PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Blancho (ranked 2136 p4p, 2179 weight class) and Serge Savard (ranked 303 p4p, 309 weight class). Serge Savard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Blancho
vs
Savard

200 cm
25
287
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
225
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid 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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Igor Blancho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Serge Savard!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savard stuffs the takedown attempt from Blancho. Blancho gets slowly back to his feet.
Savard jabs Blancho right on the nose. Blancho blinks but takes it well.
Savard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Blancho goes for a double leg but Savard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Savard continues to drive forward.
Blancho has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Savard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Blancho backwards.
Savard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Savard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Blancho wants the takedown. Savard is fighting it off but Blancho persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Savard's guard against the cage.
Savard wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Savard is looking for a triangle but Blancho pushes his legs off easily.
Blancho tries to free his leg and advance position but Savard is retaining full guard.
Blancho is fighting to break Savard's control of his arms but Savard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Savard looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blancho preventing the sweep.
Blancho trying to control the position from guard on top but Savard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blancho throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blancho trying to control but Savard is working from the bottom.
Blancho seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Savard is trying to keep Blancho in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Savard doesn't manage to clinch there - Blancho circles away.
Blancho gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Blancho feints and as Savard raises his hands in defense, Blancho changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Blancho thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savard wants to sweep but no luck.
Savard keeping moving, preventing Blancho from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blancho is one step ahead there.
Blancho will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Blancho looking to pass the guard.
Savard trying to keep a closed guard but Blancho is proving a slippery customer.
Savard keeping moving, preventing Blancho from controlling successfully.
Blancho is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savard keeping moving, preventing Blancho from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Savard ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Savard lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Blancho at a distance.
We've been informed that Savard has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Blancho drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Blancho lands an elbow.
Blancho landing a few strikes.
Savard takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Savard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Blancho off and has taken his back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blancho is trying to stand back up.
Will Savard go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blancho trying to control the position but Savard manages to sink in the hooks.
Blancho trying to get back to his feet but Savard is in full control for now.
Savard gets his hands free as Blancho looks to control.
Blancho is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
I really don't envy Blancho right now.
Blancho trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Savard wants to control but Blancho is keeping busy.
Blancho tries to break free.
Blancho wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Serge Savard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blancho takes one to the side of the head.
Blancho tries for a takedown but Savard circles away easily
and Savard makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Savard scores with a jab. Blancho acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Savard connects with a single shot there.

Blancho tries to keep at a distance but Savard has taken the fight into the clinch.
Blancho is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Savard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Savard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Savard tries a body shot but Blancho blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Savard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savard presses Blancho against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Savard prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Blancho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savard lands an uppercut.
Savard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Blancho backwards.
Savard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blancho's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blancho content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Savard working aggressively here.

Savard wants the takedown. Blancho is fighting it off but Savard persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Blancho's guard against the cage.
Savard landing with the ground and pound.
Blancho striking off his back but it's not causing Savard any problems.
Blancho is trying to control the position but Savard postures up.

Savard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blancho looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blancho looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blancho!

The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Savard. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Savard on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Savard is trying to get back to half guard.
Blancho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savard keeps working.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Savard can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Savard but he's now mounted!
Savard is desperately trying to improve his position but Blancho has a good base and remains in mount.
Blancho scoring with strikes but Savard is staying in there.

It looks like Serge Savard has been cut.
Savard regains half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savard wants to control but Blancho is keeping busy.
Savard is breathing heavily.
Blancho trying to mount his opponent but Savard defends it.
Savard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Savard actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blancho working over Savard with some ground and pound. Savard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Savard is rocked!
Blancho lands a big elbow - Savard is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Blancho!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Igor Blancho!