PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Warror (ranked 129 p4p, 25 weight class) and Pavel Savkov (ranked 99 p4p, 19 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Warror
vs
Savkov

185 cm
30
180 lbs
20 - 7 - 1

175 cm
28
180 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Warror!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Warror ducks right into an uppercut from Savkov.
Warror misses with a hook to the body
and Savkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Savkov clinches up with Warror and pushes him back against the cage.
Warror misses with a body punch.
Savkov working aggressively here.
Warror is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Warror can't find room to land a body shot as Savkov controls the action.
Savkov told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Savkov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Warror prevents it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Savkov.

Savkov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Savkov manages to end up in side control.
Warror parries the strikes from Savkov easily there. Savkov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Warror to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Savkov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Warror knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savkov working the head with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savkov is looking to take a break and control but Warror is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov in side control, throwing shots but Warror defends.
Savkov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Savkov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Warror some visible discomfort.
Savkov cracks Warror with a big elbow.
Savkov tries to advance to mount but Warror denies him.
Savkov cracks Warror with a big elbow.
Warror gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Savkov throwing strikes here but Warror is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warror takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Savkov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Warror is bucking up trying to escape but Savkov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Savkov throwing strikes here but Warror is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Savkov throws some wild stikes that Warror manages to avoid easily.
Savkov misses with a head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savkov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Savkov working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Warror slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Warror pushes Savkov off looking to stand but Savkov dives back in and keeps control.
Savkov thows a huge punch but Warror dodges it nicely.
Savkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Savkov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Savkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Warror does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Savkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Warror's head.
Warror is trying to stand back up but Savkov is controlling him

Savkov is trying to work for a kimura but Warror is defending well.
Savkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Warror's head.
Savkov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Warror!
Savkov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Warror because Savkov loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Savkov throws some wild stikes that Warror manages to avoid easily.
Savkov unloading with bombs!
Warror wants to control but Savkov is having none of it.
Savkov lands a big elbow.
Warror blocking the ground and pound.
Warror avoids a series of strikes thrown by Savkov.
Savkov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Warror hang on?
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!
Warror is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Savkov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Warror moves away from the strike by Savkov.
Warror keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Savkov.
Savkov misses with an uppercut. Warror saw that one coming.
Savkov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Warror clobbers Savkov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Savkov throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Savkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Warror tries to avoid it but Savkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Warror to the ground. Warror escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Savkov tries for a takedown but Warror sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Warror pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Savkov looks to throw the jab but Warror is out of range.
Warror jabs Savkov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Decent striking displayed by Warror there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warror moves out of range of the strikes.
Warror defending well as Savkov loads up on a big left hand.
Warror uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Savkov.
Warror misses with a double jab
and Savkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Warror backs up against the cage.
Savkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Warror swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Warror scores with a push kick.

Savkov moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Warror.
Savkov tries a body shot but Warror blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Warror.
Warror gets underhooks to prevent Savkov's takedown attempt.
Paul Warror has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Savkov.
Warror throws a head punch that misses.
Savkov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Warror lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Warror pushes Savkov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Savkov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
I was talking to Warror's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Savkov is looking for a takedown.
Savkov misses with an elbow strike.
Savkov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Warror is defending well.
Savkov looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A hook to the body from Warror.
Warror tries a body shot but Savkov blocks it.
Warror lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Warror.
Warror gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Savkov.
Savkov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Warror gets through Savkov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Warror tries a body shot but Savkov blocks it.
Warror lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Savkov wants the takedown. Warror is fighting it off but Savkov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Warror's guard against the cage.
Savkov is in close to Warror's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Savkov throwing strikes but missing.
Savkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Warror's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throwing strikes but missing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Warror holds on and takes a little breather.
Savkov postures up.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Warror blocks nicely.
Savkov trying to control but Warror is working from the bottom.
Warror pulls Savkov in close to his closed guard and prevents Savkov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Savkov landing with the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Warror is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Warror has momentary wrist control but Savkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Savkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Warror controlling the position.
Savkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Warror is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Savkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Warror dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Warror swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Savkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Warror misses with a wild body shot.
Warror looks to throw the jab but Savkov is out of range.
Warror scores with a leg kick.
Savkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Savkov misses the target.
Warror keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A clash of legs there as Savkov blocks the low kick.
Warror defending well as Savkov loads up on a big left hand.
Warror misses with a straight left.
Warror throws a good cross that connects.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Warror gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Savkov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Warror is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savkov blocks a body shot from Warror.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Warror struggles to land a body shot inside as Savkov controls his hands.
Warror misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Warror.
Savkov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Warror is defending well.
Savkov looking for a takedown.
Paul Warror has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Savkov.
Warror working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Warror.
Warror is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Warror lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Savkov backwards.
Savkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Savkov tries to score a body lock takedown but Warror shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Savkov gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Warror regains guard.
Warror wants to get back to his feet but Savkov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Warror blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savkov postures up in Warror's guard and throws a big left but Warror blocks it.
Warror keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
Savkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Savkov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Savkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Savkov wants to control from the top but Warror keeps moving.
Savkov working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Warror can't keep his opponent in guard - Savkov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Savkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Warror keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Savkov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Savkov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Savkov trying to mount his opponent but Warror defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Savkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Savkov misses with a head shot. Warror uses the momentum to regain guard.
Savkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Savkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Savkov trying to control but Warror is working from the bottom.
Savkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Warror has wrist control.
Savkov wants to pass the guard but Warror is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Warror.
I think Warror has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paul Warror!
A victorious Paul Warror thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.