PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jon Saltzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duane McBride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Saltzman
vs
McBride

180 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jon Saltzman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Duane McBride!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saltzman shoots in for a takedown but McBride shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McBride misses with a double jab.
McBride lands with a straight right. Saltzman didn't see that one coming.
McBride scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Jon Saltzman has been cut.

Saltzman fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McBride sprawls well initially but Saltzman persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Saltzman thows a huge punch but McBride dodges it nicely.
Saltzman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McBride is trying to stand back up but Saltzman is controlling him
Saltzman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice strikes from Saltzman there.
McBride keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McBride keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Saltzman thows a huge punch but McBride dodges it nicely.
Saltzman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McBride defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saltzman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Saltzman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McBride on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
McBride blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saltzman.
Saltzman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McBride defending well though.
Saltzman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Saltzman 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.
Saltzman stalling.
McBride blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saltzman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saltzman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saltzman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McBride is trying to stand back up but Saltzman is controlling him
Saltzman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Saltzman there.
McBride blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saltzman.
McBride wants to get back to his feet.
Saltzman trying to control the action but McBride is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saltzman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McBride regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Saltzman.
Saltzman wants to control from the top but McBride keeps moving.
McBride avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saltzman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saltzman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saltzman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saltzman throwing strikes but missing.
Saltzman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McBride really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saltzman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saltzman stops McBride from standing up.
Saltzman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saltzman scoring with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McBride avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saltzman trying to control the position from guard on top but McBride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Saltzman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jon Saltzman's cut.
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.

McBride cracks Saltzman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
McBride swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saltzman looks for a takedown but McBride sprawls well.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McBride enables Saltzman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McBride manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saltzman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saltzman throwing strikes but missing.
Jon Saltzman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saltzman throwing strikes but missing.
McBride is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saltzman is controlling him.
Saltzman trying to control the position from guard on top but McBride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saltzman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saltzman prevents McBride from getting back to his feet.
Saltzman wants to control from the top but McBride keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
McBride wants to get back to his feet but Saltzman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saltzman trying to control the position from guard on top but McBride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jon Saltzman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
McBride misses with a double jab.
McBride tests Saltzman's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Saltzman shoots in and gets a takedown into McBride's guard.
Saltzman throwing strikes from guard but McBride blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saltzman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McBride is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saltzman is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saltzman wants to control from the top but McBride keeps moving.
Saltzman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saltzman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McBride is looking to stand up but Saltzman isn't so interested in that idea.
Saltzman controlling from the top position.
Saltzman is looking to work some ground and pound but McBride has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBride working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saltzman.
McBride wants to stand up but Saltzman is controlling him.
Saltzman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McBride's head.
Saltzman wants to control from the top but McBride keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Saltzman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jon Saltzman's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother 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.

McBride misses with a few strikes there.

Saltzman drives through with a takedown into McBride's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
McBride wants to get back to his feet but Saltzman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saltzman throwing strikes from guard but McBride blocks nicely.
Saltzman trying to control the position from guard on top but McBride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saltzman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saltzman lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBride working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saltzman.
Saltzman postures up in McBride's guard and throws a big left but McBride blocks it.
Saltzman trying to control but McBride is working from the bottom.
Saltzman throws a strike but McBride rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
McBride is looking to stand up but Saltzman won't let him.
Saltzman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saltzman tries to get out of the position.
McBride wants to stand and escape but instead Saltzman has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
McBride takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saltzman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Saltzman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saltzman with a nice head shot there.
McBride can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saltzman controls the pace.
Saltzman landing some decent shots from guard.
Jon Saltzman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saltzman stays in close to McBride's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride wants to stand but Saltzman is controlling the position.
Saltzman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saltzman.
Jon Saltzman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saltzman walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from McBride.
Saltzman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McBride lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saltzman circles away quickly and effectively.
McBride scores with a nice right hand.
McBride works over Saltzman's head and body with a nice combination.
Duane McBride seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McBride defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saltzman.
Some wild striking there from McBride.
McBride uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Saltzman has time to react.

Saltzman is rocked!
McBride swinging wildly here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McBride thows a left - swing and a miss!
Duane McBride has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McBride misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Saltzman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saltzman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Saltzman!
In his post fight interview, Jon Saltzman started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.