PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jd Almanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brody Savanis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almanez's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, My Cool by Adam Tensta. Jd Almanez has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Almanez
vs
Savanis

190 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
26
185 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jd Almanez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brody Savanis!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savanis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almanez.
Almanez shoots in but Savanis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Savanis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Almanez tries to clinch but Savanis moves away
and Savanis counters with a left to the body.

Almanez rushes Savanis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Almanez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Savanis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Savanis has had enough of the clinch but Almanez keeps him there for the moment.
Almanez has had enough of the clinch but Savanis keeps him there for the moment.
Savanis prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jd Almanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savanis wants to break free but Almanez has control.

Almanez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez moves in looking to clinch but Savanis pushes him off.
Savanis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Savanis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Almanez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Savanis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Almanez tries to clinch but Savanis moves away
and Savanis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Almanez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Savanis has time to react.
Savanis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Almanez works Savanis's body with a nice hook.
A punch combination from Savanis misses.
Jd Almanez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almanez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Savanis pivots, looking for a leg kick but Almanez is out of range and Savanis settles back down.
Almanez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Almanez is looking to clinch.
Almanez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Donk. Savanis catches Almanez right on the button with a cross.
Almanez misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savanis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Almanez moves in looking to clinch but Savanis pushes him off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Savanis.
Almanez tries to clinch up but Savanis circles away and keeps his distance.
Savanis moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Almanez is looking to clinch.
Almanez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A punch combination from Savanis misses.
Almanez misses with a few strikes there.
Almanez tries to clinch

and Savanis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Almanez's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Savanis postures up in Almanez's guard and throws a big left but Almanez blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savanis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almanez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savanis postures up.
Almanez wants to stand but Savanis is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez wants to sweep but no luck.
Almanez is looking to stand up but Savanis isn't so interested in that idea.
Savanis trying to control but Almanez is working from the bottom.
Savanis looking to sit in guard and control but Almanez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Almanez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Savanis is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Savanis has escaped and now he's on top!
Almanez wants to sweep here but Savanis controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savanis gets to his feet. Almanez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Almanez loads up on a big right hand but Savanis slips the punch.
Savanis misses with a double jab.
Savanis is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Almanez rather than just go for the knockout.
Sloppy strikes from Savanis. Those never looked like landing.
Savanis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Almanez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Savanis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Almanez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Almanez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Savanis counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Almanez!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Savanis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Savanis dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Savanis cracks a nice hook into Almanez's ribs.
A slow jab from Almanez misses its intended target.
Savanis throws a right and a left that Almanez avoids nicely.
Savanis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Almanez tries to clinch but Savanis is having none of it.
Almanez slips a jab and a cross from Savanis.
Almanez scores with a nice strike.
Savanis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice straight punches there by Savanis. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Savanis.
Almanez throws the left hand but Savanis avoids the punch easily.

Almanez closes the distance and clinches.
Almanez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Almanez wants to get back to striking at distance but Savanis won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez throws a head punch that misses.
Almanez keeps control of Savanis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Almanez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Savanis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Almanez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Savanis backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Almanez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Almanez breaks from the clinch.
Almanez shoots in for a takedown but Savanis shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jd Almanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Almanez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Savanis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Almanez closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savanis blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Almanez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A big right from Savanis misses.
Almanez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Savanis moves away.
Savanis swats away the attempt to clinch by Almanez.
Brody Savanis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Almanez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Almanez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savanis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savanis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Almanez but Almanez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Almanez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savanis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Almanez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savanis connects with a high kick.

Savanis drives through with a takedown into Almanez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savanis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Savanis trying to control but Almanez is working from the bottom.

Savanis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Savanis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Almanez scores with a four punch combination!
Almanez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Savanis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Almanez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almanez is looking to clinch.
Nice body punch from Savanis.
Almanez misses with a hook. Savanis ducked under it nicely.
Almanez throws a lazy right hand but Savanis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savanis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Savanis. Those never looked like landing.
No luck for Almanez with that takedown attempt.

Almanez moves into range and clinches up with Savanis.
Almanez looking to stall.
Almanez has Savanis pressed against the cage, preventing Savanis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Almanez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almanez trying to control the position but instead, Savanis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Almanez into the cage.
Almanez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jd Almanez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Savanis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Almanez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Savanis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Savanis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Almanez walks into a jab.

Almanez closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Savanis.
Almanez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Almanez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Almanez leaning against his opponent.
Savanis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Almanez lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savanis wants to break free but Almanez has control.
Almanez throws a punch but it's blocked by Savanis.
Savanis is pressed up against the cage. Almanez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Savanis down to the mat. Savanis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Savanis throws a right and a left that Almanez avoids nicely.
Savanis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almanez moves away.
Almanez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Almanez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Almanez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Savanis.
Almanez misses with a combination

and Savanis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Almanez's guard.
Almanez trying to keep a closed guard but Savanis is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Almanez managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savanis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Brody Savanis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Savanis won't allow Almanez to sweep him here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Savanis postures up in Almanez's guard and throws a big left but Almanez blocks it.
Almanez keeping full guard, as Savanis tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Savanis tries to bum rush Almanez with a series of wild strikes but Almanez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Almanez looks to land a right hand but Savanis moved out of range.
Savanis connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Almanez closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savanis is trying to push Almanez away but Almanez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Still in the clinch, Almanez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Almanez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Almanez manages to break the clinch.
Almanez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Savanis.
Almanez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Almanez struggling a bit here.
Almanez is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almanez is trying to control Savanis's posture but Savanis avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Savanis stands up.
Almanez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Savanis doesn't seem bothered though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savanis throws a nice looking combination but Almanez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Savanis does it's job there.
Almanez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savanis scores with a sloppy right hand. Almanez should have avoided that one.
Savanis misses with a double jab.

Almanez forces Savanis back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Savanis really dominated that 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.

Savanis looking to score a takedown here. Almanez is defending well but Savanis drives through and ends up in Almanez's guard.
Savanis stopping the sweep attempt from Almanez.
Savanis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Almanez's guard.
Savanis tries to free his leg and advance position but Almanez is retaining full guard.

Savanis stands up from Almanez's guard - Savanis perhaps looking for a knockout.
Almanez misses with a right hand

and Savanis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savanis tries to free his leg and advance position but Almanez is retaining full guard.

Almanez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Almanez scores with a decent looking hook.
A big left from Almanez misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savanis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Savanis walks into a jab.
Almanez shoots in for a takedown but Savanis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Almanez thows a body shot but no joy.
Almanez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Almanez throws out a loose jab but Savanis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almanez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Savanis circles away quickly and effectively.
Savanis bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Savanis catches Almanez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Savanis connects with the punch.
Savanis jabs Almanez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almanez. Savanis does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almanez is looking to clinch.
Savanis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jd Almanez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almanez takes a swing at Savanis's ribcage but misses.
Savanis swings for the body but Almanez moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Savanis checks a leg kick.
Savanis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Savanis!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almanez slips a jab and a cross from Savanis.
Savanis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Almanez.
Savanis misses with a two punch combination.
A combination from Almanez does no damage.
Almanez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Almanez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Savanis misses with a body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Savanis blocking some punches.
Almanez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Savanis prevents Almanez from breaking the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Almanez fails to land.

Savanis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Almanez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savanis swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almanez misses with a hook to the body
and Savanis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Savanis lands a slapping body shot.
Savanis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Almanez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Savanis was well out of range. Poor timing from Almanez.
Almanez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Savanis throws out the jab.
Savanis scores with a one two! Almanez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Almanez scores with a jab. Savanis acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almanez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Savanis slips under a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savanis throws a head kick that misses.
Almanez moves out of range of the body kick.
Almanez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Savanis momentarily.
Savanis throws a series of punches but Almanez avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Savanis dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Almanez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Savanis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Almanez shoots in and drives through. Savanis sprawls well.
Almanez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Savanis shoots in but Almanez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Savanis swats away the attempt to clinch by Almanez.
Good leg kick by Savanis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Almanez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Almanez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick misses from Savanis.

Savanis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Almanez trying to control from the bottom.

Savanis stands up out of the half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez tries to clinch up.
Almanez cracks Savanis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Savanis throws a hook but Almanez blocks it.
Almanez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Almanez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Almanez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Savanis in his tracks.
Savanis throws a sloppy head kick and Almanez moves out of range easily.
Savanis fails to land with a series of punches.

Almanez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Almanez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Almanez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Almanez manages to break the clinch.
Savanis works over Almanez's head and body with a nice combination.
Almanez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Savanis. Those never looked like landing.
Almanez connects with a body shot.
Almanez throws a leg kick
and Savanis counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Almanez.
Nice uppercut lands for Almanez. That snapped Savanis's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almanez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Almanez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Almanez. Those never looked like landing.
Savanis misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez missing with a left hand there. Savanis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savanis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Savanis staying out of range there.
Almanez misses with a hook. Savanis ducked under it nicely.
Savanis lands with a right hand.
Savanis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Almanez throws out a loose jab but Savanis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almanez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Savanis counters with a shoot takedown. Almanez fights it but they end up in guard.
Almanez wants to sweep but no luck.
Almanez has a closed guard, preventing Savanis from standing up.

Savanis gets to his feet - Almanez follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almanez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savanis shoots in looking for a takedown. Almanez tries to sprawl out of it but Savanis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Almanez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Savanis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Almanez connects with a body shot.
Almanez looks to land a combination but Savanis avoids it well.
Almanez misses with the combination.
Almanez misses with a series of wild punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savanis dodges the punch combination from Almanez.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brody Savanis.
I think Savanis 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 45:50
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 47:48
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brody Savanis! Brody Savanis retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath Brody Savanis thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.