PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yurik Khripunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fuego Salsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Fuego Salsa was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Khripunov
vs
Salsa

171 cm
26
150 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

168 cm
30
152 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yurik Khripunov !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fuego Salsa!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Khripunov . No joy for Salsa on that attempt.

Khripunov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Salsa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Khripunov trying to control but Salsa is working from the bottom.

Salsa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Salsa pushes Khripunov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Khripunov is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Salsa misses.
Khripunov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salsa.
Khripunov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Salsa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Khripunov .
Khripunov darts in trying to clinch
and Salsa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Khripunov throws a right and a left that Salsa avoids nicely.
Khripunov misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov scores with a hook to the body. Salsa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Khripunov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Khripunov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Khripunov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Salsa throws a hook to the side of Khripunov 's head but Khripunov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salsa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big right from Salsa misses.
Khripunov wants to clinch.
Khripunov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Salsa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa misses with an uppercut. Khripunov saw that one coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Salsa misses the target.
No luck for Salsa with that takedown attempt.
Salsa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salsa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salsa throws a shot from downtown. Khripunov moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circling - Salsa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Khripunov slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Khripunov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab from Salsa.
Khripunov looks to clinch
and Salsa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Khripunov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salsa moves out of range of the body kick.
Salsa loads up on a big right hand but Khripunov slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Salsa.
Khripunov moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuego Salsa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Khripunov tries to sprawl but Salsa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Salsa is controlling the pace.
Salsa passes the guard and advances to mount!
Salsa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Khripunov is looking to escape.
Salsa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khripunov is controlling an arm, preventing Salsa from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Salsa raining down hammerfists from mount.
Khripunov is desperately trying to improve his position but Salsa has a good base and remains in mount.
Salsa wants to control the pace but Khripunov is squirming around nicely.

Salsa looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salsa goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Khripunov turns into him and now he's in Salsa's guard.
Salsa keeping moving, preventing Khripunov from controlling successfully.
Khripunov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Salsa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Salsa is controlling Khripunov 's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa keeping moving, preventing Khripunov from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yurik Khripunov just wasn't active enough.
Khripunov wants to clinch up but Salsa keeps it at a distance.
Khripunov misses with a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Khripunov .
Yurik Khripunov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salsa looks to throw the jab but Khripunov is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov throws a big shot that misses.
Salsa throws a hook but Khripunov blocks it.
Salsa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Khripunov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Salsa is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Khripunov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Salsa goes for a takedown attempt but Khripunov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Salsa throws a lazy right hand but Khripunov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khripunov tries to clinch but Salsa is having none of it.
Salsa connects with a looping right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuego Salsa 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 ring so we can get back down to business.

Khripunov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salsa.
Khripunov swinging wildly here.
Salsa throws a jab when Khripunov was well out of range.
Fuego Salsa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khripunov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khripunov tries to close the distance and clinch but Salsa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salsa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khripunov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Khripunov tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa misses with a looping right.
Khripunov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Khripunov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Salsa looks to throw the jab but Khripunov is out of range.
Salsa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salsa throws a hook to the side of Khripunov 's head but Khripunov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salsa scores with a nice right hand.
Khripunov tries to clinch up.
A swing and a miss from Khripunov .
Salsa misses with a hook. Khripunov ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salsa misses the jab.
Khripunov shoots in for a takedown but Salsa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Khripunov tries to clinch but Salsa moves out of range.

Salsa gets tackled into the ropes by Khripunov . Khripunov maintains the clinch.
Salsa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Khripunov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Khripunov moves to clinch but Salsa breaks away
enabling Salsa to counter with a crisp jab.
A big left from Salsa misses.
Khripunov tries to clinch
and Salsa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa shoots in but Khripunov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Khripunov misses with a double jab.
Khripunov doesn't manage to clinch there - Salsa circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khripunov . Salsa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Khripunov tries to clinch up but Salsa circles away and keeps his distance.
Salsa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salsa dives in and grabs Khripunov 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Khripunov pushes down on Salsa's head and hops out.
Yurik Khripunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fuego Salsa.
Salsa throws an overhand right that lands on Khripunov 's shoulder, as Khripunov tries to avoid the shot.
Salsa swats away the attempt to clinch by Khripunov .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salsa throws an off balance right hand
and Khripunov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Khripunov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Salsa circles away quickly and effectively.
Khripunov doesn't manage to clinch there - Salsa circles away.
Khripunov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khripunov tries to bum rush Salsa with a series of wild strikes but Salsa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salsa misses with a looping right.
Khripunov slips under a jab.
Khripunov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salsa's waist but Salsa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Khripunov off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khripunov fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Fuego Salsa just about did enough to take it.
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.

Khripunov throws a right hand that Salsa ducks under and follows up with a left that Salsa also avoids with ease.
Khripunov misses with the combination.
Salsa throws a poor cross that misses

and Khripunov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Salsa goes for a takedown attempt but Khripunov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Khripunov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Salsa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Khripunov sprawls well initially but Salsa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Salsa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Khripunov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Salsa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khripunov is just riding it out for now. Salsa eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khripunov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Khripunov .
Khripunov trying to control the position.
Salsa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Khripunov controls Salsa momentarily but Salsa frees himself.
Fuego Salsa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yurik Khripunov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Khripunov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salsa.
Khripunov moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salsa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Khripunov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Salsa gets tackled into the ropes by Khripunov . Khripunov maintains the clinch.
Salsa goes for a takedown attempt but Khripunov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Salsa misses with a looping left.

Khripunov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Salsa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salsa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khripunov is just riding it out for now. Salsa eventually gives up the hold.
Salsa trying to advance position but Khripunov counters by regaining guard.
Khripunov keeping moving, preventing Salsa from controlling successfully.

Khripunov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Salsa passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuego Salsa dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch combination from Khripunov misses.
Khripunov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Khripunov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Khripunov misses the shot to the body.
Salsa looks to land a left hand but Khripunov moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salsa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Khripunov wants to clinch up but Salsa keeps it at a distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Salsa blocks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khripunov throws a solid leg kick but Salsa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Khripunov .
Salsa throws a hook but Khripunov avoids it easily.
Khripunov lands with a nice combination. Salsa backs away looking to recover.
Salsa defending well as Khripunov loads up on a big left hand.
Salsa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khripunov sprawls well. Khripunov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salsa gets slowly back to his feet.
Salsa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salsa misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Khripunov misses.
Khripunov wants to clinch.
Salsa swats away the attempt to clinch by Khripunov .
Khripunov connects with a looping right hand.
Salsa throws a looping overhand right but Khripunov ducks down to avoid it.
Fuego Salsa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Khripunov wants to clinch up but Salsa keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov misses the shot to the body.
Khripunov wants to clinch
and Salsa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Khripunov tries to bum rush Salsa with a series of wild strikes but Salsa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salsa throws a hook but Khripunov avoids it easily.
Khripunov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khripunov wants to clinch.
A big right from Salsa misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salsa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salsa misses with an uppercut. Khripunov saw that one coming.
Khripunov throws a series of punches but Salsa moves out of range.
Salsa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Salsa missing with a left hand there. Khripunov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yurik Khripunov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A swing and a miss from Salsa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yurik Khripunov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salsa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 46:49
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fuego Salsa!