PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Balin Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Salgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kang
vs
Salgado

177 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Balin Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Simon Salgado!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Topper Green and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salgado misses with a jab, cross combination.
Salgado misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salgado.
Salgado stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kang.
Salgado throws the left hand but Kang avoids the punch easily.
Kang pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kang dodges the punch combination from Salgado.
Salgado lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kang circles away quickly and effectively.
Salgado stuffs the takedown.
Kang shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Salgado but Salgado pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Kang backs off Salgado throws a huge counter combo but Kang manages to avoid it all.
Salgado keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balin Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salgado keeps the fight on the outside.
Some wild striking there from Salgado.
Salgado looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salgado throws a body punch but Kang moves out of range.
No joy there for Salgado, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kang dodges the punch combination from Salgado.
Salgado misses with a wild combination.
Simon Salgado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kang buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kang fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kang tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Salgado defends well and Kang ends up having to push Salgado into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Salgado as Kang shoots in.
Salgado throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salgado lands with an uppercut that bounces Kang off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salgado bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kang has a takedown stuffed.
A countering left hand to the body from Salgado misses.
Kang tries for a takedown but Salgado sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kang is breathing heavily.
Kang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Salgado circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kang misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kang tries to clinch but Salgado is having none of it.
No joy there for Salgado, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Salgado displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Salgado swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kang moves into the clinch.
Kang tries to pull guard but Salgado won't allow it.
Kang is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Salgado is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang has Salgado pressed against the cage, preventing Salgado from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Salgado wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kang jumps guard but Salgado stands there with Kang around his waist. Kang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salgado stalks Kang and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kang's face. Kang staggers backwards, shaken.
Salgado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kang moves away.
Salgado throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kang drops down looking for a counter takedown but Salgado sprawls and moves away.
No luck for Kang with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Salgado. Those never looked like landing.
Salgado connects with a right hand. Kang shakes it off.
Salgado misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Kang.
Salgado throws a series of punches but Kang avoids them all with ease.
Salgado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kang appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Salgado pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kang back to the cage. Salgado follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salgado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kang.
A nice combination there by Salgado.
A left and a right from Salgado both land. Nice combination.
Salgado stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salgado wants it to stay on the feet.
Salgado misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Salgado dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck for Kang with that takedown attempt.
Kang shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salgado swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kang changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kang gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Salgado counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balin Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salgado lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Salgado.
Salgado lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Kang is rocked!

Kang drives through and clinches with Salgado against the cage.
Salgado wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kang has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salgado avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salgado tries to break the clinch but Kang is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salgado wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salgado can't break the clinch.
Salgado goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kang prevents it.
Kang is pressed up against the cage. Salgado has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kang down to the mat. Kang avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Salgado lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kang circles away quickly and effectively.
Simon Salgado seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salgado sprawls well. Salgado wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kang gets slowly back to his feet.
Salgado just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kang slips a jab and a cross from Salgado.
Kang throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salgado's waist but Salgado gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kang off to one side.
Kang fails with the takedown.
Salgado swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kang counters with a nice uppercut.
Kang fails with the takedown
and Salgado counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salgado swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kang.
Kang fails with the takedown
and Salgado counters with a three punch combo that has Kang backing up. Kang nods at Salgado to acknowledge the strikes.
Salgado clobbers Kang with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kang or perhaps it was just good defense by Salgado, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salgado throws a series of punches but Kang avoids them all with ease.
Salgado lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kang at a distance.
Salgado lands a body shot.
Salgado throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salgado has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kang forces Salgado back against the cage and clinches.
Salgado is defending well against a takedown attempt.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Kang. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Kang keeps control of Salgado as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kang jumps guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kang has his foot on Salgado's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salgado works his way back into a safe position though.
Salgado throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salgado lands a couple of digs.
Salgado distracts Kang with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Salgado postures up.
Salgado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Salgado throws a big elbow that misses.
Kang working a defensive guard here.
Salgado is working Kang over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kang wants to stand and escape but Salgado is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Salgado really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kang. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salgado with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salgado throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Salgado fails to land with a series of punches.
It looked like Kang was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Salgado throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salgado tries to bum rush Kang with a series of wild strikes but Kang uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Salgado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fighters circling - Salgado throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kang is looking to clinch but Salgado is avoiding it.
Kang slips a jab and a cross from Salgado.
A combination from Salgado does no damage.
Kang dives in and grabs Salgado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salgado pushes down on Kang's head and hops out.
Balin Kang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kang is defended easily by Salgado.
Kang tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kang dives in and grabs Salgado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salgado pushes down on Kang's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balin Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kang throws a body shot but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salgado sprawls well. Salgado wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kang gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salgado lands a head shot.
Some wild striking there from Salgado.
Kang doesn't manage to clinch there - Salgado circles away.
Salgado unleashes a big counter combination but Kang bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Salgado throws a one two combo.
Kang shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Salgado counters with a nice uppercut.
Salgado works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Oh Kang is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Salgado misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kang seems to have got his legs back now.
Salgado throws a series of punches but Kang avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kang fails to land with a series of punches.
Kang has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kang or perhaps it was just good defense by Salgado, which made it look bad.
A combination from Salgado does no damage.
Kang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salgado sprawls well. Salgado wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kang gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Salgado. Those never looked like landing.
Salgado paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Salgado leaves Kang with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salgado swinging wildly here.
Salgado closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Simon Salgado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salgado throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kang lands a high kick!
Kang throws a nice head kick!
Kang moves away from the strike by Salgado.
Kang is looking to clinch.
Salgado with a nice cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salgado misses with a wild body shot.
Salgado misses with a wild combination.

Kang clinches with his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salgado misses with a two punch combination.
Kang looks for a takedown but Salgado sprawls well.
The fighters circle momentarily. Salgado darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Balin Kang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simon Salgado is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sloppy strikes from Salgado. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Salgado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Salgado winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Salgado!