PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Tulfo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateo Salazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Tulfo
vs
Salazar

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erwin Tulfo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mateo Salazar!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tulfo defending well as Salazar loads up on a big left hand.
Salazar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salazar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tulfo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Salazar throws a body kick that misses.
Tulfo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Tulfo closes the distance and pushes Salazar back into the cage.
Salazar drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tulfo pulls his leg out and moves away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tulfo.
Salazar tries to clinch up.
Tulfo tries a head kick but it misses.
Salazar misses with a low kick as Tulfo jumps back.
Salazar keeps the fight on the outside.
Tulfo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salazar pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Salazar dives in and scores a takedown into Tulfo's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tulfo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tulfo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulfo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tulfo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tulfo has momentary wrist control but Salazar slips an elbow through the middle.
Salazar stopping the sweep attempt from Tulfo.
Tulfo keeping moving, preventing Salazar from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tulfo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tulfo is breathing heavily.
Tulfo controls Salazar momentarily but Salazar frees himself.
Salazar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tulfo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Salazar - the referee stops the clock and Tulfo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Salazar. Tulfo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Salazar lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tulfo takes a step back to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tulfo enables Salazar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tulfo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Salazar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tulfo keeping moving, preventing Salazar from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mateo Salazar hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tulfo tries to close the distance and clinch but Salazar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar lands a leg kick that knocks Tulfo off balance momentarily.
Salazar misses with a low kick.
Tulfo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Salazar back to the cage. Tulfo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Salazar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tulfo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Salazar closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Salazar decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tulfo takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tulfo throws a leg kick
and Salazar counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tulfo's knee momentarily.
Tulfo tries to clinch but Salazar is having none of it.

Salazar drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salazar looking to pass the guard.
Salazar thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tulfo looking for a guillotine here but Salazar defends easily.

Salazar gets to his feet. Tulfo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Salazar is looking to clinch.
Salazar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tulfo moves in looking to clinch but Salazar pushes him off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Tulfo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tulfo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateo Salazar dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Salazar tries to keep at a distance but Tulfo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Salazar can't break the clinch.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salazar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tulfo pinned against the cage. Tulfo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mateo Salazar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tulfo throws a low kick but Salazar avoids it.
Tulfo doesn't manage to clinch there - Salazar circles away.
A good leg kick by Tulfo.
Tulfo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salazar. That did some damage!
Danga de danga de dang - Tulfo scores with a four punch combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Salazar scores with a takedown into Tulfo's guard.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tulfo is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salazar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Salazar won't allow Tulfo to sweep him here.
Salazar trying to control the position from guard on top but Tulfo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tulfo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Tulfo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mateo Salazar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salazar works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Salazar seems to be working for a kimura but Tulfo defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tulfo pushes Salazar off looking to stand but Salazar dives back in and keeps control.

Salazar is trying to work for a kimura but Tulfo is defending well.
Tulfo controlling the position well.
Tulfo won't allow Salazar to pass to mount.
Salazar trying to control the action but Tulfo is working from the bottom.
Salazar is looking to stall here but Tulfo recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tulfo is trying to control Salazar's posture but Salazar avoids it.

Salazar is trying to get an arm triangle but Tulfo is defending well.
Tulfo wants to get back to his feet but Salazar drags him back down.
Salazar is looking to take a break and control but Tulfo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tulfo struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salazar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tulfo keeps working.

Salazar stands up and beckons Tulfo to his feet.
Salazar connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salazar tries to clinch but Tulfo is having none of it.
Salazar lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateo Salazar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salazar clinches up with Tulfo and pushes him back against the cage.
Salazar jumps guard but Tulfo stands there with Salazar around his waist. Salazar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tulfo fails to pull guard.
Tulfo stops a takedown attempt from Salazar.
Tulfo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Salazar managing to block the knees to the body from Tulfo.
Salazar tries to pull guard but Tulfo holds him up against the cage and eventually Salazar drops back down to his feet.
Erwin Tulfo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateo Salazar.
Tulfo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Salazar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salazar tries to score a body lock takedown but Tulfo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Salazar is pushing Tulfo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Salazar fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulfo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Salazar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tulfo looking to slow down the pace here.
Tulfo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salazar has him pressed against the cage.

Salazar manages to break the clinch.

Tulfo closes the distance and clinches.
Salazar avoids a wild elbow strike from Tulfo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salazar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Salazar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Tulfo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Salazar trying to control but Tulfo is working from the bottom.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tulfo is keeping the position for now.
Salazar won't allow Tulfo to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tulfo working for submissions but it's allowed Salazar to get to half guard.
Tulfo is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salazar is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tulfo is just riding it out for now. Salazar eventually gives up the hold.
Salazar is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Salazar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tulfo wants to sweep but no luck.
Salazar slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Salazar scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tulfo is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Tulfo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tulfo tries to bench press Salazar off him but Salazar keeps the position.
Salazar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tulfo keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tulfo pushes Salazar away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Salazar gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Erwin Tulfo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salazar controlling the position from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mateo Salazar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Salazar 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Mateo Salazar!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Mateo Salazar!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Mateo Salazar!

Mateo Salazar wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Mateo Salazar thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.