PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Savkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ira Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wright has chosen Carolina In My Mind as his entrance music. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Ira Wright has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Savkov
vs
Wright

175 cm
20
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

MayheM sportswear

Warrior
MayheM sportswear

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 5 - 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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ira Wright!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Savkov throws a shot from downtown. Wright moves away and avoids it.
Savkov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Savkov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Savkov trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Savkov works over Wright with some ground and pound from guard.
Savkov 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.
Savkov looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright trying to keep a closed guard but Savkov is proving a slippery customer.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Savkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Savkov pushing down on Wright's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Savkov winds up and cracks Wright with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Savkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wright taking some punishment here, with Savkov in his half guard.
Savkov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Wright to regain full guard.
Savkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Wright avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Savkov throwing strikes but missing.
Savkov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Savkov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Savkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Savkov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wright works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savkov lands a couple of elbows.
Savkov throws an elbow that misses. Wright uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Savkov's guard. Nice move by Wright!

Savkov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wright manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savkov slips nicely into half guard.
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.
Savkov working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Savkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Wright is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wright is controlling Savkov's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Savkov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wright sees it coming and defends easily.
Savkov lands with a punch from half guard.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Savkov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Savkov is working for a kimura but Wright is defending it quite comfortably.
Wright tries to roll over but Savkov keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savkov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Savkov 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.

Wright tries to sprawl but Savkov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Savkov wants to control but Wright is keeping him busy.
Savkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wright with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Savkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wright can do to turn this around?

Savkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wright is just riding it out for now. Savkov eventually gives up the hold.
Savkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Wright is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Savkov wants to take a breather but Wright is having none of it.
Wright is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Savkov scores with a couple of nice shots.

Savkov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wright sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Savkov is keen to just control but Wright is a slippery customer.
Wright is controlling Savkov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Wright is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Savkov prevents Wright from improving his position.
Savkov slips a nice elbow through Wright's hands, connecting with Wright's forehead.
Savkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wright's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Savkov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Savkov throwing shots but Wright is blocking nicely.
Wright won't allow Savkov to pass to mount.
Savkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Wright is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Savkov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Savkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wright with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Savkov trying to control from half guard but Wright is working away.

Savkov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Savkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Savkov controlling the action here.
Wright on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Savkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Savkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throwing shots but Wright is blocking nicely.
Savkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Savkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Savkov working Wright over with strikes.
Savkov trying to control the action but Wright is working from the bottom.
Savkov looks to land a strike but Wright avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Savkov controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Savkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Savkov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Wright gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wright misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wright works on Savkov's body with a couple of short punches.
Wright misses with a body punch.
Savkov wants to take the fight to the mat but Wright manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Wright lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Savkov throws a punch but it's blocked by Wright.
Savkov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Wright pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wright throws a body shot but no joy.
Savkov throws a looping overhand right but Wright ducks down to avoid it.
Wright keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Savkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Wright connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice defenses there by Wright.
Savkov missing with a left hand there. Wright was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Savkov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Wright to the ground. Savkov is now in Wright's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov postures up.
Savkov trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Savkov preventing the sweep.
Savkov wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.
Savkov cracks Wright with a solid left hand.
Savkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savkov working some strikes from top position.
Savkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wright preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Savkov drops back looking for a leg! Wright is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wright manages to kick Savkov off! Savkov jumps back into Wright's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Savkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wright working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savkov.
Wright keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Savkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Savkov shoots for a takedown but Wright saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wright tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Savkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Wright.
Savkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wright.
Wright loads up on a big right hand but Savkov slips the punch.
Savkov misses with a straight left.
Wright is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Savkov with a body shot.
Ira Wright is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savkov tests Wright's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice shot by Wright.
Savkov avoids the body shot from Wright.
Savkov tries to counter with a takedown but Wright is quick to defend against it.
Wright cracks Savkov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Savkov is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Wright's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Wright rushes Savkov and presses him up against the cage.
Savkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Savkov goes for a takedown attempt but Wright pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Savkov throws a hook but Wright blocks it.
Wright misses with a body punch

and Savkov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wright wants to stand back up but Savkov manages to pass into side control.
Ira Wright has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pavel Savkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wright tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Savkov is putting a hurting on Wright here, landing some big shots from side control.
Savkov has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Savkov wants to finish this one by submission but Wright is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Savkov.
Savkov wants to control the pace but Wright is squirming around nicely.

Savkov is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Wright has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Wright!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ira Wright.
I think Savkov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Savkov!
Pavel Savkov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.