PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Albert DeSalvo (ranked 837 p4p, 38 weight class) and Ruslan Temirov (ranked 2429 p4p, 121 weight class). DeSalvo comes to the cage accompanied by Am I Evil?. Albert DeSalvo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

DeSalvo
vs
Temirov

150 cm
28
144 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

164 cm
24
143 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Top Nutrition 160Q\250$ 140Q\150$ 100Q\50$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert DeSalvo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruslan Temirov!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Temirov throws an overhand right that lands on DeSalvo's shoulder, as DeSalvo tries to avoid the shot.
Temirov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
DeSalvo misses with an uppercut
enabling Temirov to counter with a crisp jab.
DeSalvo walks into a jab.
DeSalvo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
DeSalvo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Temirov misses with a body punch
and DeSalvo counters with a stiff right hand.
Temirov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Temirov throws a left and a right that both miss
and DeSalvo counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Temirov misses with an uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Temirov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Temirov.
Temirov misses with a right hand
and DeSalvo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
DeSalvo lands with an overhand left.
Ruslan Temirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Temirov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent DeSalvo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A telegraphed right hand from Temirov misses the target.
Temirov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by DeSalvo.
Temirov throws a poor cross that misses
and DeSalvo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Temirov misses with a double jab.
Temirov misses the shot to the body.
It looked like DeSalvo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Temirov throws a looping overhand right but DeSalvo ducks down to avoid it.
Donk. Temirov catches DeSalvo right on the button with a cross.
DeSalvo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Temirov.
DeSalvo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Temirov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! DeSalvo scrambles back to his feet.
Temirov throws a right hand that misses
and DeSalvo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Temirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but DeSalvo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
DeSalvo is looking to counter punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Temirov throws a jab but it's blocked by DeSalvo.
Temirov misses with a right hand
and DeSalvo counters with a three punch combo that has Temirov backing up. Temirov nods at DeSalvo to acknowledge the strikes.
DeSalvo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Temirov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Temirov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from DeSalvo.
Temirov swings for the body but DeSalvo moves out of range.
Temirov misses with a straight left.
It looked like DeSalvo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from DeSalvo. Temirov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Temirov unleashes a big counter combination but DeSalvo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Temirov swings for the body but DeSalvo moves out of range.
DeSalvo moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like DeSalvo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
DeSalvo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Temirov.
An attempted straight right counter from DeSalvo misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Temirov throws the left hand but DeSalvo avoids the punch easily.
Temirov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and DeSalvo counters with a two punch combo.
DeSalvo slips a jab from Temirov.
Temirov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
DeSalvo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Temirov.
Nice jab there from Temirov.
DeSalvo throws a nice looking combination but Temirov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little jabbing left from Temirov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
DeSalvo fails to land with a series of punches.
DeSalvo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Temirov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Temirov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from DeSalvo.
It seemed like Temirov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Temirov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and DeSalvo counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

DeSalvo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Temirov's half guard.

Temirov kicks off DeSalvo and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Temirov misses with a series of wild punches.
Temirov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Temirov throws a hook to the side of DeSalvo's head but DeSalvo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Temirov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! DeSalvo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A looping hook to the body misses from Temirov. DeSalvo does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
DeSalvo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Temirov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and DeSalvo counters with a one-two to the body.
Temirov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Temirov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Temirov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and DeSalvo counters with a takedown into side control.

Temirov sneaks out the side door and pushes DeSalvo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A slow jab from Temirov misses its intended target.
Temirov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. DeSalvo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Albert DeSalvo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Temirov punishes DeSalvo's body with a nice straight punch.
Temirov misses with a looping left.
Temirov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Temirov has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Temirov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and DeSalvo counters with a straight right hand.
Temirov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

DeSalvo drives through and clinches with Temirov against the cage.

Temirov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
DeSalvo avoids the body shot from Temirov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Temirov misses with a right hand
and DeSalvo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
DeSalvo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Temirov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between DeSalvo's hands.
Ruslan Temirov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Temirov.
DeSalvo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Temirov. DeSalvo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Temirov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
DeSalvo ducks under a wild hook from Temirov.
A swing and a miss from Temirov.
Temirov looks to land a combination. DeSalvo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
DeSalvo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Temirov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Temirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but DeSalvo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Temirov misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temirov throws an overhand right that lands on DeSalvo's shoulder, as DeSalvo tries to avoid the shot.
Ruslan Temirov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeSalvo misses with a looping left.
Temirov throws a left and a right that both miss
and DeSalvo counters with a stiff right hand.
Temirov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Temirov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Temirov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Temirov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Temirov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Temirov throws a hook but DeSalvo blocks it.
DeSalvo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
DeSalvo moves away from the strike by Temirov.
DeSalvo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Temirov throws a jab but it's blocked by DeSalvo.
Temirov throws a combination that misses

and DeSalvo counters with a shoot takedown. Temirov fights it but they end up in guard.
DeSalvo trying to control but Temirov is working from the bottom.
DeSalvo slips nicely into half guard.

DeSalvo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. DeSalvo lands a nice short elbow.

Temirov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Temirov throws a sloppy body shot
enabling DeSalvo to counter with a crisp jab.
Temirov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Temirov throws a nice looking combination but DeSalvo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Temirov swings widly with a right hand

and DeSalvo counters with a single leg into guard. Temirov didn't expect that.

Temirov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. DeSalvo is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Temirov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of DeSalvos head.
Temirov stalling against the cage.
Temirov effectively controlling the action here.

Temirov manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Temirov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Temirov looks to throw the jab but DeSalvo is out of range.
DeSalvo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
DeSalvo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Temirov throws a nice looking combination but DeSalvo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

DeSalvo feints and as Temirov raises his hands in defense, DeSalvo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Temirov being controlled here, momentarily.
Temirov wants to get back to his feet but DeSalvo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Temirov keeping full guard, as DeSalvo tries to pass.
DeSalvo wants to control from the top but Temirov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo prevents Temirov from getting back to his feet.
DeSalvo postures up in Temirov's guard and throws a big left but Temirov blocks it.

Temirov pushes DeSalvo off and gets back to his feet.
Temirov blocks the body kick.
Temirov slips a jab and a cross from DeSalvo.
Temirov takes a swing at DeSalvo's ribcage but misses.
DeSalvo looks to land a right hand but Temirov moved out of range.
Temirov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
DeSalvo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Temirov stalks DeSalvo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into DeSalvo's face. DeSalvo staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temirov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
DeSalvo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Temirov.
A little feinted left hand from DeSalvo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Temirov throws an off balance right hand

and DeSalvo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by DeSalvo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
DeSalvo trying to control but Temirov is working from the bottom.
DeSalvo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
DeSalvo trying to control the position from guard on top but Temirov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
DeSalvo prevents Temirov from getting back to his feet.
DeSalvo cracks Temirov with a solid left hand.
Albert DeSalvo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSalvo wants to control from the top but Temirov keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as DeSalvo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Temirov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Temirov looks to score with a jab to the body but DeSalvo is just out of range.
It looked like DeSalvo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
DeSalvo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Temirov does it's job there.
A big left from Temirov misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Temirov as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Temirov throws a jab when DeSalvo was well out of range.
Temirov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A shot to the body from Temirov misses

and DeSalvo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Temirov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
DeSalvo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
DeSalvo trying to control the action but Temirov is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
DeSalvo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Temirov defending well though.

DeSalvo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Temirov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Temirov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Temirov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Temirov!
Ruslan Temirov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.