PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saint Pete (ranked 4030 p4p, 418 weight class) and Zintis Saljanka (ranked 5250 p4p, 471 weight class). Pete comes to the cage accompanied by Midnight Rider. 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.

Pete
vs
Saljanka

203 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

225 cm
26
207 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Sportivité

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saint Pete!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zintis Saljanka!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saljanka on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pete.
Saint Pete seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pete with a jab.
Pete throws a right and a left that Saljanka avoids nicely.
A cross from Pete lands.

Saljanka has closed the distance and engaged Pete in a clinch.
Pete is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saljanka is defending well for now.
Pete lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pete.
Saljanka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short left from Pete.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pete lands a nice uppercut.
Pete scores with a hook to the body.
Pete pushes Saljanka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The referee calls for Pete to work.
Pete working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pete breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saljanka on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pete throws a nice looking combination but Saljanka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Saljanka shoots in for a double leg but Pete sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pete lands a slapping body shot.
Pete works over Saljanka's head and body with a nice combination.
Pete scores with a crisp jab that stopped Saljanka in his tracks.
Pete cracks Saljanka with a good jab.
Pete stuffs the takedown attempt from Saljanka. Saljanka gets slowly back to his feet.

Pete changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Saljanka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pete advances to full mount.
Pete thowing shots but they're missing.
Pete punching from mount but Saljanka doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pete punching from mount but Saljanka doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pete thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Saljanka is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Pete looking for a guillotine from mount but Saljanka is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pete throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Saljanka because Pete loaded up on that one.
Pete sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Saljanka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saljanka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pete thowing shots but they're missing.

Pete with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Pete throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pete jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Saljanka manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Check out the look on Pete's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Pete throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Saljanka is trying to stand and escape here. He's got onto all fours but that's just let Pete take his back! Uh oh - Pete has got a rear naked choke here! Saljanka is forced to tap! It's all over! One monent is all it takes in this sport!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Saint Pete!
Saint Pete spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.