PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Del Salar (ranked 4994 p4p, 5010 weight class) and Stephen McGarvey (ranked 453 p4p, 454 weight class). Del Salar had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Salar
vs
McGarvey

185 cm
20
190
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Del Salar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen McGarvey!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGarvey lands a jab.
McGarvey connects with an inside leg kick.
Salar missing with a left hand there. McGarvey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McGarvey is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Salar misses with an uppercut.
Salar misses with a hook
and McGarvey counters with a slapping leg kick.
McGarvey takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

It looks like Stephen McGarvey has been cut.
Salar misses with a body shot.
McGarvey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A good leg kick by McGarvey.
McGarvey tries to land a leg kick but Salar saw it coming and moves away.
A jab from Salar misses.
Salar takes a swing at McGarvey's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Salar misses the target.
McGarvey slips a jab from Salar.
McGarvey scores with a kick to the midsection.
Del Salar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGarvey throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Salar misses the body punch
and McGarvey counters with a slapping leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by McGarvey.
Salar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGarvey moves away.
Salar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McGarvey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Salar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGarvey lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Salar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGarvey unleashes a big counter combination but Salar bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarvey lands with a thumping leg kick.
McGarvey slips under a jab.
Salar lands a right hook to the body.
That kick from McGarvey tenderised Salar's leg. Salar is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McGarvey is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Salar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McGarvey counters with an inside leg kick.
McGarvey pushes Salar away with a front kick.
McGarvey's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Salar connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McGarvey scrambles back to his feet.
A big left from Salar misses.
McGarvey buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGarvey moves away.
McGarvey lands a leg kick that knocks Salar off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salar swings for the body but McGarvey moves out of range.
Salar tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McGarvey looks to land a body kick but Salar moved away.
Salar misses with a shot to the body
and McGarvey counters with an inside leg kick.
McGarvey blocks a jab.
Salar misses the shot to the body.
Salar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McGarvey can pounce on him.
Salar bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McGarvey ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McGarvey only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Salar is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
McGarvey lands a nice looking body kick.
Salar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGarvey manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McGarvey.
Salar swings away with a body shot that misses
and McGarvey counters with a left and a right that stings Salar.
Salar cracks McGarvey with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGarvey connects with a leg kick.
Salar misses with an uppercut
and McGarvey counters with a body kick that stops Salar in his tracks momentarily.
Nice uppercut there from Salar.
Salar's corner calls for a 1-2. Salar obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McGarvey moves away from the strike by Salar.
A nice leg kick from McGarvey, right into the meat of the thigh.
Salar throws an overhand right that lands on McGarvey's shoulder, as McGarvey tries to avoid the shot.
McGarvey feints a counter leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salar. McGarvey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salar looks to throw the jab but McGarvey is out of range.
McGarvey flicks out a counter leg kick but Salar steps away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen McGarvey will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stephen McGarvey's cut.
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.

Salar misses with a looping left.
A bone on bone clash there as Salar blocks the leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salar. McGarvey does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab lands there for Salar.
McGarvey avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McGarvey throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Salar's head.
Salar lands a body shot.
McGarvey misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salar throws a body punch but McGarvey moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by McGarvey.
Salar thows a left - swing and a miss!
McGarvey lands a leg kick that knocks Salar off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGarvey scores with a nice body kick.
McGarvey blocks a jab.
Despite the aggression on McGarvey's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Salar misses the shot to the body.
Salar misses with an uppercut.
Salar misses with a body shot.
McGarvey attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Salar punishes McGarvey's body with a nice straight punch.
Salar just misses with a punch to the body.
McGarvey is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Salar moves out of range of the body kick.
Salar misses with a looping left.
Salar throws a hook to the side of McGarvey's head but McGarvey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And McGarvey responds with a good body kick, but Salar manages to step out the way in time.
Salar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McGarvey.
Salar throws the left hand but McGarvey avoids the punch easily.
And McGarvey responds with a good body kick, but Salar manages to step out the way in time.
Salar throws an overhand right that lands on McGarvey's shoulder, as McGarvey tries to avoid the shot.
McGarvey replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Salar blocks it well.
McGarvey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Salar cracks a nice hook into McGarvey's ribs.
McGarvey with a nice calf kick.
Salar fails to land with a series of punches.
McGarvey was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy left from Salar finds it's target.
Del Salar is winning the standup battle so far.
Salar takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
McGarvey thuds his shin into the meat of Salar's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salar on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Salar throws a jab but it's blocked by McGarvey.
Salar sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
McGarvey misses with a body kick.
Salar looks to score with a jab to the body but McGarvey is just out of range.
McGarvey staying out of range there.
Salar stalks McGarvey and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McGarvey's face. McGarvey staggers backwards, shaken.
Salar paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Salar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGarvey feints a counter leg kick.
Salar loads up on a big right hand but McGarvey slips the punch.
Salar looks to score with a jab to the body but McGarvey is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Salar.
Salar throws a looping overhand right but McGarvey ducks down to avoid it.
Salar throws an overhand right that lands on McGarvey's shoulder, as McGarvey tries to avoid the shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salar looks to throw the jab but McGarvey is out of range.
Salar scores with a body shot.
Salar throws a body punch but McGarvey moves out of range.
McGarvey lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
McGarvey avoids a punch combination nicely.
McGarvey counters with a body kick.
Salar just misses with a punch to the body.
McGarvey lands a head kick. Salar smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McGarvey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Del Salar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stephen McGarvey's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Salar misses the target.
McGarvey flicks out a counter leg kick but Salar steps away.
Salar will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
McGarvey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McGarvey fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Salar has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Salar connects with a body shot.
Salar throws a series of punches but McGarvey avoids them all with ease.
McGarvey blocks a jab.
McGarvey connects with a solid leg kick.
Salar definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Salar sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGarvey is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
McGarvey lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGarvey avoids the body shot from Salar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salar throws a hook but McGarvey avoids it easily.
A solid body kick from McGarvey.
Salar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGarvey.
Salar throws a hook but McGarvey blocks it.
Salar missing with a left hand there. McGarvey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salar throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McGarvey makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Salar throws a shot from downtown. McGarvey moves away and avoids it.
Salar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGarvey throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
McGarvey attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Salar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarvey with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McGarvey on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McGarvey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salar.
McGarvey tries a quick counter leg kick but Salar is wise to it.
McGarvey lands a leg kick that knocks Salar off balance momentarily.
Salar throws a jab when McGarvey was well out of range.
Salar looks to land a left hand but McGarvey moved out of range nicely.
Salar throws a right hand that misses
and McGarvey finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A chopping leg kick lands by McGarvey.
Jab by Salar.
Salar misses the body punch
and McGarvey counters with a nice kick to the body.
McGarvey throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGarvey avoids the body shot from Salar.
McGarvey avoids the body shot from Salar.
Salar throws a shot from downtown. McGarvey moves away and avoids it.
McGarvey thinks about the counter body kick.
Salar lands a lovely overhand right.
McGarvey connects with an inside leg kick.
McGarvey with a nice calf kick.
Salar blocks the body kick.
McGarvey moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Salar swings away with a body shot that misses
and McGarvey counters with a solid body kick.
Salar moves out of range of the body kick from McGarvey.
Salar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Salar throws a looping overhand right but McGarvey ducks down to avoid it.
McGarvey tries a quick counter leg kick but Salar is wise to it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Salar crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McGarvey - the referee stops the clock and Salar gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McGarvey. Salar manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
McGarvey slips a jab from Salar.
Salar takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick from McGarvey, right into the meat of the thigh.
Salar moves out of range as McGarvey throws a body kick.
McGarvey scores with a kick to the midsection.
Salar throws a body punch but McGarvey moves out of range.
McGarvey thumps Salar with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen McGarvey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McGarvey has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen McGarvey!
In his post fight interview, Stephen McGarvey gave a big smile as he said 'I'd like to thank my family and most of all God, for making me an Atheist. Cheers!'.