PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Savkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brano Mc Gregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Savkov
vs
Mc Gregor

175 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
26
180 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Russian Bears Nutrition
Sully's Bar & Grill

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brano Mc Gregor!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mc Gregor clinches up against the cage.
Savkov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Savkov is working for takedown but Mc Gregor is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice body punch from Savkov - that landed with a thud.
Mc Gregor's coach down at Barbell Brigade - $700 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Mc Gregor's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Savkov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mc Gregor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mc Gregor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Savkov looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Savkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mc Gregor looking for a takedown.
Mc Gregor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Mc Gregor.
Savkov has been working on his balance at St Petersburg MMA Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Mc Gregor.
Mc Gregor tries to pull guard but Savkov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Mc Gregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mc Gregor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mc Gregor pulls guard successfully.
Savkov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Mc Gregor wants to sweep here but Savkov controlling him for the moment.
Savkov is working Mc Gregor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov lands a couple of elbows.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mc Gregor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Savkov landing with the ground and pound.
Savkov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mc Gregor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savkov postures up.
Savkov working some strikes from top position.
Savkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Savkov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mc Gregor wants to sweep here but Savkov controlling him for the moment.
Mc Gregor keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
Savkov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Savkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Savkov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Savkov with a nice head shot there.
Savkov lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov won't allow Mc Gregor to sweep him here.
Mc Gregor has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Savkov has passed into side control.
Savkov working the body and head with strikes.
Mc Gregor on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mc Gregor is looking for a sweep.
Savkov working the head with strikes.
Savkov working the head and body with strikes.
Mc Gregor on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Savkov looks up at the clock and then as Mc Gregor takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Savkov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Savkov grinds an elbow into Mc Gregor's temple.
Savkov scoring with punches and elbows.
Mc Gregor tries to bench press Savkov off him but Savkov keeps the position.
Savkov is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Savkov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Mc Gregor wants to control but Savkov postures up.
Mc Gregor is looking to reverse the position.
Savkov cracks Mc Gregor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
A lull in the action here.
Mc Gregor is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.
Savkov trying to control the action but Mc Gregor is working from the bottom.
Savkov grinds an elbow into Mc Gregor's temple.
Savkov is putting a hurting on Mc Gregor here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mc Gregor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Savkov working the head with strikes.
Savkov scores with punches from side control.
Savkov lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mc Gregor is looking for a sweep.
Savkov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Savkov working the head with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savkov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Mc Gregor is rocked!
Savkov cracks Mc Gregor with a big right hand but Mc Gregor just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Mc Gregor is still in real trouble! Can Savkov finish him?
Savkov is looking to take a break and control but Mc Gregor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mc Gregor taking a bit of punishment here - Savkov scoring with strikes.
A big shot lands for Savkov! That's hurt Mc Gregor! Will he recover? Savkov fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pavel Savkov!
Pavel Savkov spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.