PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdelkarim Bencherifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Savchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savchuk has chosen NY as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Ivan Savchuk is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bencherifa
vs
Savchuk

188 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
184 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Abdelkarim Bencherifa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Savchuk!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bencherifa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Savchuk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bencherifa's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Savchuk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Savchuk wants to stand but Bencherifa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bencherifa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bencherifa tries to get out of the position.
Savchuk prevents Bencherifa from getting back to his feet.
Bencherifa controls Savchuk momentarily but Savchuk frees himself.
Savchuk wants to control from the top but Bencherifa keeps moving.
Bencherifa wants to stand up but Savchuk is controlling him.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ivan Savchuk hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Savchuk throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bencherifa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Savchuk is in Bencherifa's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Bencherifa pushes Savchuk off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bencherifa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Savchuk counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bencherifa struggling a bit here.
Bencherifa being controlled for a moment.
Savchuk working the ground and pound from side control.
Savchuk takes a little break here. Bencherifa wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Savchuk throws an elbow but Bencherifa slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bencherifa is trying to get back to half guard.
Bencherifa is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Savchuk is controlling him well.
Savchuk takes a little break here. Bencherifa wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Bencherifa throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bencherifa struggling a bit here.
Bencherifa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
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!
Savchuk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Bencherifa throws Savchuk to one side and escapes!
Bencherifa has his takedown stuffed

and Savchuk counters with a shoot takedown. Bencherifa fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdelkarim Bencherifa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savchuk won't allow Bencherifa to get back to his feet.
Savchuk throws a big elbow that misses.
Savchuk tries to free his leg and advance position but Bencherifa is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk cracks Bencherifa with a solid left hand.
Bencherifa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bencherifa looking to control.
Bencherifa pulls Savchuk in close to prevent any damage.
Savchuk looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Abdelkarim Bencherifa.
Bencherifa shoots in for a takedown but Savchuk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Savchuk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bencherifa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Savchuk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bencherifa's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savchuk is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bencherifa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Savchuk wasn't active enough on the ground.
Savchuk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bencherifa misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horrible takedown by Bencherifa or perhaps it was just good defense by Savchuk which made him look bad.
Bencherifa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savchuk swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Savchuk dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bencherifa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Savchuk as Bencherifa shoots in.
Bencherifa connects with a looping right hand.
Bencherifa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Savchuk was well out of range. Poor timing from Bencherifa.
Savchuk fails with a takedown attempt.
Bencherifa fails with the takedown

and Savchuk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bencherifa won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdelkarim Bencherifa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bencherifa being controlled for a moment.
Bencherifa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bencherifa is being controlled here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savchuk wants to control but Bencherifa is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bencherifa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ivan Savchuk has got the better of the ground game so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bencherifa tries to kick Savchuk off but Savchuk keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Savchuk controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ivan Savchuk hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Savchuk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bencherifa is fending him off so far but Savchuk persists. Nope, Bencherifa circles away and we're back to standing.
Savchuk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bencherifa defends it nicely.
Bencherifa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bencherifa tries for a takedown but Savchuk circles away easily

and Savchuk counters with a shoot takedown. Bencherifa fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bencherifa wants to stand and escape but Savchuk is having none of it.
Savchuk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Bencherifa wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bencherifa throws a looping overhand right but Savchuk ducks down to avoid it.

Savchuk scores a takedown into full mount!
Bencherifa can't escape the position.
Savchuk sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bencherifa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Savchuk with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bencherifa?
Savchuk looking to control and managing it successfully.
Savchuk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Savchuk controlling his opponent.
Savchuk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bencherifa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bencherifa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Savchuk controlling from the full mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Savchuk was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bencherifa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Savchuk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bencherifa's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savchuk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bencherifa's guard.
Savchuk controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bencherifa has his feet on Savchuk's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Savchuk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bencherifa as he jumps to the side.
Bencherifa fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bencherifa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Savchuk counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Bencherifa kicks Savchuk off and gets to his feet.
Bencherifa misses with a takedown attempt - Savchuk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Abdelkarim Bencherifa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bencherifa misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Savchuk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bencherifa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Savchuk counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Savchuk.
Savchuk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bencherifa keeping moving, preventing Savchuk from controlling successfully.
Bencherifa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Savchuk is controlling him.
Savchuk sitting in guard here, content to control.

Bencherifa kicks Savchuk off and gets to his feet.
Bencherifa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Savchuk avoids it really well and circles away.
Bencherifa tries for a takedown but Savchuk circles away easily

and Savchuk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bencherifa's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdelkarim Bencherifa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savchuk content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ivan Savchuk hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Bencherifa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Savchuk to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bencherifa keeping moving, preventing Savchuk from controlling successfully.
Bencherifa wants to stand and escape but Savchuk is having none of it.
Savchuk tries to free his leg and advance position but Bencherifa is retaining full guard.
Bencherifa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Savchuk is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ivan Savchuk.

Bencherifa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Savchuk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Savchuk is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bencherifa asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Savchuk taking a bit of punishment here - Bencherifa scoring with strikes.
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!
Savchuk tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Bencherifa is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Savchuk has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Bencherifa has Savchuk flattened out and is raining down punches.
Bencherifa throwing sloppy strikes.
Bencherifa punches the canvas rather than the man.
Savchuk prevents Bencherifa from getting a body triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Bencherifa tightening his grip on Savchuk, looking for the choke.
Savchuk wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savchuk covering up well under a series of strikes from Bencherifa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Abdelkarim Bencherifa did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Savchuk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bencherifa as he jumps to the side.

Savchuk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bencherifa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Savchuk trying to control the action but Bencherifa is working from the bottom.
Savchuk is controlling the pace.
Savchuk stops Bencherifa from getting back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Savchuk works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savchuk looking to control but Bencherifa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bencherifa wants to control but Savchuk is having none of it.
Savchuk looking to control and managing it successfully.
Savchuk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Savchuk is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bencherifa is trying desperately to improve position.
Savchuk controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bencherifa is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Savchuk tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bencherifa wants to control but Savchuk is having none of it.
Bencherifa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Savchuk connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bencherifa is looking to improve his position but Savchuk isn't that keen on the idea.
Bencherifa is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk controlling the pace for now.
Savchuk looking to control but Bencherifa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Savchuk controlling his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Savchuk was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bencherifa loads up on a big right hand but Savchuk slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bencherifa tries to avoid it but Savchuk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bencherifa to the ground. Bencherifa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bencherifa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Savchuk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bencherifa somewhat.
Bencherifa looks for a takedown but Savchuk sprawls well.
Bencherifa lands a glancing blow to the side of Savchuk's head.
No luck for Savchuk with that takedown attempt.
Abdelkarim Bencherifa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Savchuk.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bencherifa sizes up Savchuk with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bencherifa looks to score with a jab to the body but Savchuk is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Savchuk dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bencherifa misses with a takedown

and Savchuk counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Savchuk.

Bencherifa pushes Savchuk off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Bencherifa with a poor takedown

and Savchuk counters with a shoot takedown. Bencherifa fights it but they end up in guard.
Savchuk is standing up over Bencherifa. Bencherifa looks to escape but Savchuk dives into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savchuk controls the position from side control.
Bencherifa holds on to Savchuk's head and controls the position momentarily.

Savchuk stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bencherifa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Savchuk as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdelkarim Bencherifa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bencherifa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Savchuk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bencherifa's guard.
Savchuk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bencherifa wants to stand but Savchuk is controlling the position.
Savchuk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Savchuk wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bencherifa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savchuk swivels and escapes.

Savchuk drives through with a takedown into Bencherifa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bencherifa wants to stand up but Savchuk is controlling him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bencherifa being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ivan Savchuk hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bencherifa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Bencherifa misses the target.
Savchuk staying out of range there.
Abdelkarim Bencherifa is winning the standup battle so far.
Bencherifa shoots in but Savchuk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Savchuk staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bencherifa tries for a takedown but Savchuk circles away easily

and Savchuk counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Savchuk.
Savchuk controlling from the top position.
Savchuk stops Bencherifa from standing up.
Savchuk postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Savchuk controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bencherifa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bencherifa wants to stand up but Savchuk is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bencherifa misses with a body shot.
Ivan Savchuk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bencherifa shoots and misses

and Savchuk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bencherifa won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Bencherifa's face as Savchuk controls the position.
Savchuk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bencherifa tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Savchuk is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bencherifa will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bencherifa is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Savchuk is controlling him well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Savchuk was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bencherifa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Savchuk but Savchuk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Savchuk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Savchuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Savchuk 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Ivan Savchuk!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Ivan Savchuk!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Ivan Savchuk!

Ivan Savchuk wins by unanimous decision!
Ivan Savchuk seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.