PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Savs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Savs is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rice
vs
Savs

190 cm
22
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
200 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Savs!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Roberts and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savs takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Rice moves into the clinch.
Savs wants a takedown but no success here.

Rice pulls Savs into guard.
Savs won't allow Rice to get back to his feet.
Rice keeping moving, preventing Savs from controlling successfully.
Rice trying to strike off his back.
Rice is controlling Savs's posture.

Savs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rice has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Savs has managed to get both his arms back between Rice's legs - danger averted.
Rice lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Rice is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Savs trying to control the position from guard on top but Rice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rice's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice 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.
Savs lands a couple of digs.

Rice is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Savs is aware though and is defending well.
Savs must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rice wants to stand up but Savs is controlling him.
Rice thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rice is trying to keep Savs in close.
Rice will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Savs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savs landing with the ground and pound.

Rice working for a triangle but Savs defends it easily.
Rice is breathing heavily.
Savs postures up and lands a big shot to Rice's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice keeping full guard, as Savs tries to pass.

Savs stands up and waves to Rice to follow him.
Rice throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Savs.
Savs shoots in but no luck this time.
Savs has a takedown stuffed.
Ray Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Savs.
Savs misses with a jab, cross combination.
Savs throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savs throws a leg kick but Rice checks it.

Rice shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Savs is trying to control but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Savs can do anything to dispel that myth.
Savs flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Savs is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rice working over Savs with some ground and pound. Savs looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rice is trying to control the action in half guard but Savs is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Rice is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Savs sees it coming and defends easily.
Savs moves into full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Savs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rice doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rice manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rice is stalling in the full guard.
Savs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rice is controlling him.
Rice won't allow Savs to sweep him here.
Rice cracks Savs with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Savs fails with the takedown
and Rice counters with an inside leg kick.
Savs tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rice counters with a head kick. That will keep Savs thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A nice inside leg kick there by Rice. That's going to slow Savs down.
Savs with a poor takedown

and Rice counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rice.

Rice tightens his grip and picks Savs up, before dumping him to the ground. Savs manages to land in guard.
Rice trying to control but Savs is working from the bottom.
Savs wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rice is now in half guard.
Rice is nestled in close to Savs, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice working Savs over with strikes.

Rice stands up from half guard.

Savs tries to keep at a distance but Rice has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rice lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rice missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Savs moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rice throws and elbow that misses. Savs uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rice's guard. Nice move by Savs!
Savs trying to control but Rice is working from the bottom.
Rice pulls Savs in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Savs preventing the sweep.
Rice throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rice wants to sweep here but Savs controlling him for the moment.
Savs stands up over Rice, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Savs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Savs thows a body shot but no joy.
Savs shoots and misses
and Rice counters with a series of strikes. Savs will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ray Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Savs.
Savs gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rice counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savs wants to get back to his feet.
Savs wants to control but Rice is keeping busy.
Rice is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rice punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rice wants to control the pace but Savs is squirming around nicely.
Rice lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Savs hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rice trying to control but Savs is having none of it.
Rice punishing his opponent with strikes.
Savs is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Savs is trying to stand up.

Rice has control of Savs's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Savs regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rice 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.
Savs throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rice. What's that going to do exactly?
Savs really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rice is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Savs can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Rice dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Savs drops his hands momentarily and Rice takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Savs has his takedown stuffed
and Savs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rice throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Savs was covering up waiting for the punch and Rice finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rice forces his way into half guard.
Savs is staying active underneath Rice, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rice looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savs tries to get to full guard but Rice has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rice wants to control but Savs is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rice thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Savs's head.
Savs wants to control but Rice is keeping busy.
Rice working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Savs misses with a combination

and Rice counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ray Rice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rice won't allow Savs to sweep him here.

Savs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Savs throws a nice elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rice stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Savs tries to clinch up

and Rice counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Savs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rice chips away with some ground and pound.
Rice wants to control from the top but Savs keeps moving.
Rice throwing strikes but missing.
Rice throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice stands up over Savs, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Savs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rice. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rice preventing the sweep.
Savs striking off his back but it's not causing Rice any problems.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Savs shoots and misses

and Rice counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rice.
Rice wants a takedown.

Rice manages to pull guard.
Rice is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rice has his feet on Savs's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Rice drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rice lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savs tries to buck Rice off but Rice is having none of it.
Bob Savs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savs is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rice is controlling him well.
Rice lands an elbow.
Savs taking a bit of punishment here - Rice scoring with strikes.
Rice landing strikes.
Savs tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rice presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Savs can't escape the position.
Savs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ray Rice is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rice is in the full mount, landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Rice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rice has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Rice!