PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rich Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Savage
vs
Taylor

183 cm
24
171 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rich Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor looks for a takedown but Savage sprawls well.
No luck for Taylor with that takedown attempt.
Taylor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rich Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Taylor.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savage swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage throws a nice looking combination but Taylor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice takedown defense from Savage. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Savage looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Taylor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Savage sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Savage pushes him off.
Savage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Taylor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Savage dodges the ground and pound from Taylor.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to ground and pound but Savage uses the momentary lack of control by Taylor to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Savage avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Taylor will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taylor avoids the head kick by Savage.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Savage defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Savage tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savage manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rich Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Taylor.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Savage as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Savage as he jumps to the side.
Savage throws a nice looking combination but Taylor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Savage sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Savage misses with a body kick.
Savage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab lands there for Taylor.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Savage circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage slaps away a takedown attempt from Taylor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Savage sprawls well.
Savage scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Savage pushes him off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taylor.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Savage as he avoids it easily.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor shoots in looking for a takedown. Savage tries to sprawl out of it but Taylor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savage manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Savage dominated that second round.
That's time! Savage's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Savage tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Savage to the ground. Savage escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick misses from Savage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taylor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor tries to clinch but Savage moves out of range.
Taylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Savage sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taylor somewhat.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Savage as he jumps to the side.
Rich Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Taylor.

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.
Taylor shoots for a takedown but Savage saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Taylor shoots for a double leg takedown but Savage sprawls well. He's pushed Taylor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Savage throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt - Savage sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savage swivels and escapes.

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.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Savage pinned against the cage. Savage gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Savage throws a head kick that Taylor semi-blocks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Savage defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taylor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Savage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Savage has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Savage!