PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johny Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert DeSalvo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vargas's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Drake - Trophies. DeSalvo has chosen Am I Evil? as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vargas
vs
DeSalvo

174 cm
27
157 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

150 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert DeSalvo!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeSalvo throws a body shot but no joy.
Vargas moves out of range of the strikes.
DeSalvo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vargas was well out of range. Poor timing from DeSalvo.
Vargas seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
DeSalvo misses with a body punch
and Vargas counters with a one-two to the body.
We've been told by Vargas's head coaches at Roosters Coop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
DeSalvo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
DeSalvo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Vargas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeSalvo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vargas in his tracks.
DeSalvo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vargas circles away.
DeSalvo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vargas was well out of range. Poor timing from DeSalvo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas misses with a series of wild punches.
Albert DeSalvo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vargas misses with a few strikes there.
Vargas fails to land with a series of punches.
DeSalvo throws a head kick but Vargas moves out of range.
DeSalvo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As DeSalvo looks to move away, Vargas throws a big counter combo but DeSalvo just gets out of the way.
Vargas misses with the combination.
DeSalvo looks for a takedown but Vargas sprawls well.
Johny Vargas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert DeSalvo.
DeSalvo slips a jab and a cross from Vargas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSalvo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vargas manages to avoid it.
Vargas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
DeSalvo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Vargas rather than just go for the knockout.
DeSalvo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
DeSalvo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
DeSalvo lands with a good body shot.
Vargas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from DeSalvo.
Horrible takedown attempt by DeSalvo or perhaps it was just good defense by Vargas, which made it look bad.
Vargas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
DeSalvo throws a jab when Vargas was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vargas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Vargas throws a nice looking combination but DeSalvo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vargas throws a right hand that DeSalvo ducks under and follows up with a left that DeSalvo also avoids with ease.
Vargas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
DeSalvo with the counter takedown but Vargas avoids it easily.
DeSalvo throws a body shot but no joy.
DeSalvo connects with a body shot.
Vargas moves out of range of the body kick.
Vargas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by DeSalvo.
Vargas is looking for a counter combo.
DeSalvo misses with a body shot.
Vargas seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeSalvo throws a head kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from DeSalvo. Vargas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vargas seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
DeSalvo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by DeSalvo or perhaps it was just good defense by Vargas, which made it look bad.
DeSalvo misses with an attempted mid kick.
It looked like Vargas was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
DeSalvo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vargas manages to avoid it.
Vargas throws a series of punches but DeSalvo avoids them all with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vargas misses with the combination.
DeSalvo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johny Vargas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vargas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
DeSalvo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vargas misses with the combination.
Vargas throws a nice looking combination but DeSalvo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from DeSalvo. Vargas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vargas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but DeSalvo circles away quickly and effectively.
DeSalvo dives in for a single leg takedown but Vargas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vargas punishes DeSalvo's body with a nice straight punch.
DeSalvo lands a slapping body shot.

DeSalvo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Vargas did well to prevent DeSalvo getting side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vargas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from DeSalvo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo prevents Vargas from standing back up.
Vargas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
DeSalvo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vargas keeps working.
DeSalvo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

DeSalvo wants to work for an arm triangle but Vargas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

DeSalvo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vargas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time DeSalvo.
Vargas wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

DeSalvo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vargas has managed to free his arm - good work.

DeSalvo is trying to work for a kimura but Vargas is defending well.
DeSalvo stops Vargas from getting back to his feet.
DeSalvo is pressing down on Vargas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vargas is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSalvo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
DeSalvo wants to free his trapped foot but Vargas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
DeSalvo wants to control but Vargas is keeping him busy.
DeSalvo tries to pass to full mount but Vargas defends it.
DeSalvo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
DeSalvo lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
DeSalvo lands with a hook. Vargas tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
DeSalvo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vargas pinned against the cage. Vargas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vargas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but DeSalvo was well out of range. Poor timing from Vargas.
Sloppy strikes from Vargas. Those never looked like landing.
DeSalvo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Vargas misses with a wild combination.
DeSalvo feints the counter takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
DeSalvo throws a head kick that misses.
DeSalvo darts in looking for a takedown but Vargas gets double underhooks and turns DeSalvo into the cage.
Johny Vargas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert DeSalvo.
DeSalvo shoots for a takedown but Vargas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert DeSalvo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Vargas fails to land with a series of punches.
DeSalvo misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from DeSalvo.
As DeSalvo looks to move away, Vargas throws a big counter combo but DeSalvo just gets out of the way.
A swing and a miss from DeSalvo.
DeSalvo misses with a hook
and Vargas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Vargas looks to land a combination but DeSalvo avoids it well.
Vargas avoids the body shot from DeSalvo.
Vargas misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from DeSalvo misses.
Vargas throws a right and a left that DeSalvo avoids nicely.
DeSalvo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A counter left hand to the body from Vargas misses its target.
Johny Vargas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Vargas checks a leg kick.
Vargas works over DeSalvo's head and body with a nice combination.
DeSalvo throws a jab when Vargas was well out of range.
Vargas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and DeSalvo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Vargas scrambles back to his feet.
DeSalvo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
DeSalvo ducks right into an uppercut from Vargas.
DeSalvo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vargas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but DeSalvo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vargas walks into a left hand.
Vargas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vargas blocks a head kick by DeSalvo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSalvo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vargas on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
DeSalvo misses with a body shot.
Vargas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vargas is looking for a counter combo.
DeSalvo is looking to land body kicks.
DeSalvo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vargas.
Vargas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
DeSalvo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
DeSalvo throws a body shot but no joy.
Johny Vargas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DeSalvo just misses with a punch to the body.
Vargas seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Vargas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but DeSalvo circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd cheers as DeSalvo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vargas doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
DeSalvo throws a jab but it's blocked by Vargas.
Vargas is looking to counter punch.
Vargas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by DeSalvo.
DeSalvo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

DeSalvo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than DeSalvo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
DeSalvo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

DeSalvo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vargas, who protects the arm well.

DeSalvo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no DeSalvo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vargas is not content to let DeSalvo control the position.

DeSalvo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vargas pushes DeSalvo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, DeSalvo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Albert DeSalvo.
I think DeSalvo 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Johny Vargas!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Johny Vargas!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Albert DeSalvo!

Johny Vargas wins by split decision!
Johny Vargas seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.