PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alen Zalac (ranked 4562 p4p, 457 weight class) and Salvatore Salerno (ranked 3069 p4p, 350 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zalac
vs
Salerno

185 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alen Zalac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Salvatore Salerno!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salerno tries to bum rush Zalac with a series of wild strikes but Zalac uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zalac moves away from the strike by Salerno.
A nice combination there by Zalac.
Salerno takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Salerno takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Good standup being displayed there by Zalac as he connects with a hook.
Zalac scores with a punch to the head.

Zalac has closed the distance and engaged Salerno in a clinch.
Zalac is trying to break the clinch but Salerno has him pressed against the cage.
Salerno is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zalac is defending well for now.

Salerno breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zalac goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Salerno tries to clinch
and Zalac counters with a nice body shot.
Zalac throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zalac lands a head shot.
Zalac avoids the body shot from Salerno.
Salerno displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zalac.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Zalac.
Salerno misses with a hook to the body
and Salerno takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salerno lands the left hand.
Salerno moves in looking to clinch but Zalac pushes him off.
Salerno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zalac misses with a jab, cross combination.
Salerno steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zalac.
Salvatore Salerno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Salerno misses.

Zalac has closed the distance and engaged Salerno in a clinch.
Salerno trying to control the position but instead, Zalac has worked for underhooks and has pushed Salerno into the cage.
Salerno wants to stall.
Zalac tries to circle away but Salerno has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zalac ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zalac no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zalac has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Salerno is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Salerno tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Salerno breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salerno drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Salerno swings widly with a right hand
and Zalac counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salerno takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zalac scores with a jab to the head.
Zalac is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Salerno tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zalac fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zalac slips a jab and a cross from Salerno.
Zalac swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zalac rushes Salerno and presses him up against the cage.
Salerno tries to work over Zalac's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Salerno misses with a punch on the inside.

Salerno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salerno jabs Zalac right on the nose. Zalac blinks but takes it well.
Alen Zalac seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Salerno enables Zalac to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Salerno manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zalac is standing up over Salerno. Salerno looks to escape but Zalac dives into side control.

Zalac is chipping away with strikes.
Salerno dodges the ground and pound from Zalac.
Zalac in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Salerno dodges the ground and pound from Zalac.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salerno is trying to control Zalac's posture but Zalac avoids it.
Salerno looks winded!

Zalac is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Salerno is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zalac has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalac scoring with punches from side control.
Zalac cracks Salerno with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Salerno tries to bench press Zalac off him but Zalac keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salerno taking punishment in the form of punches.
Salerno managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zalac.

Zalac wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Salerno, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zalac is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Salerno will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salerno is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zalac connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Zalac dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zalac's jab looks to have found its range, popping Salerno under the eye.
Zalac swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zalac lands a right hook to the body.
Salerno misses with a looping right.
Jab by Zalac.
Zalac staying out of range there.
Zalac walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zalac swinging wildly here.
Zalac throws a leg kick but Salerno sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zalac will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zalac clinches up against the cage.

Salerno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zalac fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Salerno on the side of the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zalac darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salerno tries to clinch but Zalac moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac lands a really nice looking cross but Salerno seems unphased.
Zalac displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Salerno gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Salerno is rocked!

Zalac tries to keep at a distance but Salerno has taken the fight into the clinch.

Salerno breaks the clinch.
Zalac pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salerno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salerno scores with a hook to the body. Zalac takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zalac avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alen Zalac is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zalac catches Salerno with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Salerno is looking to clinch but Zalac is avoiding it.

Zalac pushes Salerno up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Salerno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zalac goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zalac throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salerno on the side of the head.
Salerno tries to clinch up.
Zalac connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zalac dips to his left and cracks Salerno with an uppercut!
Zalac bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Salerno's head backwards.
Salerno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salerno scores with a jab.
Zalac lunges at Salerno with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Salerno's hand.
Salerno checks a leg kick nicely.
Salerno misses with a jab, cross combination.
A slow jab from Salerno misses its intended target.
Salerno is breathing heavily.
Zalac connects with a single shot there.
Zalac is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salerno can do to turn this around?
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Salerno, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalac throws out a leg kick but Salerno moves out of range and Zalac only half commits.
Zalac scores with a crisp jab that stopped Salerno in his tracks.
Alen Zalac is winning the standup battle so far.
Salerno misses the body punch

and Zalac counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Salerno misses with some punches.
Salerno swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zalac wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salerno has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Zalac pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zalac wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zalac keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
An inside leg kick from Zalac misses.
Zalac sets himself, and Salerno steps forward looking for the clinch! Zalac avoids it this time.
Salerno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salerno lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zalac at a distance.
Zalac lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalac looks to land a combination but Salerno avoids it well.
Zalac takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zalac scores with a nice strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Zalac.
Zalac misses with a low kick.
Salerno tries to close the distance and clinch but Zalac swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salerno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salerno tries to clinch up.
Salerno misses with a wild body shot.
Zalac scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Salerno walks into a stiff left hand from Zalac.
Zalac slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Salerno misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salerno ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zalac.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Zalac dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Salerno drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zalac scores with a nice strike.
Nice defenses there by Zalac.
Salerno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salerno swings for the body but Zalac moves out of range.
Zalac throws a hook but Salerno avoids it easily.
Zalac thuds his right hand into Salerno's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Salerno tries to move into range but Zalac moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zalac lands a nice hook to Salerno's body. Salerno takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Salerno takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Salerno stuffs the takedown attempt from Zalac. Zalac gets slowly back to his feet.
A clash of legs there as Salerno blocks the low kick.
Salerno tries to clinch there but Zalac circles away.
Zalac lands an overhand right.
Salerno's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zalac connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Salerno scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salerno scores with a nice right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salerno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice shot by Salerno.
Zalac throws a good cross that connects.
A cross from Zalac lands.

Zalac clinches.
Salerno looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Zalac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zalac swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Salerno.
Salerno blocks a jab.
Salerno let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zalac with a hook.
Zalac fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Salerno misses
and Zalac cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zalac lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Salerno circles away quickly and effectively.
Zalac throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salerno lands a jab to the nose.
Salerno is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zalac slips a jab from Salerno.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salerno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zalac walks into a jab.
Zalac scores with a sloppy right hand. Salerno should have avoided that one.

Salerno gets tackled into the cage by Zalac. Zalac maintains the clinch.
Zalac fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alen Zalac. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salerno trying to stall but Zalac improves his position.
Salerno is trying to maintain a safe position but Zalac gets an underhook and turns Salerno into the cage.
Salerno is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Zalac has denied him.

Salerno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salerno cracks Zalac with a right hand to the side of the head.

Zalac clinches with his opponent.
Zalac is trying to force a seperation but Salerno has the dominant position.
Salerno has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Salerno tries a body shot but Zalac blocks it.

Salerno breaks the clinch.
Zalac moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zalac circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zalac scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zalac throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalac misses with a wild combination.
Zalac swinging wildly here.
Zalac scores with a crisp jab that stopped Salerno in his tracks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salerno tries to clinch but Zalac is having none of it.
Zalac seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Salerno fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zalac lands a jab to the head.
Salerno stuns Zalac with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Salerno throws an overhand right that lands on Zalac's shoulder, as Zalac tries to avoid the shot.
Zalac closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A telegraphed right hand from Zalac misses the target.
Zalac takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Salvatore Salerno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alen Zalac is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salerno scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alen Zalac showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zalac 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alen Zalac!