PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kin Ittenap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Savchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savchuk has chosen NY as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ittenap
vs
Savchuk

186 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

179 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kin Ittenap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Savchuk!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Savchuk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Savchuk with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ittenap wants to improve his position but Savchuk is controlling well.
Savchuk slows the pace down in half guard.
Savchuk tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ittenap knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Savchuk slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ivan Savchuk.
A head kick from Ittenap lands but Savchuk takes it in his stride.
Ittenap gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Savchuk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savchuk sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Savchuk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savchuk perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ittenap makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ittenap.
Savchuk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ittenap swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Savchuk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Savchuk content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Savchuk might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Savchuk wasn't active enough on the ground.
Savchuk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ittenap as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk shoots for a takedown but Ittenap saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Savchuk swats away the attempt to clinch by Ittenap.
Savchuk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ittenap defends it nicely.
Kin Ittenap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Savchuk.
Ittenap tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savchuk swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savchuk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ittenap catches Savchuk with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ittenap tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savchuk swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savchuk shoots in for a takedown but Ittenap shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Ittenap shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Savchuk is trying to defend but Ittenap finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Savchuk wants to control but Ittenap is keeping busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ittenap connects with a nice short shot to Savchuk's temple.
Ittenap is looking to take a break and control but Savchuk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Savchuk is defending against the submission attempts here by Ittenap.
Savchuk keeping hold of Ittenap's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Savchuk is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ittenap scores with a couple of nice shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ittenap seems to be looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ittenap throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Savchuk to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Savchuk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Savchuk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ittenap sprawls well initially but Savchuk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savchuk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ittenap trying to control but Savchuk postures up.
Savchuk controlling the pace.

Ittenap looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Savchuk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Savchuk is trying to control the action in half guard but Ittenap is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ivan Savchuk has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Savchuk is defended easily by Ittenap.
Ittenap doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Savchuk counters with a shoot takedown. Ittenap fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savchuk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ittenap is keeping the position for now.
Ittenap is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Savchuk is controlling him.
Savchuk sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Savchuk won't allow Ittenap to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ivan Savchuk.

Ittenap takes the fight into the clinch.
Savchuk stops a takedown attempt from Ittenap.
Ittenap wants to take the fight to the mat but Savchuk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kin Ittenap. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ittenap misses with the head strike.
Savchuk has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ittenap avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Savchuk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ittenap slowing the pace effectively.
Savchuk is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ittenap prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ittenap tries to break free but Savchuk pushes him back against the cage.
Ittenap prevents Savchuk from breaking the clinch.
Ittenap is working for takedown but Savchuk is calmly controlling the position for now.
Savchuk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ittenap gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk looking for a takedown.
Ittenap misses with the head strike.

Ittenap gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Ittenap in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Savchuk tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Ittenap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kin Ittenap!