PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sergio Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Savchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodriguez
vs
Savchuk

172 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Renegade Fight Gear ALL PRODUCTS UNDER $10

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sergio Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roman Savchuk!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

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

and Savchuk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rodriguez's 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.
Savchuk wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
Savchuk sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rodriguez 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.
Savchuk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Roman Savchuk wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rodriguez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Savchuk's guard.
Savchuk tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savchuk has his hands on Rodriguez's head, controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Savchuk closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Savchuk getting side control.
Savchuk trying to control the pace.
Savchuk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to control but Savchuk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rodriguez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Savchuk in particular looking to stall.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roman Savchuk.
Rodriguez moves to clinch but Savchuk breaks away

and Savchuk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
Savchuk tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Savchuk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to hold on but Savchuk pushes him away.
Rodriguez is looking to get to half guard.
Savchuk controlling the pace for now.
It looks like Savchuk might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Roman Savchuk wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Savchuk avoids them all with ease.
Rodriguez doesn't manage to clinch there - Savchuk circles away.
Rodriguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodriguez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Savchuk counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savchuk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Savchuk dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rodriguez misses with a kick to the body.

Savchuk shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rodriguez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Roman Savchuk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez wants to control but Savchuk postures up.
Rodriguez is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Savchuk remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Savchuk closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez stalling in the clinch but Savchuk improves position.
Savchuk looking for a takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Savchuk as Rodriguez tries to tie him up.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.

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.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch but Savchuk keeps him there for the moment.
Rodriguez can't find room to land a body shot as Savchuk controls the action.
Rodriguez is trying to break the clinch but Savchuk has him pressed against the cage.

Savchuk has hold of one of Rodriguez's legs. Rodriguez is fighting the takedown attempt but Savchuk gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position but Savchuk postures up.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Savchuk controls the pace.
Savchuk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Savchuk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Savchuk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savchuk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Savchuk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Savchuk seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard here.
Savchuk sitting in guard here, content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Sergio Rodriguez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that Savchuk semi-blocks.

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.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Savchuk counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Savchuk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Savchuk 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!

Both fighters circling a little - Rodriguez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that both miss.

Savchuk shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez is trying to defend but Savchuk finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Savchuk is taking a breather. Rodriguez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savchuk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Savchuk keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savchuk not doing much here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Roman Savchuk wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Savchuk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
Savchuk content just to control the position here.
Savchuk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to lock up and control but Savchuk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rodriguez is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Savchuk has taken his back!
Savchuk biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez holding both Savchuk 's hands and preventing any damage.
Rodriguez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roman Savchuk.
Sloppy strikes from Savchuk. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rodriguez gets caught napping as Savchuk dives in and scores a takedown. Rodriguez manages to retain guard.
Savchuk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Savchuk is controlling him.
Sergio Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roman Savchuk.

Savchuk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodriguez to the mat! Rodriguez manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Savchuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Savchuk 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Savchuk!