PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Saavedra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saavedra is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cant be touched. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hall
vs
Saavedra

180 cm
19
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Toni Saavedra!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hall thuds a left hand into Saavedra's body.
Danga de danga de dang - Hall scores with a four punch combination!

That has opened up Toni Saavedra's cut even more.
Saavedra looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hall throws a nice looking combination but Saavedra bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Saavedra on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hall. Hall obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice body kick there by Hall.

Hall drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saavedra trying to remain calm as Hall controls from the top position.
Hall's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Hall stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Hall has closed the distance and engaged Saavedra in a clinch.

Hall has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saavedra uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saavedra wants to pass the guard but Hall is keeping the position.
Hall controlling the position.

Saavedra postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hall is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Saavedra, into his guard.

Hall decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saavedra, up you get!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hall.

Hall working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saavedra is letting Hall control him for a moment.
Saavedra sneaks back into half guard.

Saavedra actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saavedra wants to get back to full guard.

Saavedra looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Saavedra actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall trying to pass the guard but Saavedra defending well.

Saavedra is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hall pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saavedra manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hall trying to control the position from guard on top but Saavedra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saavedra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hall.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A punch combination from Hall misses.
Saavedra fails with the takedown
and Hall counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hall fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saavedra, pushing him back against the cage.
Saavedra is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hall pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Saavedra is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hall can't fight it off and eventually Saavedra manages to take the fight to the floor. Hall looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hall controls Saavedra momentarily but Saavedra frees himself.
Saavedra stands and throws Hall's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hall is looking to reverse the position.
Hall wants to control but Saavedra postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Saavedra goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hall rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Saavedra's guard! Nice work there by Hall!

Saavedra is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Toni Saavedra's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Saavedra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hall throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hall with a lazy takedown attempt

and Saavedra counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hall trying to keep a closed guard but Saavedra is proving a slippery customer.
Hall is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saavedra can do to turn this around?

Hall had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Saavedra is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hall Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Saavedra's back instead.
Hall doesn't have the hooks in and Saavedra manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hall lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Hall is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Saavedra looking for a guillotine here but Hall defends easily.

Saavedra working for a triangle but Hall defends it easily.
Hall wants to control from the top but Saavedra keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saavedra is looking for a triangle but Hall pushes his legs off easily.
Hall tries to stand but Saavedra is controlling from the bottom.
Saavedra should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hall trying to control the position from guard on top but Saavedra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saavedra working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Saavedra throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hall escapes and throws Saavedra's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saavedra tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hall passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Saavedra!
Saavedra is squirming around, avoiding Hall's attempts to control the action.
Saavedra is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saavedra is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saavedra sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hall is pressing down on Saavedra's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saavedra is holding on for now.
Toni Saavedra has got the better of the ground game so far.

Saavedra is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hall pulls his head out easily.

Hall escapes and gets back to his feet.
Saavedra tries for a takedown but Hall circles away easily

and Hall decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saavedra's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saavedra throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Saavedra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Toni Saavedra's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick by Hall misses

and Saavedra counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hall is trying to control the position but Saavedra postures up.
Saavedra preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hall is on top in guard.

Saavedra looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Saavedra isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hall stacks Saavedra on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hall!
Saavedra is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hall's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hall wants to take a breather but Saavedra is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saavedra looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hall trying to pass the guard but Saavedra defending well.
Hall passes to full mount!
Hall scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Saavedra?
Saavedra keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hall trying to control but Saavedra is having none of it.
Saavedra is in all sorts of trouble here.

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.
Hall controlling from the full mount.
Hall is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Saavedra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hall moves to take his opponent's back.
Saavedra is taking damage to the body and head.
Saavedra looking very determined here, making life difficult for Hall.
Saavedra breaks Hall's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saavedra advances position into side control!

Saavedra tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Saavedra swings around for an armbar but Hall sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Saavedra's guard.
Hall landing some decent shots from guard.

Saavedra throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Saavedra looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall with a nice head shot there.

Saavedra is looking for a triangle but Hall pushes his legs off easily.
Hall not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hall is pushing down on Saavedra's leg trying to pass to half guard. Saavedra is fighting to maintain full guard but Hall has managed to sneak the leg through.

Saavedra looking for submissions off his back.
Hall landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Saavedra is refusing to be controlled, as Hall sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toni Saavedra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saavedra 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Toni Saavedra!