PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Savitskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wu Xian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Savitskiy
vs
Xian

170 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexandr Savitskiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wu Xian!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Savitskiy moves into range and clinches up with Xian.
Savitskiy scores with a shot to the side of Xian's head.
Savitskiy is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Stalling in the clinch from Savitskiy.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Savitskiy for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Xian working hard to break the clinch.
Xian blocks the elbow strike.
Savitskiy stalls.
A right hook to the body lands for Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands a body punch.
Savitskiy keeps control of Xian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savitskiy has Xian pressed against the cage.
Xian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savitskiy pressing his opponent against the cage.
Xian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Savitskiy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xian working hard to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Savitskiy.
Xian takes an elbow to the forehead.
Xian tries to circle away but Savitskiy has him pinned against the cage.
Savitskiy is leaning against Xian and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Savitskiy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Xian's defenses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Savitskiy - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Savitskiy stalling.
Savitskiy lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands an elbow that stopped Xian in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Wu Xian has been cut.
The referee calls for Savitskiy to work.
Savitskiy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Savitskiy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Savitskiy throws an elbow that misses.
Xian has had enough of the clinch but Savitskiy keeps him there for the moment.
Savitskiy lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savitskiy lands an elbow inside.
Savitskiy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Xian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Xian blocks the elbow strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Savitskiy lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Xian.
Xian blocks an elbow strike from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy keeps control of Xian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Xian dodges an elbow strike from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands an elbow just above Xian 's eye.
Savitskiy effectively controlling the action here.
Xian tries to break free but Savitskiy pushes him back against the cage.
Xian misses with the head strike.
Savitskiy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Xian working hard to break the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands a nice elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitskiy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Xian's defenses.
Xian avoids the elbow strike from Savitskiy, against the cage.
Savitskiy avoiding damage.
Savitskiy just leaning against Xian, taking a breather.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Savitskiy misses with a punch to the body.
Xian has had enough of the clinch but Savitskiy keeps him there for the moment.
Xian takes an elbow to the forehead.
Savitskiy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Savitskiy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Xian's efforts to push away.
Xian wants to get back to striking at distance but Savitskiy won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Xian's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Savitskiy throws an elbow but misses.
Savitskiy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Savitskiy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savitskiy controlling the action here for a moment.
Xian blocks the elbow strike.
Xian has had enough of the clinch but Savitskiy keeps him there for the moment.
Savitskiy lands a damaging elbow.
Savitskiy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savitskiy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Savitskiy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Xian's defenses.
Savitskiy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Savitskiy.
Xian is looking to break free of the clinch but Savitskiy has double underhooks.
A hook to the body from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Savitskiy's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Savitskiy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Savitskiy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wu Xian's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Savitskiy looks to score with a jab to the body but Xian is just out of range.
Savitskiy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Xian at a distance.

Savitskiy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Xian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Savitskiy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Xians head.
Savitskiy scores with a shot to the side of Xian's head.
Xian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Xian is trying to force a seperation but Savitskiy has the dominant position.
Nice elbow from Savitskiy.
Xian can't find room to land a body shot as Savitskiy controls the action.
Xian is looking to break free of the clinch but Savitskiy has double underhooks.
Xian is trying to force a seperation but Savitskiy has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savitskiy lands a body shot.
Xian is trying to break the clinch but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Savitskiy.
Savitskiy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Xian takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Savitskiy as the two fighters clinch.
Savitskiy stalling the fight.
Savitskiy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Xian wants to get back to striking at distance but Savitskiy won't allow it.
Savitskiy presses Xian against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Savitskiy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Savitskiy slowing the pace effectively.
Savitskiy has Xian pressed against the cage, preventing Xian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Savitskiy lands an elbow inside that Xian shrugs off.
Savitskiy prevents Xian from breaking the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Savitskiy.
Xian blocks the elbow strike.
Savitskiy tries to throw a body punch but Xian avoids it by throwing Savitskiy back against the cage.
Savitskiy lands a right hand.
Savitskiy pushes off an throws an elbow but Xian leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short right from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Xian backwards.
Savitskiy misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xian tries to break free but Savitskiy pushes him back against the cage.
Xian trying to control the position but instead, Savitskiy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Xian into the cage.
Xian tries to circle away but Savitskiy has him pinned against the cage.
Savitskiy has Xian pressed against the cage, preventing Xian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Xian takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xian wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage.
Savitskiy has Xian pushed against the cage.
Xian tries to break the clinch but Savitskiy is controlling the position.
Savitskiy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Xian's defenses.
Xian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short left from Savitskiy.
Xian misses with a body punch.
Xian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Savitskiy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Savitskiy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Savitskiy.
Xian is trying to force a seperation but Savitskiy has the dominant position.
Savitskiy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Xian's defenses.
Savitskiy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xian can do to turn this around?
Xian tries to break free but Savitskiy pushes him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy keeps control of Xian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savitskiy pressing his opponent against the cage.
Savitskiy slows down the pace here.
Savitskiy gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Xian is trying to push Savitskiy away but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Savitskiy pushes Xian back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Savitskiy is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A right handed body shot lands from Savitskiy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xian dodges an elbow strike from Savitskiy.
A frustrated look appears on Xian's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Savitskiy scores with a shot to the side of Xian's head.
Savitskiy lands a body punch in the clinch.
Savitskiy lands a damaging elbow.
Alexandr Savitskiy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right handed body shot lands from Savitskiy.
Xian is breathing heavily.
A short left from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy slows down the pace here.
Xian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Savitskiy lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savitskiy holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Savitskiy stalling the fight.
A left hand lands to the body for Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands an elbow inside.
Xian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Savitskiy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wu Xian's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Xian lands a slapping body shot.
Xian cracks a nice hook into Savitskiy's ribs.

Savitskiy instigates a clinch.
Xian can't break the clinch.
Savitskiy misses with an elbow over the top.
Xian tries to circle away but Savitskiy has him pinned against the cage.
Xian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Savitskiy keeps control of Xian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savitskiy keeps control of Xian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savitskiy taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Savitskiy lands an elbow just above Xian 's eye.
Savitskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xian's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savitskiy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Xian's defenses.
Xian wants to break free but Savitskiy has control.
Xian can't break the clinch.
Savitskiy lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xian's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Xian wants to break free but Savitskiy has control.
Savitskiy lands an elbow just above Xian 's eye.
Savitskiy lands an elbow inside.
Xian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savitskiy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Savitskiy.
Xian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Xian wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Savitskiy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Savitskiy effectively controlling the action here.
Come on Savitskiy - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Savitskiy.
Xian is trying to push Savitskiy away but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Savitskiy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nice elbow from Savitskiy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xian breaks the clinch.
Xian lands a nice shot that snaps Savitskiy's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xian ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Savitskiy misses with a jab to the body
and Xian counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wu Xian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xian is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Savitskiy looks to throw the jab but Xian is out of range.

Savitskiy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Savitskiy has Xian pressed against the cage.
Savitskiy lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Xian backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Xian avoids the elbow strike from Savitskiy, against the cage.
Savitskiy taking a breather.
Savitskiy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Xian backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Savitskiy.
A nice left hand lands by Savitskiy.
Savitskiy can't find room to land a body shot as Xian controls the action.
Savitskiy lands a hook that snaps the head of Xian backwards.
Savitskiy lands a body punch.
Savitskiy lands an elbow inside that Xian shrugs off.
Xian is trying to break the clinch but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage.
Savitskiy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Savitskiy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Savitskiy keeps control of Xian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savitskiy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Xian backwards.
Xian can't break the clinch.
Xian is trying to break the clinch but Savitskiy is controlling him.
Savitskiy has Xian pressed against the cage, preventing Xian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Xian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savitskiy lands an elbow that stopped Xian in his tracks for a moment.
Xian is trying to break the clinch but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xian is trying to break the clinch but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage.
Savitskiy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Savitskiy digs a right hand underneath Xian's ribcage. Xian let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savitskiy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Savitskiy lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Xian wants to get back to striking at distance but Savitskiy won't allow it.
Stalling in the clinch from Savitskiy.
Xian takes an elbow to the forehead.
Xian is trying to break the clinch but Savitskiy has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Savitskiy.
Savitskiy leaning his opponent against the cage.
Savitskiy lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Xian backwards.
Wu Xian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savitskiy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Xian misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandr Savitskiy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Savitskiy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Alexandr Savitskiy!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Alexandr Savitskiy!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Alexandr Savitskiy!

Alexandr Savitskiy wins by unanimous decision!