PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Lashley (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.

Savage
vs
Lashley

200 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Savage!
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, Bobby Lashley!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lashley shoots in looking for a takedown. Savage tries to sprawl out of it but Lashley 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.
Nice sprawl there from Lashley as Savage shoots in.
Bobby Lashley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lashley.
Lashley misses with a jab to the body

and Savage counters by moving into the clinch.
Savage's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lashley throws an elbow but it misses.

Savage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lashley throws a head kick that misses.

Lashley shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lashley showed some decent athleticism there.

Lashley stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage has his takedown stuffed
and Lashley counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Savage drives through and clinches with Lashley against the cage.
Savage is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Savage managing to block the knees to the body from Lashley.
Savage is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Savage has Lashley pressed against the cage.

Lashley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lashley slaps away a takedown attempt from Savage, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lashley dives in and grabs Savage's left leg, looking for a takedown. Savage pushes down on Lashley's head and hops out.
Savage thumps Lashley with a low kick.
Lashley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lashley fails with a takedown attempt.

Lashley scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lashley looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lashley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savage keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savage manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Lashley lands with a nice combination. Savage backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Blake Savage has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Savage or perhaps it was just good defense by Lashley which made him look bad.
Savage shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lashley pinned against the cage. Lashley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Savage gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lashley counters by clinching up.
Lashley can't break the clinch.
Savage trying to stall but Lashley improves his position.
Lashley is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Savage gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lashley prevents a takedown attempt there.

Savage turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Savage manages to end up in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savage trying to control the position but Lashley is working away.
Savage working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Savage is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lashley has escaped the position, nice work there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lashley can do anything to dispel that myth.
Savage prevents Lashley from escaping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Savage thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Savage is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lashley knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobby Lashley will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Blake Savage's cut.
That's time! Savage's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lashley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Savage sprawls well. Savage wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lashley gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lashley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lashley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lashley clinches up with Savage and pushes him back against the cage.
Savage has Lashley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lashley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Savage drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lashley pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Savage has managed to clinch.
Lashley wants a takedown but no success here.
Lashley has Savage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Savage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lashley will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Savage up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Savage on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lashley has picked Savage up - he's going for a ride! Lashley dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Lashley is breathing heavily.

Savage kicks off Lashley and gets to his feet.
Savage avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savage tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lashley swivels and escapes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lashley swinging wildly here.
A slow jab from Lashley misses its intended target.

Savage has managed to clinch.
Lashley can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage working Lashley over with knees to the body.
Savage is trying to drag Lashley to the mat but Lashley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lashley jumps guard but Savage stands there with Lashley around his waist. Lashley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Savage stalling.
Lashley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Savage's elbow.
Lashley displaying some good clinch control by pressing Savage up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lashley tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lashley swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Savage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lashley fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Lashley. No joy for Savage on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lashley but Lashley pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lashley stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bobby Lashley will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Blake Savage's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Savage tries to clinch but Lashley is having none of it.
Lashley tries to bum rush Savage with a series of wild strikes but Savage uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Savage avoids the head kick by Lashley.
Savage is looking to clinch but Lashley is avoiding it.
Lashley stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lashley wants it to stay on the feet.
Lashley shoots in looking for a takedown but Savage manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lashley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bobby Lashley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Savage shoots for a takedown but Lashley saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lashley slaps away a takedown attempt from Savage, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lashley.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage stuffs the takedown attempt from Lashley. Lashley gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lashley sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Savage somewhat.
Lashley throws a series of punches but Savage avoids them all with ease.
Savage throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lashley's waist but Lashley gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Savage off to one side.
Savage wants to clinch.

Lashley darts in and clinches Savage up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lashley gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Savage regains guard.
Lashley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Savage bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lashley's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Lashley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savage postures up and lands a big shot to Lashley's brow.
Savage tries to stand but Lashley is controlling from the bottom.
Savage trying to control but Lashley is working from the bottom.
Savage prevents Lashley from getting back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lashley looking for a sweep. Not yet Lashley, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley trying to strike off his back.
Savage stands and throws Lashley's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Savage working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Savage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lashley keeps working.
Savage landing a few strikes.

Savage tries for a kimura but Lashley is defending well.
Lashley gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Blake Savage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savage prevents Lashley from standing back up.
Savage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lashley keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lashley is looking to escape.
Bobby Lashley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Savage is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lashley has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Blake Savage.
I think Lashley 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Lashley!