PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rowan Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reino Vaananen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savage comes to the cage accompanied by "Twist of Cain" by Danzig. Rowan Savage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Savage
vs
Vaananen

195 cm
20
218 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

182 cm
20
199 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Battalion Athletics
Battalion Athletics

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 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rowan Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reino Vaananen!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaananen ducks under a wild hook from Savage.

Vaananen clinches.
Savage lands a hook to the side of the head.
Savage tries a knee to the head but Vaananen blocks it.

Vaananen breaks the clinch.
Savage scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Vaananen rushes Savage and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Savage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vaananen smiles and moves away.
Savage takes a shot to the body in his stride.
No luck for Savage with that takedown attempt.
Savage lands with a thumping leg kick.
A big right from Savage misses.
Savage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vaananen.
Savage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Savage slips a jab and a cross from Vaananen.
Vaananen throws a body kick that misses.
Vaananen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vaananen throws a series of punches but Savage moves out of range.

Savage has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaananen controlling the action here for a moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vaananen.

Vaananen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savage lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Vaananen instigates a clinch.
The referee calls for Vaananen to work.
Vaananen is pressed up against the cage. Savage has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vaananen down to the mat. Vaananen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaananen throws a one two combo.
Savage wants to clinch but Vaananen slips to the side
letting Vaananen counter with a right hand.
Savage fails to land the takedown.
Savage shoots in for a takedown but Vaananen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Savage takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Savage tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vaananen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Savage somewhat.
Vaananen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vaananen closes the distance and pushes Savage back into the cage.
Savage wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vaananen prevents Savage from breaking the clinch.
Savage is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Savage stalling in the clinch but Vaananen improves position.
Vaananen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Savage's efforts to push away.
Vaananen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Savage breaks the clinch.
Savage tries to bum rush Vaananen with a series of wild strikes but Vaananen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vaananen cracks Savage with a right hand to the side of the head.
Vaananen misses with a kick to the body.
A slow jab from Vaananen misses its intended target.
Vaananen throws a head kick that misses.
Savage staying out of range there.
Savage misses with a wild body shot.
Vaananen looks to land a combination but Savage avoids it well.
Nice uppercut lands for Savage. That snapped Vaananen's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Savage takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Vaananen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Savage throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vaananen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Savage is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Savage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Savage swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vaananen counters with a stiff right hand.
Savage with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vaananen to score with a decent uppercut.

Vaananen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Savage wants to get back to striking at distance but Vaananen won't allow it.
Savage fails to pull guard.
Savage is trying to break the clinch but Vaananen is controlling him.
Savage wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Savage wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vaananen has him pressed against the cage.
Savage tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vaananen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vaananen blocks a body shot from Savage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
Savage can't break the clinch.
Savage keeps control of Vaananen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savage prevents Vaananen from breaking the clinch.
Savage is looking to break free of the clinch but Vaananen has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a head punch that misses.
Savage is looking to control Vaananen's arms but Vaananen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Savage has his back to the cage.
Savage lands a body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vaananen as Savage tries to tie him up.

Savage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Savage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vaananen thuds a left hand into Savage's body.
Vaananen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Savage throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Vaananen swats away the attempt to clinch by Savage.
Savage falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vaananen counters with a stiff right hand.
Savage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vaananen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savage looks to land a combination but Vaananen avoids it well.
Reino Vaananen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savage displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vaananen throws out the jab.

Savage has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Reino Vaananen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vaananen tries a head kick but it misses.
Vaananen tries to clinch but Savage is having none of it.
Vaananen lands a head shot.
Savage looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vaananen is fending him off so far but Savage persists. Nope, Vaananen circles away and we're back to standing.
Savage has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Vaananen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Savage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Savage looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Savage misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vaananen.
Savage with a poor takedown
and Vaananen counters with a straight right hand.
Vaananen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Savage's head backwards.
Vaananen checks a low kick from Savage.

Vaananen closes the distance and clinches.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vaananen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Savage.
Vaananen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Savage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Savage has had enough of the clinch but Vaananen keeps him there for the moment.
Vaananen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Savage is trying to break the clinch but Vaananen has him pressed against the cage.
Savage tries to throw a body punch but Vaananen avoids it by throwing Savage back against the cage.
Savage tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vaananen just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Savage's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Savage can't break the clinch.
Savage can't break the clinch.
Savage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vaananen smiles and moves away.
Vaananen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Savage shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vaananen sprawls well. Vaananen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Savage gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vaananen lands a head kick. Savage smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rowan Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savage misses with a hook. Vaananen ducked under it nicely.
Vaananen missing with a left hand there. Savage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savage throws an overhand right that lands on Vaananen's shoulder, as Vaananen tries to avoid the shot.
Savage shoots in and drives through. Vaananen sprawls well.
Vaananen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Savage circles away.
Savage takes a kick to the side of the head.
Savage throws a shot to the body.
Savage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen lands a really nice looking cross but Savage seems unphased.
Savage on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Vaananen lands with a cross.
Vaananen misses with a head kick.
Savage takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vaananen misses with a head kick.
Savage stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Vaananen.
Vaananen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vaananen jabs Savage right on the nose. Savage blinks but takes it well.
Savage tries to clinch up
and Vaananen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vaananen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vaananen lands with a good body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vaananen cracks Savage with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Savage throws a combination that misses
and Vaananen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vaananen throws out a powerful jab.
Savage takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Savage shoots for a takedown but Vaananen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Savage misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vaananen moves into the clinch.
Vaananen prevents Savage from breaking the clinch.
Savage has had enough of the clinch but Vaananen keeps him there for the moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Vaananen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Savage motions for Vaananen to come forward. Savage throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vaananen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vaananen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Savage tries to clinch but Vaananen moves away

and Vaananen counters by clinching up.
Savage taking a breather.
Savage looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vaananen ducks under a wild hook from Savage.
Savage avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from Savage misses
and Vaananen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Savage takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Savage.
Vaananen connects with a right hand. Savage shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Vaananen with a hook.
Vaananen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Vaananen throws a head kick that misses.
Vaananen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Savage takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Savage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vaananen.
Vaananen misses with a combination
and Savage counters with a left and a right that stings Vaananen.
Vaananen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Savage.

Vaananen has closed the distance and engaged Savage in a clinch.
Vaananen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Savage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savage fails to pull guard.
Vaananen is trying to break the clinch but Savage is controlling him.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savage lands a jab-cross combination.
Savage swings away with a body shot that misses
and Vaananen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vaananen scores with a nice right hand.
Vaananen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Vaananen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Vaananen closes the distance and clinches.
Savage tries for a takedown but Vaananen manages to get underhooks.

Savage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Savage works over Vaananen's head and body with a nice combination.
A big right from Savage misses.

Vaananen has Savage up against the cage in a clinch.
Savage goes for a takedown attempt but Vaananen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vaananen works the jab nicely.
Savage throws a head kick that misses.
Reino Vaananen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Savage fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaananen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Savage on the side of the head.
Savage throws a leg kick
and Vaananen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Savage shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vaananen pinned against the cage. Vaananen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A punch combination from Vaananen misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Vaananen.
Savage looks to land a left hand but Vaananen moved out of range nicely.
Savage throws a push kick but Vaananen slaps the foot to one side.
Vaananen thuds his right hand into Savage's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Savage takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Savage will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Savage looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vaananen thumps Savage with a low kick.
A nice combination there by Vaananen.
A head kick misses from Vaananen.
Savage throws a low kick, looking for Vaananen's leg but Vaananen calmly moves out of range.
A jab from Vaananen finds it's way through Savage's defenses.
Vaananen moves into range and connects with a jab.

Vaananen clinches.

Vaananen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vaananen lands with a cross.
Savage needs to keep his hands up - Vaananen had a free shot at his head there.
Savage looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage scores with a shot to the body.
Vaananen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Savage.
Vaananen lands a nice shot to the body.
Savage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Savage. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Vaananen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vaananen throws a combination. Savage tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Vaananen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Savage gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Savage can't break the clinch.
Savage has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Vaananen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vaananen lands a nice hook to Savage's body. Savage takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vaananen lunges at Savage with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Savage's hand.
Vaananen tests Savage's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Vaananen takes the fight into the clinch.
Savage has had enough of the clinch but Vaananen keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vaananen as Savage tries to tie him up.
Vaananen blocking some punches.
Vaananen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Savage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Savage is trying to break free.
Savage is looking to control Vaananen's arms but Vaananen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Savage has his back to the cage.
Vaananen tries to land knees in the clinch but Savage avoids the damage to the body.
Vaananen is trying to break the clinch but Savage has him pressed against the cage.
Savage is trying to break free.

Vaananen manages to break the clinch.

Vaananen moves into the clinch.

Vaananen breaks from the clinch.
Savage blocks a head kick by Vaananen.
Savage wants to clinch but Vaananen slips to the side
and Vaananen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Vaananen pushes Savage up against the cage in a clinch.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vaananen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Savage up against the cage.
Savage wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rowan Savage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Savage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vaananen throws a sloppy head kick and Savage moves out of range easily.
Savage shoots in but no luck this time.
Savage misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vaananen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Vaananen has closed the distance and engaged Savage in a clinch.

Vaananen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vaananen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Savage has time to react.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vaananen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Savage throws a combination that misses
and Vaananen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vaananen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Reino Vaananen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Savage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vaananen moves away.
Vaananen misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reino Vaananen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vaananen 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reino Vaananen!