PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mauro Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Srdjan Savic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Srdjan Savic was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Stokes
vs
Savic

159 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
171 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mauro Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Srdjan Savic!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Savic goes for a double leg but Stokes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stokes continues to drive forward.

Savic is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stokes can't fight it off and eventually Savic manages to take the fight to the floor. Stokes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Savic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Savic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stokes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Savic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Savic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stokes wants to stand up but Savic is controlling him.
Savic passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes tries to kick Savic off but Savic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Savic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stokes wants to get back to his feet.

Savic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stokes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Savic.
Stokes really is a fat lump.

Savic seems to be working for a kimura but Stokes defends the submission attempt.

Savic is looking for a kimura but Stokes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Savic to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savic is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Savic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Savic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stokes has managed to free his arm - good work.

Savic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Savic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stokes defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stokes is trying to stand back up but Savic is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Savic works his foot free and advances to mount.

Savic moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Stokes has worked his arm free - good work by Stokes!

Savic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Savic wants to stand but Stokes has his arm trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savic trying to control the action but Stokes is working from the bottom.
Stokes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Savic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stokes, who protects the arm well.

Savic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stokes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stokes wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Srdjan Savic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stokes closes the distance and pushes Savic back into the cage.
Stokes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Savic smiles and moves away.
Stokes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savic closes the distance and clinches up with Stokes, looking for a takedown. Savic pushes Stokes against the cage but Stokes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Savic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Savic instigates a clinch.
Savic tries to score a body lock takedown but Stokes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Stokes decides to pull guard.

Stokes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Savic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've been informed that Savic has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Savic trying to control but Stokes is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stokes haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Savic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stokes is keeping the position for now.

Stokes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Savic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Savic won't allow Stokes to get back to his feet.
Savic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Savic looking to sit in guard and control but Stokes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stokes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Savic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stokes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savic controlling Stokes's posture.
Stokes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Savic has control of Stokes's left arm, preventing Stokes from doing any damage.
Savic wants to stand up but Stokes is controlling him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Savic holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Srdjan Savic wasn't active enough on the ground.

Savic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stokes sprawls well initially but Savic persists and gets the takedown into 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!

Stokes is defending against the submission attempts here by Savic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is looking to escape.

Savic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stokes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stokes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Savic wants to work for an arm triangle but Stokes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Srdjan Savic has got the better of the ground game so far.

Savic is looking for a kimura here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Savic lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stokes is defending against the submission attempts here by Savic.
Stokes wants to get back to his feet.

Savic is working for a kimura but Stokes is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Savic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Srdjan Savic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Savic misses with a takedown attempt
and Stokes counters with a nice kick to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Savic.
Stokes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Savic defends it nicely.

Savic clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Savic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stokes is defending well.
Mauro Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Srdjan Savic.

Stokes drags the fight down to the ground.
Savic trying to control the position from guard on top but Stokes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stokes is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes keeping moving, preventing Savic from controlling successfully.

Srdjan Savic has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Savic has his takedown stuffed
and Stokes counters with a slapping leg kick.
Savic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Savic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stokes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Savic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Stokes. No joy for Savic on that attempt.
Stokes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stokes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savic shoots in looking for a takedown. Stokes tries to sprawl out of it but Savic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stokes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Savic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stokes avoids it really well and circles away.
Stokes tries to close the distance and clinch but Savic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stokes shoots in looking for a takedown but Savic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stokes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Savic throws a right and a left that Stokes avoids nicely.
Stokes tries to clinch up but Savic circles away and keeps his distance.
Stokes tries to clinch but Savic moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savic drives through with a takedown into guard.

Stokes is looking for a triangle but Savic pushes his legs off easily.
Stokes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stokes is trying to control the position but Savic postures up.

Savic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Savic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Savic looking to pass the guard.
Stokes wants to get back to his feet but Savic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Srdjan Savic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Savic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Savic passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stokes being controlled for a moment.
Mauro Stokes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savic wants to stand but Stokes has his arm trapped.

And that's the end of the fight!
Srdjan Savic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Savic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Srdjan Savic!
After winning the bout, Srdjan Savic thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.