PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Savkov (ranked 33 p4p, 6 weight class) and Ramon Gracie (ranked 116 p4p, 19 weight class). Gracie has chosen Jiu Jitsu: Vai Finaliza! as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Savkov
vs
Gracie

175 cm
25
180 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

180 cm
29
180 lbs
21 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ramon Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Savkov missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savkov with a nice cross.
Savkov misses with a looping right.
Savkov looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Savkov throws a poor cross that misses

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.
Gracie prevents Savkov from breaking the clinch.
Savkov is trying to push Gracie away but Gracie has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gracie.
Gracie stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gracie effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Savkov lands a body punch.

Savkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie scores with a spinning back kick!
Savkov just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Savkov sets himself, and Gracie steps forward looking for the clinch! Savkov avoids it this time.
Gracie has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Savkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Savkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pavel Savkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savkov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Savkov throws a big shot that misses.

Gracie pushes Savkov up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Savkov.

Savkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Gracie with the counter takedown but Savkov avoids it easily.
Gracie takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Savkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie tries to counter with a clinch but Savkov shakes him off and moves away.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Gracie with the counter takedown but Savkov avoids it easily.
Savkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
A big left from Savkov misses.
Gracie drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Savkov defends it well.
Savkov stuffs the takedown.
Savkov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Savkov misses with a series of wild punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Savkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Savkov.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Savkov misses with a straight left.
Savkov misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Savkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Savkov tries to clinch up.

Savkov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savkov throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Savkov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Savkov checks a low kick from Gracie.
Savkov with a jab.

Savkov gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Savkov has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Savkov.
Savkov gets back to 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!
Savkov is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Savkov avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savkov actively working from the bottom here.
Savkov is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Savkov avoid being mounted?
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Savkov defends it.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Savkov is defending it quite comfortably.
Savkov trying to control but Gracie postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Savkov dominated that round.
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.

Gracie throws a body kick that misses.
Savkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
A telegraphed right hand from Savkov misses the target.
Gracie slips under a jab from Savkov.
Savkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Savkov tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Savkov scores with the left hand. Gracie knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice uppercut there from Savkov.
Pavel Savkov is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie slips a jab from Savkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Savkov misses with a straight left.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Savkov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Savkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Savkov takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Savkov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Savkov throws a poor cross that misses

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Savkov is trying to control but Gracie passes into side control!
Savkov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Savkov is looking for a sweep.
Savkov is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savkov keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Savkov blocks the move with his legs.
Savkov gets back to half guard.
Gracie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ramon Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savkov is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Savkov is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Savkov keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Savkov is keeping the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Savkov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savkov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Savkov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Savkov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Savkov wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savkov keeps working.
Savkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie is working Savkov over with some ground and pound from side control.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Savkov is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov looks to move to half guard but instead Gracie has passed into mount! Damn!

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Savkov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Savkov!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Savkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Savkov with a nice head shot there.
Savkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Savkov postures up.
Savkov wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ramon Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie throws a hook but Savkov blocks it.
Savkov throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.

Savkov clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie taking a breather.
Gracie lands a body shot in the clinch.
Savkov stalling against the cage.
Gracie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Savkov is trying to break the clinch but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Savkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie lands a right hand.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Savkov just stands there and leans against the cage.

Gracie successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Savkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Savkov looking to pass the guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Savkov defends it easily.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Savkov postures up.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Savkov defends easily.
Gracie trying to control the position.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Savkov defends well.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Savkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Savkov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Savkov defends easily.
Savkov scoring with some ground and pound.
Savkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savkov postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Savkov slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Savkov is one step ahead there.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Savkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Savkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Savkov working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Savkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Ramon Gracie just about did enough to take it.
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.

Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Savkov pushes him away.
Savkov swings widly with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie prevents Savkov from improving his position.
Savkov is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Savkov is defending well.
Savkov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savkov keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Savkov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!
Gracie turns into Savkov and is now in his guard.

Savkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Savkov can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Savkov tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

Savkov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Gracie passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the action but Savkov is working from the bottom.
Savkov is looking to reverse the position.
Savkov can't do much from the bottom here.
Savkov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Savkov to see if he's OK.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Savkov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Savkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie gets full guard.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Savkov trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Savkov looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Savkov is retaining full guard.
Gracie 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savkov is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie postures up.

Savkov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gracie has passed into half guard!
Savkov is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savkov tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gracie has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Gracie trying to control but Savkov is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramon Gracie dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a straight right.

Gracie gets a clinch.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Savkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Savkov.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Savkov.
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Savkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gracie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Savkov backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Savkov wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
Savkov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gracie slowing the pace effectively.
Savkov is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Savkov tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Savkov back against the cage.
Gracie avoids the elbow strike from Savkov, against the cage.
Savkov lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Ramon Gracie has been cut.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie has Savkov pressed against the cage, preventing Savkov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gracie has Savkov pressed against the cage.
Gracie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Savkov's efforts to push away.
Savkov is trying to push Gracie away but Gracie has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Savkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Savkov's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Savkov backwards.
Gracie working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Savkov tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie is looking to control Savkov's arms but Savkov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.
Savkov blocks a body shot from Gracie.
Savkov is trying to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling him.
Savkov can't break the clinch.
Savkov swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie has Savkov pressed against the cage.
Savkov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gracie slowing the pace effectively.
Savkov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gracie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Savkov backwards.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Savkov to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to work over Savkov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Savkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pavel Savkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Savkov darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
Savkov misses with the head strike.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Savkov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pavel Savkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramon Gracie.
Stalling in the clinch from Savkov.
Gracie lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Savkov.
Ramon Gracie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Savkov backwards.
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Savkov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gracie.
Savkov presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Gracie breaks from the clinch.
Gracie shoots and misses
letting Savkov counter with a right hand.
Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.

Savkov rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Gracie - that landed with a thud.
Savkov is trying to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling him.
Savkov is trying to break free.
Savkov has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savkov working hard to break the clinch.
Savkov pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Savkov is trying to break free.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Savkov has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Savkov.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ramon Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 46:49
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 47:49
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ramon Gracie!
Ramon Gracie is the new welterweight champion!
Ramon Gracie bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.