PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Macho Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Alves
vs
Savage

200 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

194 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Macho Savage!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alves lands the left hand.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick and Savage moves out of range easily.
Alves looks to land a combination but Savage avoids it well.
Thiago Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Savage closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Alves is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Savage asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Savage scores with a couple of short elbows.
Alves struggling a bit here.
Savage scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Alves to see if he's OK.
Alves is trying to get back to his feet.
Savage controls the position.

Savage wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alves, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alves throws a jab when Savage was well out of range.
Alves throws a hook but Savage blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves scores with the left hand. Savage knows he should have avoided that one.
Alves throws out a powerful jab.
Savage misses the jab.
Savage showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alves.
Savage ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alves avoids the body shot from Savage.
Alves lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice body punch from Alves.
Savage looks gassed!
Alves throws a head kick that Savage semi-blocks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Savage counters with a takedown into side control.
Alves avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Savage.
Alves can't do much from the bottom here.
Alves is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Savage stalls from top position.
Savage working the ground and pound from side control.
Savage cracks Alves with a big right hand but Alves just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Savage lands a few punches from side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jab by Alves.
Alves throws a head kick but Savage moves out of range.

Savage shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alves napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Alves takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Alves is trying to control Savage's posture but Savage avoids it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alves is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Savage lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage lands a nice forearm strike.
A lull in the action here.
Savage is looking to take a break and control but Alves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Check out the look on Savage's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Savage swings for the body but Alves moves out of range.
Savage throws a jab but it's blocked by Alves.

Savage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Savage thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savage is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Alves is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Savage is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Savage is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alves wants to stand up but Savage is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Savage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Savage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Alves.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch combination from Savage misses.
Savage fails to land with a series of punches.
Savage throws a hook to the side of Alves's head but Alves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Savage decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Macho Savage will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Savage tries to clinch there but Alves circles away.
Alves lands a nice shot that snaps Savage's head back.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Savage tries to clinch up.
Alves misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves throws a nice looking combination but Savage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alves slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Alves cracks Savage with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Savage misses with a looping right.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Savage takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Savage darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Savage is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alves is just riding it out for now. Savage eventually gives up the hold.
Alves tries to kick Savage off but Savage keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Savage.
Savage lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Savage is controlling the pace.
Savage prevents Alves from standing back up.
Savage looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Alves with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Savage closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage is putting a hurting on Alves here, landing some big shots from side control.
Alves pushes Savage away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Savage gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Savage passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Alves!
Alves really wants to buck Savage off and get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Savage.
Alves really wants to buck Savage off and get back to his feet.
Savage controlling from the full mount.
Savage looking to finish Alves with some ground and pound. This is bad for Alves!
Savage scoring with strikes but Alves is staying in there.
Savage dominating with strikes here.
Savage unloading with bombs!
Savage breaks from Alves's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Savage lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Macho Savage has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Savage breaks from Alves's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Savage avoids the attempt from Alves to control.
Savage landing shots from mount.
Savage putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Savage unloading with bombs!
Savage lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Alves hang on?
Savage fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Alves tries to hold on but Savage postures up.
Alves is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Savage fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Savage with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Savage scoring with strikes but Alves is staying in there.
Savage landing strikes, looking to finish!
A nice elbow there by Savage.
Alves squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Savage cracks Alves with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Savage cracks Alves with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Alves is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Savage takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Savage raining down shots from the mount!
Alves wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savage tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alves is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Macho Savage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Alves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alves swings for the body but Savage moves out of range.
Alves misses the jab.
Savage walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Alves is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Savage defending well as Alves loads up on a big left hand.
Savage misses with an uppercut. Alves saw that one coming.
Alves ducks under a wild hook from Savage.

Savage looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Alves wants to get back to his feet.
Savage working Alves over with strikes.
Savage slips a nice elbow through Alves's hands, connecting with Alves's forehead.
Alves is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Savage scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Savage is nestled in close to Alves, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Alves pushes Savage off looking to stand but Savage dives back in and keeps control.
Savage is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Savage throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Alves was covering up waiting for the punch and Savage finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Savage with a nice head shot there.
Alves has momentary wrist control but Savage slips an elbow through the middle.
Savage lands a couple of digs.
Alves wants to stand and escape but Savage is having none of it.
Savage postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Alves wants to stand but Savage is controlling the position.
Savage scoring with some ground and pound.
Savage won't allow Alves to get back to his feet.
Savage must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alves cracks Savage with an open hand slap.
Alves throws a shot from downtown. Savage moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Savage can't get the takedown.
Savage drops down looking for an ankle pick but Alves pulls his leg out and moves away.
Alves works Savage's body with a nice hook.
Alves ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Savage bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Savage cracks Alves with a big elbow.
Savage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Savage lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Savage in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Savage scoring with punches from side control.
Savage scoring with punches from side control.
Alves takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Alves.
Savage avoids the head kick by Alves.
A slow jab from Savage misses its intended target.
Thiago Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savage misses with a hook. Alves ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Savage misses.
Savage swings for the body but Alves moves out of range.
Alves throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alves steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Savage.
Macho Savage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Savage closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Savage cracks Alves with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Alves wants to get back to his feet but Savage is dominant here and he's now got Alves's back!
Alves is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage scores with punches from the back.
Savage softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Savage trying to control momentarily.
Savage is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Savage looking for the RNC.
Savage scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Alves is trying to stand back up.
Savage is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Alves up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Macho Savage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Savage winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Macho Savage!