PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nyquil Salazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Giovanni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salazar's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Enter Sandman. Giovanni has chosen Til I Collapse [ Eminem ] as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Nyquil Salazar has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Nyquil Salazar seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Salazar
vs
Giovanni

183 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

186 cm
25
199 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nyquil Salazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sonny Giovanni!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salazar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Giovanni moves out of range as Salazar throws a body kick.
Salazar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salazar shoots for a takedown but Giovanni saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salazar slips a jab and a cross from Giovanni.
Salazar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Giovanni takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Giovanni comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Salazar tries to clinch up.
Giovanni lands a nice looking body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salazar is defended easily by Giovanni.
Salazar is looking to clinch.

Salazar closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Giovanni is looking for a sweep.
Giovanni avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Salazar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovanni gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Giovanni tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salazar wants to take his opponent's back but instead Giovanni manages to regain half guard.
Salazar is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Giovanni reverses the position - he's now on top in Salazar's guard.
Salazar pulls Giovanni in to control the position.
Giovanni stopping the sweep attempt from Salazar.
Giovanni postures up in Salazar's guard and throws a big left but Salazar blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salazar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Giovanni trying to control the position from guard on top but Salazar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giovanni wants to get up but he can't break Salazar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Giovanni controls from within his opponent's guard.
Giovanni has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Salazar is proving hard to escape from.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Salazar tries to clinch up.
Salazar walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Giovanni checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Salazar forces Giovanni back against the cage and clinches.
Salazar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salazar lands a knee to the head.
Salazar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Giovanni lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Salazar missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Salazar throws an elbow but it misses.
Salazar lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Giovanni.
Salazar looking to throw knees to the head but Giovanni is blocking nicely.

Giovanni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sonny Giovanni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salazar throws a low kick, looking for Giovanni's leg but Giovanni calmly moves out of range.
Salazar drops his hands momentarily and Giovanni takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Giovanni jabs at Salazar's body.
Giovanni connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Salazar's hands.
Giovanni connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Salazar's hands.
Giovanni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salazar is looking to clinch but Giovanni is avoiding it.
Giovanni lands with a shot to the body.
Giovanni scoring well with a low kick there.
Giovanni cracks Salazar with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Giovanni cracks Salazar with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar doesn't manage to clinch there - Giovanni circles away.
Salazar shoots in looking for a takedown. Giovanni tries to sprawl out of it but Salazar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Giovanni manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nyquil Salazar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salazar is breathing heavily.
Salazar tries to clinch up but Giovanni circles away and keeps his distance.
Giovanni scores with a jab. Salazar acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Giovanni fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salazar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Giovanni can pounce on him.
Salazar wants to clinch.
Sonny Giovanni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salazar goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Giovanni feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Salazar's calf.
Salazar tries to clinch there but Giovanni circles away.
Giovanni ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Giovanni keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Giovanni lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Salazar at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni dominated that round.
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.

Giovanni moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Salazar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Giovanni works the jab nicely.
Salazar moves in looking to clinch but Giovanni pushes him off.
Giovanni lands a head kick!
Giovanni scores with a jab. Salazar acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A clash of legs there as Giovanni blocks the low kick.
Giovanni getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Salazar takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salazar tries to clinch but Giovanni is having none of it.
Giovanni tests Salazar's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Salazar needs to keep his hands up - Giovanni had a free shot at his head there.
Salazar tries to land a front kick but Giovanni steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Giovanni connects with a crisp jab.
Giovanni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sonny Giovanni seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Giovanni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Giovanni scores with a hook.
Salazar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Giovanni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Salazar with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Giovanni to score with a decent uppercut.
Salazar is looking to clinch but Giovanni is avoiding it.
A cross from Giovanni lands.
Giovanni lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Salazar at a distance.
Salazar takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Giovanni scores with a punch to the head.
Giovanni lands a lovely overhand right.
Giovanni swats away the attempt to clinch by Salazar.
Nyquil Salazar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salazar. That's going to slow Giovanni down.
Salazar walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Giovanni connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salazar doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Salazar wants to clinch.
Giovanni scores with the left hand. Salazar knows he should have avoided that one.
Giovanni lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Salazar at a distance.
Giovanni lands the left hand.
Salazar looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Salazar clinches.
Giovanni blocks the elbow strike.
Giovanni on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Salazar tries to land knees in the clinch but Giovanni avoids the damage to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Salazar.
Salazar misses with a knee strike.
Salazar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Salazar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giovanni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salazar is looking to clinch but Giovanni is avoiding it.
Giovanni ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Giovanni lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Giovanni connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salazar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Giovanni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salazar takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Salazar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Giovanni.
Giovanni moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Giovanni scores with a hook to the body. Salazar takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Giovanni dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salazar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Salazar on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salazar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Giovanni. Giovanni obviously looking to wear him down.
Salazar walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A punch lands to the side of Salazar 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Salazar takes one to the side of the head.
Jab from Giovanni.
Giovanni ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Giovanni lands a nice looking body shot.
Giovanni lands a nice shot to the body.
Giovanni feints and then cracks Salazar's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salazar down.
Giovanni throws a shot to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Giovanni.
Giovanni bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salazar's head.
Giovanni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Danga de danga de dang - Giovanni scores with a four punch combination!
A shot to the liver by Giovanni. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Giovanni fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice body punch from Giovanni.
Giovanni's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Giovanni duly obliges.
Salazar walks into a stiff left hand from Giovanni.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Good exchange - Giovanni coming out on top.
Salazar throws a leg kick that misses.
Giovanni lands a nice hook to Salazar's body. Salazar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Salazar takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Giovanni throws a head kick that Salazar semi-blocks.
Salazar takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A jab from Giovanni does it's job there.
Giovanni fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Salazar looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Giovanni fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salazar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Giovanni pinned against the cage. Giovanni gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Giovanni scores with a jab to the jaw.
Good exchange - Giovanni coming out on top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Giovanni scores with a nice right hand.
Salazar takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Giovanni lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Giovanni does it's job there.
Giovanni lands a head shot.
Giovanni connects with a body shot.
Giovanni scores with a shot to the body.
Giovanni connects with a jab.
Giovanni fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Giovanni connects with the punch.
Giovanni throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salazar on the side of the head.
Giovanni moves into range and connects with a jab.
Giovanni with a hook.
Giovanni throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
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!
Giovanni throws a good cross that connects.
Giovanni scores with a body shot.
Giovanni scores with a body shot.
Giovanni with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Giovanni connects with a single shot there.
Nyquil Salazar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni lands with a shot to the body.
Giovanni scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Giovanni lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Giovanni stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Giovanni lands a left and a right that send Salazar crashing to the mat, dazed. Giovanni thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Salazar is rocked!

It looks like Nyquil Salazar has been cut.
Giovanni lands with a shot to the body.
Oh Salazar is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Giovanni drops Salazar with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Salazar! Giovanni dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (strikes). Sonny Giovanni!