PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Savage Animal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Calzaghe will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Animal
vs
Calzaghe

173 cm
25
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
158 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Savage Animal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calzaghe with a nice cross.

It looks like Savage Animal has been cut.
Nice takedown defense from Calzaghe. No joy for Animal on that attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Calzaghe.
Animal looks for a takedown but Calzaghe sprawls well.

Animal gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Animal throws his legs up looking for a submission but Calzaghe uses it to pass to side control.
Animal manages to get back to half guard.
Calzaghe prevents Animal from improving his position.
Calzaghe slows the pace down in half guard.
Calzaghe wants to stand but Animal has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Animal is trying to stand up here but Calzaghe is controlling him well.

Calzaghe escapes and gets back to his feet.
Animal has his takedown stuffed
and Calzaghe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Savage Animal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calzaghe takes a swing at Animal's ribcage but misses.
Calzaghe lands with a nice combination. Animal backs away looking to recover.

Calzaghe has Animal up against the cage in a clinch.

Calzaghe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Calzaghe throws a low kick, looking for Animal's leg but Animal calmly moves out of range.

Calzaghe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Calzaghe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Animal looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Calzaghe has picked Animal up and slammed him! Animal can't keep hold of the triangle and Calzaghe manages to pass to side control!
Animal is working to avoid the ground and pound but Calzaghe connects with a decent elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calzaghe looks up at the clock and then as Animal takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Calzaghe smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Animal is looking to reverse the position.
Animal is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Animal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Calzaghe counters with a takedown into side control.
Animal is looking to regain half guard here but Calzaghe keeps moving and retains side control.

Animal sneaks out the side door and pushes Calzaghe away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Animal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Calzaghe.
Animal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Calzaghe counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Animal!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Animal is desperately trying to improve his position but Calzaghe has a good base and remains in mount.
Calzaghe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Animal can't escape the position.
Calzaghe with the ground and pound from mount.
Animal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Calzaghe lands a nice shot to the head.
Animal working to try and regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Savage Animal's cut.
That's time! Animal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Calzaghe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Animal looking for submissions off his back.
Calzaghe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Animal tries to get to full guard but Calzaghe has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Animal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Animal actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Calzaghe postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Animal to stand up.
Some wild striking there from Calzaghe.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Calzaghe!
Animal shoots and misses

and Calzaghe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Animal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Calzaghe lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Calzaghe manages to break the clinch.

Calzaghe closes the distance and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd are getting on Calzaghe's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

Calzaghe manages to break the clinch.
Savage Animal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Animal has his takedown stuffed

and Calzaghe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Savage Animal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Calzaghe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Calzaghe clinches up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Calzaghe takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Animal wants a takedown but no success here.
Animal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Calzaghe stalling.
Animal goes for a takedown attempt but Calzaghe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Animal takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Calzaghe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Calzaghe stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Animal misses with a takedown attempt

and Calzaghe counters with a shoot takedown into half 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!
Calzaghe trying to control the pace.
Animal tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Calzaghe has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Animal is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Savage Animal's cut.
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!

Animal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Animal goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Calzaghe is on top in guard.

Animal working for submissions but it's allowed Calzaghe to get to half guard.
Calzaghe stalling.

Animal looking for a kimura from the bottom but Calzaghe passes into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Animal is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Calzaghe asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Animal gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Animal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Animal pushes Calzaghe off looking to stand but Calzaghe dives back in and keeps control.
Joe Calzaghe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Calzaghe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Animal looking for submissions off his back.
Animal trying to get back to full guard but Calzaghe takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Animal really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Animal is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe controlling from the full mount.
Calzaghe prevents Animal from getting the reversal.
Calzaghe takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Animal is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Savage Animal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Animal throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Calzaghe.
Well Calzaghe 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Calzaghe!