PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sparky Anderson (ranked 699 p4p, 85 weight class) and Antonio Salieri (ranked 1734 p4p, 215 weight class). Salieri has chosen DMX - Ain’t No Sunshine as his entrance music. 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.

Anderson
vs
Salieri

172 cm
33
165 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

179 cm
26
162 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sparky Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Salieri!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salieri throws a solid leg kick but Anderson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Salieri.
Salieri swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Anderson misses with a body shot.
Anderson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Anderson throws a body punch but Salieri moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Salieri lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salieri moves away.
Salieri just misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anderson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Salieri uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Salieri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slapping body kick lands there for Salieri.
Antonio Salieri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Salieri misses with a straight left.
Salieri misses with a leg kick.
Salieri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salieri thows a left - swing and a miss!
A clash of legs there as Salieri blocks the low kick.
Salieri misses with a wild body shot.
Salieri scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salieri takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Anderson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Anderson misses with an uppercut. Salieri saw that one coming.
Anderson walks into a straight right hand from Salieri.
Anderson is looking to clinch.
Salieri shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Anderson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Salieri swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Anderson.
Salieri fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Anderson on the side of the head.
Anderson misses the shot to the body.
Salieri misses with a wild combination.
A big left from Salieri misses.
Anderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anderson misses with a leg kick.
Salieri dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anderson. That did some damage!
Anderson lands a right hook to the body.
Anderson is looking to wear down Salieri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Salieri misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Salieri is just out of range.
Anderson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Salieri has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Salieri catches Anderson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson takes one to the chin there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salieri. Anderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salieri lands a nice looking body shot.
Anderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salieri.
Anderson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Salieri throws a series of punches but Anderson moves out of range.
Anderson looks to land a left hand but Salieri moved out of range nicely.
Salieri with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Salieri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Anderson.
Anderson checks a leg kick nicely.
Anderson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Anderson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salieri.
Anderson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Anderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salieri is trying to counter with his kicks.
Salieri throws a lazy right hand but Anderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Salieri feints and then cracks Anderson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Anderson down.
Salieri scores with a leg kick.
Anderson throws a leg kick that misses.
Antonio Salieri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anderson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salieri.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Salieri coming out on top.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salieri. Anderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salieri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salieri stuns Anderson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Salieri fails to land with a series of punches.
Salieri throws a series of punches but Anderson moves out of range.
Anderson cracks the inside of Salieri's front leg.
Anderson scores with a leg kick.
Salieri throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Anderson shoots in looking for a takedown. Salieri tries to sprawl out of it but Anderson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salieri manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Anderson checks a low kick from Salieri.
Anderson connects with a body shot that sends Salieri's belly button to the back.
Salieri throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Anderson's head.
Anderson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salieri moves away from the strike by Anderson.
Salieri throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Salieri does no damage.
Salieri getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Salieri attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Salieri on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Anderson throws an overhand right that lands on Salieri's shoulder, as Salieri tries to avoid the shot.
Salieri lands a head shot.
Salieri misses with a hook.
Anderson lands with a good body shot.
Anderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Salieri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Salieri.
Salieri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Anderson.
And Salieri responds with a good body kick, but Anderson manages to step out the way in time.
A jab from Anderson does it's job there.
Salieri tries to land a leg kick but Anderson saw it coming and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick from Salieri misses

and Anderson counters with a single leg into guard. Salieri didn't expect that.
Anderson throws a big right hand that misses.
Anderson throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Salieri dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Good shot there by Salieri.
Salieri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salieri lands a glancing blow to the side of Anderson's head.
Anderson throws a hook but Salieri avoids it easily.
Salieri throws a leg kick that is checked
and Anderson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salieri throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Anderson takes the fight into the clinch.
Anderson lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Anderson.
Anderson is leaning against Salieri and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Salieri avoiding damage as Anderson throws knees to the body.
Anderson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Salieri lands a right hand that snaps the head of Anderson backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salieri.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Anderson misses with a knee strike.
Anderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salieri misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salieri takes a knee right on the jaw!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salieri.
A nice left hand lands by Anderson.
Salieri has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Anderson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Salieri can turn it around.
Anderson misses with the head strike.
Anderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Salieri displaying some good clinch control by pressing Anderson up against the cage.
Anderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Salieri throws an elbow that misses.
Salieri scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sparky Anderson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Salieri tries to land a knee to the head but Anderson blocks with his arms.
Salieri misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salieri working aggressively here.
Anderson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Salieri misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Anderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salieri misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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!
Salieri lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Anderson lands a right hand.
Salieri blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Anderson drags the fight down to the ground.
Salieri scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Salieri throwing strikes from guard but Anderson blocks nicely.
Salieri scoring with some ground and pound.
Salieri trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Anderson working for a triangle but Salieri defends it easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Anderson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri postures up and lands a big shot to Anderson's brow.

Anderson has his foot on Salieri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salieri works his way back into a safe position though.
Anderson is trying to keep Salieri in close.
Anderson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Salieri is pushing down on Anderson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Anderson is fighting to maintain full guard but Salieri has managed to sneak the leg through.
Anderson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Anderson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Anderson wants to control but Salieri is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Anderson looking for submissions off his back.
Anderson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Salieri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salieri.
Salieri landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Anderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Salieri is trying to control the action in half guard but Anderson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Anderson is looking for a sweep. Salieri is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anderson manages to get to full guard.
Salieri makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Salieri postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Anderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sparky Anderson dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Salieri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Anderson manages to avoid it.
Salieri throws a hook but Anderson blocks it.
Salieri lands a lovely overhand right.
Salieri uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Anderson has time to react.
Salieri takes a swing at Anderson's ribcage but misses.
Antonio Salieri seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Anderson dives in and grabs Salieri's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salieri pushes down on Anderson's head and hops out.
Anderson tries to score with a low kick but Salieri moves his leg out of the way.
Anderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salieri.
Anderson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salieri takes a swing at Anderson's ribcage but misses.
Salieri misses with a low kick.
Anderson connects with an inside leg kick.
Anderson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salieri throws a chopping leg kick but Anderson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Salieri misses the shot to the body.
Anderson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Salieri at a distance.
Salieri has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Anderson finds it's way round the side to connect with Salieri's head.
Salieri cracks the inside of Anderson's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson misses with the combination.
Salieri flicks out a counter leg kick but Anderson steps away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson defending well as Salieri loads up on a big left hand.
Salieri takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Salieri lands a jab.
Salieri slips under a jab.
A little jabbing left from Salieri on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Salieri takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Anderson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Salieri.
Salieri throws a right and a left that Anderson avoids nicely.
Anderson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salieri.
Anderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheers as Salieri lands an impressive looking overhand right. Anderson doesn't seem phased though.
A swing and a miss from Salieri.
Anderson attempts a counter takedown but Salieri avoids it well and moves away.
Salieri jabs Anderson right on the nose. Anderson blinks but takes it well.
Anderson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Salieri on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Salieri.
Salieri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salieri throws a looping overhand right but Anderson ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson thuds a left hand into Salieri's body.
Salieri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Anderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Anderson throws a solid leg kick but Salieri takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Anderson.
Salieri throws an off balance right hand
letting Anderson counter with a right hand.
Salieri misses the jab.
Anderson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Anderson misses with a looping left.
Nice straight punches there by Salieri. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Salieri.
Anderson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Salieri throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Anderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Anderson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Anderson throws a leg kick but Salieri moved away.
The fighters circling - Anderson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A nice inside leg kick there by Anderson. That's going to slow Salieri down.
Salieri looks to throw the jab but Anderson is out of range.
Salieri moves out of range as Anderson strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson avoids a kick to the body.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Anderson staying out of range there.
Salieri scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Anderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salieri manages to avoid it.
Anderson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salieri is out of range and Anderson settles back down.
Anderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salieri tries to avoid it but Anderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salieri to the ground. Salieri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Anderson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Salieri.
Anderson moves out of range as Salieri strikes.
Salieri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sparky Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salieri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salieri lands a nice looking body shot.
Anderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salieri only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Salieri scores with the left hand. Anderson knows he should have avoided that one.
Anderson loads up on a big right hand but Salieri slips the punch.
A slow jab from Salieri misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salieri misses with a straight right.
Salieri takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
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!
Salieri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Anderson on the side of the head.
Anderson lands with an uppercut that bounces Salieri off the cage and back into range.
Salieri connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Anderson momentarily.
Anderson cracks Salieri with an open hand slap.
Salieri misses with an uppercut.
Anderson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salieri throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Anderson moves away from the strike by Salieri.
Anderson looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Salieri tried to score with a low kick but Anderson checks it.
Salieri throws an off balance right hand
and Anderson counters with a thumping low kick.
Salieri closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salieri takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anderson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Salieri fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anderson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The fighters circle momentarily. Anderson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antonio Salieri.
I think Salieri 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Antonio Salieri!
Antonio Salieri thanked the fans post fight for their support.