PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dagestan Opasevich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Opasevich might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Мурад Гусев. Dagestan Opasevich could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joel Savage's chin.

Opasevich
vs
Savage

183 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

181 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dagestan Opasevich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joel Savage!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opasevich with a poor takedown

and Savage counters with a nice double leg into half 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.
Opasevich tries to kick Savage off but Savage keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Opasevich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Savage wants to control but Opasevich is keeping him busy.
Opasevich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Savage.
Opasevich trying to control here.
Savage thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Opasevich to regain full guard.
Savage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Opasevich keeping full guard, as Savage tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Savage has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Savage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Savage trying to control but Opasevich is working from the bottom.
Savage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Opasevich is keeping the position.
Savage throws a big right hand that misses.
Opasevich tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Opasevich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Savage on the ground.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Opasevich is keeping the position.
Opasevich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Savage trying to control but Opasevich is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joel Savage was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Savage misses with a combination

and Opasevich counters with a single leg into guard. Savage didn't expect that.
Savage bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Opasevich's guard.
Savage is looking to work some ground and pound but Opasevich has wrist control.
Opasevich keeping moving, preventing Savage from controlling successfully.
Savage might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Opasevich kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage is pushing down on Opasevich's leg trying to pass to half guard. Opasevich is fighting to maintain full guard but Savage has managed to sneak the leg through.
Savage thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Opasevich to regain full guard.
Savage with a flurry of punches that miss.
Savage advances position into side control!
Savage tries to score with some ground and pound. Opasevich controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Savage dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Savage shoots and misses

and Opasevich counters with a shoot takedown. Savage fights it but they end up in guard.
Savage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Opasevich stopping the sweep attempt from Savage.
Opasevich scoring with punches to the head and body.
Opasevich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Opasevich throwing strikes but missing.
Savage lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Opasevich!
Opasevich tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opasevich is squirming around, avoiding Savage's attempts to control the action.
Savage throwing strikes but Opasevich recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Savage working Opasevich over with strikes.
Savage not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Savage seems content to control.
Opasevich is trying to get back to full guard.
Opasevich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Savage.
Savage missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Opasevich on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Opasevich tries to get out of the position.
Opasevich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Savage.
Savage thows a huge punch but Opasevich dodges it nicely.
Savage missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in half guard, Savage seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Joel Savage has got the better of the ground game so far.
Opasevich tries to roll over but Savage keeps him under control.
Savage 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.
Savage working Opasevich over with strikes.
Savage not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Savage thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Opasevich is refusing to be controlled, as Savage sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Savage landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Opasevich tries to roll over but Savage keeps him under control.
Savage lands strikes from half guard.
Savage winds up and cracks Opasevich with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Opasevich tries to get to full guard but Savage has control of the leg.
Savage looks to land a strike but Opasevich avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Savage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Opasevich misses with a takedown attempt

and Savage counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Opasevich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Opasevich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savage throwing strikes from guard but Opasevich blocks nicely.
Opasevich keeping moving, preventing Savage from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Opasevich keeping moving, preventing Savage from controlling successfully.
Savage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opasevich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Savage wants to control from the top but Opasevich keeps moving.

Joel Savage has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Opasevich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Joel Savage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Opasevich stopping the sweep attempt from Savage.
Savage has his hands on Opasevich's head, controlling the position.
Opasevich throws and elbow that misses. Savage uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Opasevich's guard. Nice move by Savage!
Savage thows a big elbow that misses.
Dagestan Opasevich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opasevich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Savage wants to control from the top but Opasevich keeps moving.
Savage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joel Savage hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Savage misses with a hook.

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

Opasevich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Savage to the mat! Savage manages to get full guard.
Opasevich throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savage has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Opasevich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Opasevich throws a big right hand that misses.
Opasevich postures up.
Opasevich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joel Savage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Savage 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

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