PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anzor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Savickiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexei Savickiy acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Azhiev
vs
Savickiy

177 cm
26
166 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

169 cm
26
167 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anzor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Savickiy!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savickiy doesn't manage to clinch there - Azhiev circles away.
Savickiy moves out of range of the leg kick from Azhiev.
Alexei Savickiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savickiy fails to land with a series of punches.

Azhiev rushes Savickiy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Savickiy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Savickiy, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Savickiy against the cage but Savickiy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Savickiy lands with a shot to the body.
Savickiy lands a jab to the head.

Azhiev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Savickiy manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Azhiev moves out of range of the strikes.
Savickiy moves out of range of the leg kick from Azhiev.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhiev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savickiy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Azhiev sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Savickiy does no damage.
Savickiy catches Azhiev with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Azhiev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savickiy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savickiy cracks Azhiev with a good jab.
Azhiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Savickiy tries to clinch but Azhiev moves out of range.
Savickiy looks to throw the jab but Azhiev is out of range.
Azhiev slips a jab and a cross from Savickiy.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azhiev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sloppy strikes from Savickiy. Those never looked like landing.
Azhiev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savickiy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savickiy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azhiev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Savickiy's waist but Savickiy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Azhiev off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Savickiy is fending him off so far but Azhiev persists. Nope, Savickiy circles away and we're back to standing.
Azhiev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Savickiy misses with a right hand

and Azhiev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Savickiy tries to circle away but Azhiev has him pinned against the cage.
Azhiev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savickiy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Azhiev prevents Savickiy from breaking the clinch.
Savickiy lands with a short shot to the head.
Savickiy working hard to break the clinch.
Savickiy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Azhiev keeps control of Savickiy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Savickiy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Savickiy has a couple of punches blocked by Azhiev.
Savickiy working hard to break the clinch.
Savickiy blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Azhiev jumps guard and drags Savickiy to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Savickiy postures up.
Savickiy being controlled here momentarily.
Savickiy trying to move into half guard but instead Azhiev has managed to sweep!
Savickiy wants to get back to his feet but Azhiev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Azhiev stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savickiy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savickiy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Savickiy misses with the combination.
Savickiy takes a swing at Azhiev's ribcage but misses.
Savickiy lands with a straight right. Azhiev didn't see that one coming.
Savickiy misses with a straight left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhiev tries to move into range but Savickiy moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Savickiy misses with a double jab

and Azhiev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Savickiy looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savickiy is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexei Savickiy will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Savickiy looks to throw the jab but Azhiev is out of range.
Savickiy throws a nice looking combination but Azhiev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Savickiy feints a jab promting Azhiev to slip. Savickiy then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Azhiev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Savickiy darts in and clinches Azhiev up against the cage.

Azhiev jumps into guard, dragging Savickiy to the mat.
Savickiy wants to stand and escape but instead Azhiev has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Azhiev controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Savickiy has momentary wrist control but Azhiev slips an elbow through the middle.
Savickiy keeping moving, preventing Azhiev from controlling successfully.
Azhiev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

We're going to have a standup here because Anzor Azhiev wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Savickiy misses with a combination

and Azhiev counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy tries to break the clinch but Azhiev is controlling the position.
Savickiy is trying to break the clinch but Azhiev has him pressed against the cage.
Azhiev is trying to maintain a safe position but Savickiy gets an underhook and turns Azhiev into the cage.

Azhiev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, jab by Savickiy - just one landing.
Savickiy misses with the combination.
Savickiy misses with a series of wild punches.
A shot to the liver by Savickiy. Beautiful body shot.
Savickiy misses with a double jab.
Savickiy is breathing heavily.
Savickiy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Savickiy throws a jab but it's blocked by Azhiev.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Azhiev.
Anzor Azhiev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azhiev fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Savickiy is fending him off so far but Azhiev persists. Nope, Savickiy circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Savickiy instigates a clinch.
Savickiy takes a knee to the side of the body.
Savickiy is trying to force a seperation but Azhiev has the dominant position.
Azhiev keeps control of Savickiy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Azhiev wants to stall.

Savickiy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Savickiy throws a shot from downtown. Azhiev moves away and avoids it.
Azhiev walks into a left hand.
Savickiy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Azhiev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Azhiev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azhiev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savickiy.
Savickiy misses with the combination.
Savickiy loads up on a big right hand but Azhiev slips the punch.
Savickiy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Savickiy misses with a body shot.
Savickiy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Azhiev.
Alexei Savickiy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savickiy slaps away a takedown attempt from Azhiev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Savickiy. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Savickiy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Azhiev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Savickiy.
Azhiev is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Savickiy.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Savickiy as he jumps to the side.
A punch combination from Savickiy misses.
Savickiy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Savickiy misses the shot to the body.
Azhiev ducks under a wild hook from Savickiy.

Azhiev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savickiy has a hand on Azhiev's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Azhiev takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Azhiev trying to control but Savickiy is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savickiy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev avoids the attempt from Savickiy to control.
Azhiev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Savickiy is looking to escape.
Savickiy is looking to improve his position but Azhiev isn't that keen on the idea.
Alexei Savickiy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Azhiev thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Azhiev wants to control the pace but Savickiy is squirming around nicely.
Azhiev throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Azhiev avoids the attempt from Savickiy to control.
Savickiy is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Azhiev has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev controlling the position well here. Savickiy rolled but Azhiev kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Azhiev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Azhiev lands a shot to the head.
Azhiev slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy wants to get back to his feet.
Azhiev throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Savickiy fending off the submission attempt from Azhiev.
Savickiy looking very determined here, making life difficult for Azhiev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anzor Azhiev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Savickiy 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Savickiy!
Alexei Savickiy decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.