PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam McCullen (ranked 1015 p4p, 150 weight class) and Michael Salazar (ranked 503 p4p, 73 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think McCullen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Foggy Dew. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

McCullen
vs
Salazar

195 cm
31
220 lbs
17 - 13 - 1

193 cm
24
215 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

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 17 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Sam McCullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Salazar!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCullen looks to throw the jab but Salazar is out of range.
McCullen darts in looking for a takedown but Salazar gets double underhooks and turns McCullen into the cage.
Salazar misses the shot to the body.
McCullen shoots in but no luck this time.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Salazar.
Salazar avoids the body shot from McCullen.
A big right from Salazar misses.
McCullen closes the distance and clinches up with Salazar, looking for a takedown. McCullen pushes Salazar against the cage but Salazar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam McCullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCullen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Salazar on the side of the head.
McCullen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at London MMA Club in the buildup to the fight.
McCullen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Salazar connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McCullen scrambles back to his feet.
Salazar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCullen.
A counter left hand to the body from McCullen misses its target.
McCullen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Sam McCullen has been cut.
McCullen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McCullen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Salazar. That one must have hurt.
Salazar misses with a low kick.
Salazar lands a nice looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
That kick from Salazar tenderised McCullen's leg. McCullen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Salazar avoids the body shot from McCullen.
McCullen looks to land a combination but Salazar avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullen avoids a kick to the body.
McCullen darts in looking for a takedown but Salazar gets double underhooks and turns McCullen into the cage.
Salazar walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McCullen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Salazar is just out of range.
Michael Salazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salazar slips under a jab.
McCullen cracks Salazar with an open hand slap.
Salazar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salazar throws a body kick that misses.
Salazar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McCullen tries a head kick but it misses.

McCullen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than McCullen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Salazar manages to work his way to half guard, despite McCullen's best efforts.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McCullen controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar wants to improve his position but McCullen is controlling well.
McCullen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McCullen is thwarting Salazar's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Salazar is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McCullen ducks right into an uppercut from Salazar.
McCullen lands a nice looking body kick.
McCullen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A leg kick checked by McCullen.
Michael Salazar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCullen scores with a jab to the head.
Salazar throws a lazy right hand but McCullen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McCullen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
McCullen is looking to wear down Salazar with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McCullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salazar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen throws a push kick but Salazar slaps the foot to one side.
McCullen scores with the left hand. Salazar knows he should have avoided that one.
McCullen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Salazar. Salazar obviously looking to wear him down.
Salazar fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McCullen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salazar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullen.
McCullen misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Salazar misses the target.
McCullen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
McCullen lands a head shot.
McCullen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Salazar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from McCullen misses.
McCullen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salazar.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Salazar.
Salazar sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Salazar throws a hook but McCullen blocks it.
McCullen misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam McCullen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam McCullen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Decent striking displayed by McCullen there.
Salazar moves forwards but McCullen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McCullen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCullen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McCullen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McCullen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salazar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCullen.
Salazar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from McCullen misses.
McCullen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Salazar's sensitive parts.
McCullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Salazar is just out of range.
McCullen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salazar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Salazar.
Salazar tries a low kick but McCullen avoids it.
Salazar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCullen throws out the jab.
McCullen misses with the body kick
and Salazar counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCullen misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullen throws a body punch but Salazar moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as McCullen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
McCullen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A shot to the liver by McCullen. Beautiful body shot.
Salazar gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McCullen scoring well with a low kick there.
Salazar digs a good hook to McCullen's body.
Salazar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullen.
Salazar moves out of range as McCullen strikes.
Salazar lands with an overhand left.
McCullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from McCullen misses.
Salazar looks to land a left hand but McCullen moved out of range nicely.
McCullen fires out a quick counter leg kick but Salazar just manages to avoid it.
Salazar cracks McCullen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Salazar leaves McCullen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McCullen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salazar can do to turn this around?
Salazar misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McCullen, right into the meat.
McCullen misses with a straight left.
McCullen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCullen walks into a stiff left hand from Salazar.
Nice defenses there by McCullen.
McCullen misses with an attempted mid kick.
McCullen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McCullen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Salazar throws a leg kick but McCullen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McCullen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salazar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCullen moves out of range of the body kick from Salazar.
McCullen blocks the body kick.
Salazar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullen.
A big right from Salazar misses.
A big left from Salazar misses.
McCullen cracks a nice hook into Salazar's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen scores with a body shot.
Salazar rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McCullen counters with a thumping low kick.
McCullen lands with a slapping head kick.
Salazar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McCullen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Salazar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McCullen.
Salazar flicks out a counter leg kick but McCullen steps away.
McCullen throws a right hand that Salazar ducks under and follows up with a left that Salazar also avoids with ease.
McCullen thuds his shin into the meat of Salazar's side.
McCullen swings for the body but Salazar moves out of range.
McCullen's corner calls for a 1-2. McCullen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Salazar looks to land a left hand but McCullen moved out of range nicely.
Salazar keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A head kick from McCullen lands but Salazar takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good standup being displayed there by McCullen as he connects with a hook.
Salazar misses with a body kick.
A little feinted left hand from McCullen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullen looks to throw the jab but Salazar is out of range.
Salazar misses with a low kick as McCullen jumps back.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Salazar.
McCullen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Salazar doesn't seem bothered though.
Salazar connects with a crisp jab.
McCullen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salazar moves out of range of the body kick from McCullen.
McCullen misses with a few strikes there.
McCullen jabs at Salazar's body.
Salazar scores with a nice strike.
Salazar wants to clinch.
McCullen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam McCullen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sam McCullen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Salazar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McCullen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by McCullen or perhaps it was just good defense by Salazar, which made it look bad.
McCullen lands with a shot to the body.
Salazar throws a solid leg kick but McCullen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Salazar.
McCullen throws a body punch but Salazar moves out of range.
Salazar swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Salazar slips a jab and a cross from McCullen.
McCullen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Salazar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Salazar misses with a body shot.
Salazar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McCullen can pounce on him.
McCullen misses with a body shot.
Salazar doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Salazar swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McCullen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Salazar fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McCullen checks it well.
Salazar moves out of range as McCullen throws a body kick.
McCullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salazar misses with a wild body shot.
Salazar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McCullen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam McCullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCullen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salazar looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Salazar punishes McCullen's body with a nice straight punch.
McCullen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Salazar lands a nice shot that snaps McCullen's head back.
Nice uppercut there from McCullen.
Salazar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McCullen. McCullen obviously looking to wear him down.
Michael Salazar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCullen staying out of range there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salazar. That's going to slow McCullen down.
Salazar's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McCullen connects with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salazar throws a lazy right hand but McCullen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Salazar tries to clinch up but McCullen circles away and keeps his distance.
McCullen throws a body shot but no joy.
Salazar with a jab.
McCullen avoids the body shot from Salazar.
Salazar is looking to land body kicks.
McCullen lands with a nice combination. Salazar backs away looking to recover.
Salazar looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McCullen misses the shot to the body.
Salazar thows a leg kick but McCullen checks it
and McCullen counters with a series of strikes. Salazar will be more careful next time no doubt.
McCullen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCullen misses the shot to the body.
McCullen thuds a left hand into Salazar's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen misses with a few strikes there.
Salazar throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Salazar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Salazar throws a hook but McCullen avoids it easily.
Salazar throws an overhand right that lands on McCullen's shoulder, as McCullen tries to avoid the shot.
It looked like McCullen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Salazar.
Sam McCullen is winning the standup battle so far.
McCullen is looking to slow Salazar down with leg kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by McCullen. That's going to slow Salazar down.
Salazar looks for the body kick but McCullen saw that one coming.
McCullen checks a leg kick nicely.
McCullen lands a nice shot to the body.
Salazar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCullen. Salazar does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCullen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salazar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McCullen doesn't seem bothered though.
A big left from Salazar misses.
McCullen misses the shot to the body.
Sam McCullen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar throws a low kick but McCullen moves out of range easily.
Salazar misses with a body kick.
McCullen scores with a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salazar with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McCullen scores with a jab to the head.
Salazar misses with a body kick.
Salazar misses with an uppercut
and McCullen counters with a stiff right hand.
Salazar attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Salazar throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McCullen counters with a left to the body.
Salazar tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McCullen takes a swing at Salazar's ribcage but misses.
McCullen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Salazar will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Salazar throws a quick inside leg kick.
McCullen walks into a stiff left hand from Salazar.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sam McCullen.
Well McCullen 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam McCullen!
An out of breath Sam McCullen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Michael Salazar spoke after the fight, saying 'The belt belongs to me, it will be reclaimed. '.