PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cletus Mastadon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rowan Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mastadon comes to the cage accompanied by Raise Hell- (hed) pe. Savage has chosen "Twist of Cain" by Danzig as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mastadon
vs
Savage

194 cm
27
260 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

195 cm
22
218 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cletus Mastadon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rowan Savage!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Savage. No joy for Mastadon on that attempt.
Mastadon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Savage as he jumps to the side.

Mastadon drives through and clinches with Savage against the cage.
Mastadon is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cletus Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage can't get the takedown.
Savage scores with a shot to the side of Mastadon's head.
Mastadon fails to pull guard.
Mastadon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Savage is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mastadon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Savage gets control of Mastadon's arms and successfully pulls guard. Savage will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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.
Mastadon throwing strikes from guard but Savage blocks nicely.
Mastadon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Savage working for a triangle but Mastadon defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mastadon stops Savage from standing up.
Savage keeping full guard, as Mastadon tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage wants to sweep but no luck.
Mastadon wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.
Mastadon is fighting to break Savage's control of his arms but Savage is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Savage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mastadon is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Savage displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mastadon.

Mastadon dives in and scores a takedown into Savage's guard.

Savage is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mastadon defends well.
Mastadon trying to control the position from guard on top but Savage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon is looking to advance position but Savage has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Savage with the ground and pound from mount.
Mastadon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Savage with good strikes from the mount here!
Mastadon manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Mastadon, under a barage of strikes from Savage.
Savage stalling away here and it's allowed Mastadon to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Mastadon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savage won't allow Mastadon to sweep him here.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Mastadon is keeping the position.
Mastadon keeping moving, preventing Savage from controlling successfully.
Mastadon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Savage trying to control but Mastadon is working from the bottom.

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

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rowan Savage wasn't active enough on the ground.
Savage tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mastadon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mastadon preventing the sweep.
Savage keeping full guard, as Mastadon tries to pass.
Mastadon works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Mastadon is looking for a kimura here.
Savage tries to kick Mastadon off but Mastadon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Savage actively working from the bottom here.
Savage is trying to stand up here but Mastadon is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cletus Mastadon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Savage stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Savage wants it to stay on the feet.
Mastadon slaps away a takedown attempt from Savage, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Mastadon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Savage has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mastadon lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Savage.

Mastadon decides to pull guard.
Mastadon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mastadon has an active guard here but Savage has managed to pass into half guard.
Mastadon is trying to get back to full guard.
Savage is breathing heavily.
Mastadon is trying to maintain the position but Savage is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mastadon tries to roll over but Savage keeps him under control.
Mastadon desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mastadon is looking to improve his position.

Cletus Mastadon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Savage is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mastadon.

Mastadon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mastadon is working for takedown but Savage is calmly controlling the position for now.
Savage gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mastadon.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cletus Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mastadon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rowan Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage tries to clinch but Mastadon is having none of it.
A solid body kick from Savage.
Good work by Savage as he checks the leg kick.
Mastadon closes the distance and clinches up with Savage, looking for a takedown. Mastadon pushes Savage against the cage but Savage circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Savage.
Mastadon stuffs the takedown attempt from Savage. Savage gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mastadon.
Cletus Mastadon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savage shoots in looking for a takedown. Mastadon tries to sprawl out of it but Savage keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mastadon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mastadon misses with a takedown attempt

so Savage counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savage postures up and lands a big shot to Mastadon's brow.
Savage looking to pass the guard.
Savage throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mastadon keeping full guard, as Savage tries to pass.
Savage makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mastadon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Mastadon manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Savage looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mastadon shoots in and bounces Savage off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mastadon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon tries to free his leg and advance position but Savage is retaining full guard.
Savage manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Savage looking to land elbow strikes but Mastadon uses the position to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savage with the ground and pound but Mastadon uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Savage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mastadon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rowan Savage will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Savage gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Savage pushes Mastadon off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mastadon shoots in looking for a takedown. Savage tries to sprawl out of it but Mastadon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savage manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mastadon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Savage is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mastadon pulls his head out easily.
Mastadon trying to mount his opponent but Savage defends it.
Savage has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mastadon is nestled in close to Savage, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Savage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mastadon is keen to just control but Savage is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mastadon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Savage knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Savage trying to hold on to Mastadon's head to control him but Mastadon postures up.
Mastadon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mastadon is looking to take a break and control but Savage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Savage has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mastadon is working away from the top position though.

Cletus Mastadon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Savage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mastadon moves out of range of the body kick from Savage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mastadon misses with a low kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mastadon.
Mastadon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Savage as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cletus Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Savage rushes Mastadon and presses him up against the cage.
Savage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mastadon smiles and moves away.
Mastadon fails to land the takedown.
Mastadon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Savage looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mastadon!
Mastadon really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Savage misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon gets back to half guard.

Mastadon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Savage.
Savage thows a huge punch but Mastadon dodges it nicely.
Mastadon is refusing to be controlled, as Savage sits in half guard.
Savage stalling.
Mastadon avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Savage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage prevents Mastadon from improving his position.
Savage missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Savage keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rowan Savage hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mastadon leaves Savage with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Savage misses with a takedown attempt

and Mastadon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mastadon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mastadon wants a takedown but no success here.
Mastadon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Savage's elbow.
Savage pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mastadon tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mastadon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Savage gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Savage has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mastadon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rowan Savage.
I think Savage has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!