PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Salazar (ranked 2799 p4p, 362 weight class) and Badr Al Din (ranked 4970 p4p, 566 weight class). Al Din is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by RUNNING BACK. 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.

Salazar
vs
Al Din

193 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

187 cm
21
209 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Salazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Badr Al Din!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Salazar throws a body shot but no joy.
Salazar throws a right hand that misses
and Al Din counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Al Din scores with a jab to the head.
Al Din connects with a right hand. Salazar shakes it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Din misses the jab.
Al Din lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Salazar misses its intended target.
Salazar misses with a low kick as Al Din jumps back.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Din! But no joy.
Al Din scores with a nice head shot.
Al Din throws a combination that misses
and Salazar counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've been told by Salazar's head coaches at Trinity Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Al Din scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar misses with a left hand
enabling Al Din to counter with a crisp jab.

Al Din closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Salazar tries to throw a body punch but Al Din avoids it by throwing Salazar back against the cage.
Salazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Salazar misses with the head strike.
Salazar wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Al Din lands with a short shot to the head.
Salazar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salazar lands a nice shot to the body.
Salazar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salazar tries to circle away but Al Din has him pinned against the cage.
Salazar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Din lands with a short shot to the head.
Al Din can't find room to land a body shot as Salazar controls the action.
Salazar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Din lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Al Din can't find room to land a body shot as Salazar controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Al Din fails to land.
Al Din lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Salazar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Al Din tries to work over Salazar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Al Din misses with a punch to the body.
Al Din misses with some punches.
Al Din scores with a shot to the side of Salazar's head.
Al Din prevents a body shot from Salazar.
Al Din lands a left hand.
Al Din swings wildly with an uppercut but Salazar uses good head movement to avoid it.

Salazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salazar bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Al Din throws a combination that misses
and Salazar connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Badr Al Din has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salazar misses with a kick to the body
and Al Din counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salazar with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Salazar dodges the punch combination from Al Din.
An attempted straight right counter from Salazar misses the target.
Salazar looks to throw the jab but Al Din is out of range.
Despite the aggression on Al Din's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Al Din dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Badr Al Din's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Al Din ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Al Din was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd cheers as Salazar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Al Din doesn't seem phased though.
Salazar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Din manages to avoid it.
Salazar throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Al Din to counter with a crisp jab.
Al Din has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salazar takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Al Din jabs Salazar to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Din keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salazar.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Din! But no joy.
Al Din connects with a looping right hand.
Salazar connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Al Din has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Al Din clinches.
Salazar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar wants to slow Al Din down by chopping away at his legs.
Al Din throws a counter combo.
Salazar throws a body punch but Al Din moves out of range.
Salazar throws an off balance right hand
and Salazar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salazar ducks right into an uppercut from Al Din.

It looks like Michael Salazar has been cut.
Al Din misses with a combination
and Al Din takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Din on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd cheers as Al Din lands an impressive looking overhand right. Salazar doesn't seem phased though.
Al Din tests Salazar's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Al Din has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Salazar finds it's way round the side to connect with Al Din's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Din moves into range and clinches up with Salazar.
Salazar lands a body punch.
Badr Al Din seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Salazar is working Al Din over against the cage.
Salazar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Salazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Al Din.
Salazar lands with a right to the head.
Al Din working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salazar lands a left hand.
Al Din tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salazar misses with the head strike.
Al Din lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salazar backwards.
Al Din tries to throw a body punch but Salazar avoids it by throwing Al Din back against the cage.

Salazar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Badr Al Din will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salazar rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Al Din counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A slapping body kick lands there for Salazar.
Salazar misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Din! But no joy.
Salazar lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Din ducks under a wild hook from Salazar.
A little jabbing left from Al Din on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Salazar connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salazar lands a really nice looking cross but Al Din seems unphased.
Salazar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Al Din misses with a left hand
and Salazar counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salazar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al Din let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Al Din scores with a jab to the head.
Michael Salazar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Badr Al Din is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salazar throws a hook but Al Din blocks it.
Al Din looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Salazar misses with a shot to the body
and Al Din counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salazar throws an off balance right hand
and Al Din counters with a straight right hand.
Good work by Al Din as he checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar misses the shot to the body.
Al Din looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Al Din cracks a nice hook into Salazar's ribs.
Salazar misses with a lunging right hand
and Al Din counters with a straight right hand.
Al Din bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Al Din on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Crunch! Salazar slams his shin into Al Din's torso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Din throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Salazar swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Al Din throws an overhand right that lands on Salazar's shoulder, as Salazar tries to avoid the shot.
Salazar throws a right hand that misses
and Al Din cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Badr Al Din seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body punch from Salazar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salazar misses with an uppercut. Al Din saw that one coming.
Al Din unleashes a big counter combination but Salazar bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Salazar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Al Din 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Badr Al Din!
During a confident post fight interview, Badr Al Din thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.