PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Marco Salamanca (ranked 22087 p4p, 22481 weight class) and Kyle Kovingten (ranked 587 p4p, 572 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Salamanca might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Superstar Cypress Hill. Kovingten has chosen Tool - Schism as his entrance music. 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?

Salamanca
vs
Kovingten

176 cm
30
157
17 - 7 - 3

181 cm
33
164
33 - 18 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 3, fighting out of Sydney, Marco Salamanca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Kovingten!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovingten takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kovingten throws a good cross that connects.
Kovingten looks to throw a body kick
and Salamanca counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salamanca avoids the head kick by Kovingten.
Kovingten tries to close the distance and clinch but Salamanca swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salamanca misses with a body shot.
Salamanca on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kovingten. Kovingten obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovingten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kovingten fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Salamanca is out of range.
Kovingten delivers a nice body kick.
Kovingten punishes Salamanca's body with a nice straight punch.
Kovingten bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Salamanca has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Far-Q Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Salamanca digs a good hook to Kovingten's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovingten staying out of range there.
Salamanca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovingten was well out of range. Poor timing from Salamanca.
Salamanca lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Salamanca lands with a hook. Kovingten tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Salamanca bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kovingten's head backwards.
Salamanca cracks Kovingten with an open hand slap.
Salamanca connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kovingten momentarily.
Salamanca attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Salamanca steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kovingten. That one must have hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovingten throws a shot to the body.

Kovingten moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Kovingten - that landed with a thud.
Salamanca takes an elbow to the temple.
Kovingten working aggressively here.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kovingten creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kovingten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovingten throws an elbow but it misses.
Salamanca lands a left hand.

Salamanca breaks from the clinch.
Salamanca connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kovingten throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Salamanca counters with a leg kick.
Salamanca lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salamanca tries to land a front kick but Kovingten steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kovingten misses with a double jab.
Kovingten fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Salamanca goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kovingten takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kovingten moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kovingten just misses with a punch to the body.
Salamanca is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Salamanca misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Salamanca misses its intended target.
Kovingten swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Kovingten clinches.
Kovingten misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Salamanca.
Salamanca can't find room to land a body shot as Kovingten controls the action.
Kovingten creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Salamanca's defenses.
Salamanca misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kovingten.
Kovingten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovingten misses with a body punch.
Kovingten softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kovingten lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Salamanca.
Kovingten lands a left hand that snaps the head of Salamanca backwards.
Salamanca looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Salamanca.
Kovingten lands a body shot in the clinch.
Salamanca throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kovingtens head.
Kovingten lands with a right to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Salamanca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salamanca moves out of range of the body kick from Kovingten.
Salamanca is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Salamanca drops his hands momentarily and Kovingten takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kovingten avoids the head kick by Salamanca.
Kovingten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salamanca.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyle Kovingten will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kovingten tries to clinch but Salamanca is having none of it.
Kovingten closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Salamanca with a nice calf kick.
Kovingten misses with a low kick.
Kovingten paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kovingten is looking to clinch.
Kovingten stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Salamanca.
Salamanca lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Salamanca misses with a body kick.
Kovingten connects with a leg kick.
Kovingten checks the leg kick nicely there.
That kick from Kovingten tenderised Salamanca's leg. Salamanca is trying to keep his angry face on.
Crunch! Kovingten slams his shin into Salamanca's torso.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Salamanca checks a leg kick.
Kovingten takes one to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovingten takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
An inside leg kick lands from Kovingten.
Kovingten with the inside leg kick.
Salamanca waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kovingten.

Salamanca gets tackled into the ropes by Kovingten. Kovingten maintains the clinch.
Salamanca misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovingten lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kovingten misses with a body punch.
Salamanca is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kovingten is defending well for now.
Salamanca's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kovingten lands a nice uppercut.
Kovingten lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Salamanca's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Salamanca.
Kovingten lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salamanca backwards.
Kovingten scores with a shot to the side of Salamanca's head.
Kovingten misses with an elbow strike.
Salamanca is looking to break free of the clinch but Kovingten has double underhooks.
Salamanca can't find room to land a body shot as Kovingten controls the action.
A short left from Kovingten.
Kovingten gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovingten misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kovingten lands an uppercut.
Kovingten gets through Salamanca's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kovingten tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Salamanca avoids it.
Kovingten lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kyle Kovingten seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Salamanca scores with a shot to the side of Kovingten's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Salamanca in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salamanca lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kovingten backwards.
Kovingten works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kovingten digs a right hand into Salamanca's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Salamanca's gas tank.
Kovingten lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salamanca backwards.
Kovingten lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Salamanca working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kovingten.
A short right from Kovingten.
Kovingten gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Salamanca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovingten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kovingten fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Salamanca has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kovingten lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Salamanca moves out of range as Kovingten strikes.
Kovingten scores with a leg kick.
Salamanca keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovingten looks to land a combination but Salamanca avoids it well.
Nice shot lands for Kovingten.
Some bone on bone action there as Kovingten checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Salamanca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salamanca misses with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Kovingten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Some bone on bone action there as Kovingten checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Marco Salamanca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice inside leg kick there by Salamanca. That's going to slow Kovingten down.
Salamanca lands with a hook. Kovingten tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kovingten looks to clinch
and Salamanca counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kovingten takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kovingten throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salamanca throws a hook but Kovingten avoids it easily.
Kovingten throws a looping overhand right but Salamanca ducks down to avoid it.
Kovingten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Salamanca swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovingten tries to move into range but Salamanca moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kovingten blocks a jab.
Salamanca backing away here, and Kovingten unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Salamanca checks a low kick from Kovingten.
Kovingten stuns Salamanca with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Salamanca misses with a leg kick.
Kyle Kovingten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salamanca pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salamanca tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kovingten is able to avoid easily.
Salamanca waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kovingten.
Kovingten walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Salamanca checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kovingten jabs Salamanca right on the nose. Salamanca blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salamanca lands a head kick. Kovingten smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salamanca lands a high kick!
Salamanca throws a shot from downtown. Kovingten moves away and avoids it.
Kovingten misses with a head kick.
As Kovingten backs away, Salamanca returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kovingten connects with a right hand. Salamanca shakes it off.
Salamanca walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kovingten checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kovingten avoids a kick to the body.
Kovingten with the inside leg kick.
Salamanca lands a slapping body shot.
Kovingten keeps Salamanca at a distance using the push kick.
Salamanca throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marco Salamanca is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salamanca. That's going to slow Kovingten down.
Kovingten jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kovingten lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salamanca feints and then cracks Kovingten's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kovingten down.
Kovingten explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Salamanca misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kovingten.
Salamanca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovingten was well out of range. Poor timing from Salamanca.
Kovingten lands a nice hook to Salamanca's body. Salamanca takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovingten stuns Salamanca with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kyle Kovingten is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovingten lands a lovely overhand right.
Kovingten blocks a jab.
Salamanca will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Salamanca has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kovingten.
Salamanca misses with a looping left.
Kovingten lands with an overhand left.
Salamanca misses with a body shot.
Salamanca misses the shot to the body.
Salamanca walks into a left hand.
Kovingten has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Kovingten closes the distance and pushes Salamanca back into the ropes.

Salamanca breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salamanca tries to move into range but Kovingten moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Salamanca swings for the body but Kovingten moves out of range.
Kovingten throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Salamanca's head.
Both fighters circling a little - Kovingten finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten's jab looks to have found its range, popping Salamanca under the eye.
Salamanca is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kovingten.
Salamanca connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kovingten momentarily.
Kovingten 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kyle Kovingten.
I've got Kovingten winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kyle Kovingten!
Kyle Kovingten was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.