCullen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Salazar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCullen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCullen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Salazar takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McCullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salazar.
Salazar wants to slow McCullen down by chopping away at his legs.
Salazar takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McCullen swings widly with a right hand
and Salazar counters with a slapping leg kick.
Salazar throws an off balance right hand
and McCullen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Salazar throws a hook but McCullen avoids it easily.
McCullen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar checks a leg kick nicely.
Salazar lunges at McCullen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McCullen's hand.

It looks like Sam McCullen has been cut.
Salazar misses with a body shot.
Salazar misses with a looping left.
McCullen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Salazar moves out of range of the body kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! McCullen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Salazar - the referee stops the clock and McCullen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Salazar. McCullen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Salazar moves in looking to clinch but McCullen pushes him off.
Salazar swings away with a body shot that misses
and McCullen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salazar is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Salazar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McCullen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
McCullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salazar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCullen.
Salazar connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Salazar misses with an uppercut
and McCullen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar throws a low kick, looking for McCullen's leg but McCullen calmly moves out of range.
It seemed like McCullen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Salazar throws a lazy body kick
and McCullen counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Salazar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Salazar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Salazar.
McCullen tries to throw a body punch but Salazar avoids it by throwing McCullen back against the cage.
Salazar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salazar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCullen's elbow.
Salazar tries to work over McCullen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

McCullen manages to break the clinch.
McCullen takes one to the chin there.
Jab by Salazar.
McCullen 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCullen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Salazar dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McCullen works Salazar's body with a nice hook.
McCullen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salazar.
Salazar tries to close the distance and clinch but McCullen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McCullen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salazar.
Salazar avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Salazar misses its target.
Salazar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A countering left hand to the body from McCullen misses.
Salazar scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Michael Salazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCullen connects with a body shot.
Good exchange - Salazar coming out on top.
McCullen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar throws a leg kick but McCullen moved away.
Salazar takes one to the chin there.
Salazar throws out a loose jab but McCullen uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCullen misses with a hook.
Salazar scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McCullen moves out of range of the body kick.
McCullen misses the shot to the body.
Salazar scores with a leg kick.
Salazar misses with a leg kick
and McCullen counters with a nice uppercut.
McCullen stuns Salazar with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McCullen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Good leg kick by McCullen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Salazar fakes the leg kick and cracks McCullen in the body.
McCullen moves out of range of the body kick.
McCullen throws a counter combo.
Salazar throws a body punch but McCullen moves out of range.
McCullen defending well as Salazar loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar thumps McCullen with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salazar throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
McCullen slips a straight right by Salazar.
Salazar throws a body shot but no joy.
McCullen blocks the body kick.
McCullen checks a low kick from Salazar.
McCullen lands with a slapping head kick.
Salazar connects with a single shot there.
Salazar throws a leg kick but McCullen moved away.
McCullen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Salazar lands with an overhand left.
Salazar tried to score with a low kick but McCullen checks it.
McCullen avoids the body shot from Salazar.
McCullen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Salazar throws a leg kick which misses McCullen's front leg but catches the back leg as McCullen tries to avoid it.
McCullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salazar moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
McCullen throws a jab but it's blocked by Salazar.
McCullen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Salazar throws a body shot but no joy.
Salazar darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
McCullen 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 tries to work over McCullen's front leg with a kick but McCullen checks it.
McCullen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
McCullen looks to land a left hand but Salazar moved out of range nicely.
McCullen looks to land a body kick but Salazar moved away.
Michael Salazar is winning the standup battle so far.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from McCullen. Salazar shrugs it off though.
Salazar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salazar misses with the body kick
and McCullen counters with a stiff right hand.
Salazar throws a head kick but McCullen moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salazar misses with a low kick.
McCullen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McCullen moves away from the strike by Salazar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salazar misses the shot to the body.
McCullen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McCullen throws a body punch but Salazar moves out of range.
Salazar misses with a body kick.
That kick from Salazar tenderised McCullen's leg. McCullen is trying to keep his angry face on.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Salazar is just out of range.
McCullen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Salazar throws a body shot but no joy.
Salazar throws the kick towards the body but McCullen avoids it.
Salazar digs a good hook to McCullen's body.
Salazar throws an off balance right hand
and McCullen counters with a body kick that stops Salazar in his tracks momentarily.
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 Michael Salazar will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Salazar tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McCullen is able to avoid easily.
Salazar throws a sloppy body shot
and McCullen counters with a left to the body.
A big left from McCullen misses.
Nice uppercut lands for McCullen. That snapped Salazar's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCullen. Salazar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salazar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Salazar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCullen moves away from the strike by Salazar.
Salazar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McCullen doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McCullen. McCullen obviously looking to wear him down.
Salazar looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Salazar scores with a jab to the body.
McCullen connects with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCullen throws a looping overhand right but Salazar ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Salazar lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and McCullen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from McCullen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Salazar throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and McCullen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Salazar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McCullen.
McCullen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Salazar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCullen moves away.
Salazar takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McCullen slips under a jab.
Salazar throws a body kick that misses.
McCullen avoids the body shot from Salazar.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McCullen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Salazar has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Salazar and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McCullen ducks under a wild hook from Salazar.
McCullen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Michael Salazar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar misses with a lunging right hand
and McCullen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McCullen lands a jab to the nose.
McCullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salazar moves away.
McCullen thows a left - swing and a miss!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salazar throws a hook but McCullen avoids it easily.
McCullen moves away from the strike by Salazar.
Salazar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Salazar tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McCullen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McCullen ducks under a wild hook from Salazar.
McCullen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Salazar slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Salazar looks to score with a jab to the body but McCullen is just out of range.
Salazar blocks a head kick by McCullen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar moves in looking to clinch but McCullen pushes him off.
Salazar lands a front kick.
Salazar throws a looping overhand right but McCullen ducks down to avoid it.
Salazar lands with a nice body kick.
McCullen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McCullen tries to land a front kick but Salazar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Salazar looks to land a body kick but McCullen moved away.
McCullen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Salazar connects with a right hand. McCullen shakes it off.
Salazar lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McCullen at a distance.
McCullen misses with an uppercut.
McCullen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Salazar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen missing with a left hand there. Salazar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salazar clobbers McCullen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Salazar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McCullen avoids the body shot from Salazar.
McCullen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Salazar throws a chopping leg kick but McCullen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
It seemed like McCullen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Salazar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCullen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salazar lands with a nice body kick.
McCullen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salazar.
McCullen counters with a body kick.
Salazar throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McCullen counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Salazar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCullen was well out of range. Poor timing from Salazar.
A good leg kick by Salazar.
Sam McCullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCullen looks to throw the jab but Salazar is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam McCullen.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Salazar!
Michael Salazar bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.