PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Calavanti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samson Savea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calavanti's entrance music is Promised Land- Tech N9ne. A fine choice. Xavier Calavanti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Calavanti
vs
Savea

195 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Xavier Calavanti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Samson Savea!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savea shoots in for a takedown but Calavanti shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Savea is looking to clinch.

Calavanti gets caught napping as Savea dives in and scores a takedown. Calavanti manages to retain guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Savea is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Calavanti is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Calavanti has escaped and now he's on top!
Calavanti is looking to advance position but Savea has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Calavanti wants to hold on but Savea pushes him away.
Calavanti is in all sorts of trouble here.

Savea goes for an armbar but Calavanti turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Calavanti.
Calavanti trying to control the position from guard on top but Savea is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calavanti wants to get up but he can't break Savea's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Calavanti trying to control but Savea is working from the bottom.
Savea wants to sweep but no luck.
Savea is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Calavanti could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Xavier Calavanti.
Savea is trying hard to land a takedown here. Calavanti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Savea. No joy for Calavanti on that attempt.
Horrible takedown by Savea or perhaps it was just good defense by Calavanti which made him look bad.
Xavier Calavanti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samson Savea.
Savea looks gassed!
Calavanti tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savea swivels and escapes.
Calavanti takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Savea shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Calavanti looking to control.
Savea really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Calavanti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Calavanti pulls Savea in to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Calavanti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Savea is one step ahead there.
Savea is looking to stand up but Calavanti won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calavanti is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Xavier Calavanti just wasn't active enough.
Calavanti misses with a kick to the body.
Calavanti fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Savea as Calavanti shoots in.
Savea is looking to clinch but Calavanti is avoiding it.

Calavanti darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Calavanti thows a huge punch but Savea dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Calavanti is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Calavanti prevents Savea from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Calavanti stands up out of the half guard.
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 Xavier Calavanti will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Savea will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Savea displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Calavanti.
Savea doesn't manage to clinch there - Calavanti circles away.
Calavanti misses with a takedown attempt - Savea sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Savea keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Calavanti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Calavanti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Savea effectively controlling the action here.
Savea lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Savea's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Calavanti has a takedown stuffed.
Savea tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Savea lands a glancing blow to the side of Calavanti's head.
Calavanti connects with a leg kick. Savea looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Savea is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Calavanti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Savea as he jumps to the side.
Samson Savea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horrible takedown by Calavanti or perhaps it was just good defense by Savea which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savea throws a head kick that misses
and Calavanti counters with a big head kick but Savea shrugs it off.
Savea throws a left and a right that both miss
and Calavanti counters with a left and a right that stings Savea.
Savea is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Savea scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Savea lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Danga de danga de dang - Savea scores with a four punch combination!
Samson Savea seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Savea swats away the attempt to clinch by Calavanti.

Savea closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Savea lands in his opponent's guard.

Savea drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Calavanti dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savea is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Savea is trying to control the position but Calavanti postures up.
Calavanti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Calavanti sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Savea's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Savea can do anything to dispel that myth.
Calavanti is trying to control the action in half guard but Savea is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calavanti works his way into side control.
Calavanti postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Calavanti is trying to get an arm triangle but Savea is defending well.
Savea is not content to let Calavanti control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samson Savea 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. This is the final round!

Calavanti clinches up against the cage.
Calavanti tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Calavanti gets control of Savea's arms and successfully pulls guard. Calavanti will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Calavanti had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Savea defends it easily.
Savea trying to control but Calavanti is working from the bottom.

Savea got a little sloppy there for a moment and Calavanti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Savea has managed to get both his arms back between Calavanti's legs - danger averted.
Savea must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Savea working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Calavanti's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savea scoring with punches to the head and body.

Calavanti looking for a guillotine here but Savea defends easily.

Savea stands and steps away. Calavanti gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Savea scores with a nice strike.
Savea scores with a decent looking hook.

Savea scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Calavanti takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savea landing a few strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savea is trying to get an arm triangle but Calavanti is defending well.
Savea lands some shots froms side control.
Savea cracks Calavanti with a big elbow.

Savea decides to stand back up.
Savea lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Savea leaves Calavanti with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Calavanti.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Calavanti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savea tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Calavanti paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savea shoots in and gets a takedown into Calavanti's guard.
Savea throwing strikes from guard but Calavanti blocks nicely.
Savea is looking to stand up but Calavanti won't let him.
Savea missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savea trying to control but Calavanti is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Savea looking to sit in guard and control but Calavanti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Calavanti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Samson Savea was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Calavanti fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Calavanti takes one on the button.
Savea closes the distance and clinches up with Calavanti, looking for a takedown. Savea pushes Calavanti against the cage but Calavanti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Savea closes the distance looking to clinch

and Calavanti counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stalling in the clinch from Calavanti.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samson Savea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Savea 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samson Savea!