PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sid Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savage comes to the cage accompanied by the scatman. Ivan Ko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sid Savage's chin.

Savage
vs
Ko

188 cm
33
198 lbs
10 - 14 - 0

225 cm
31
200 lbs
23 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sid Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Ko!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Savage.
Savage throws a right and a left that Ko avoids nicely.
Ko slips under a jab from Savage.
Ko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Savage fails to land with a series of punches.
Ko throws out a loose jab but Savage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savage loads up on a big right hand but Ko slips the punch.
Savage takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Savage fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Savage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ko.
Sid Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Savage decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savage thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Savage throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ko is looking to get back to full guard here but Savage has managed to pass to side control instead.
Savage lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ko holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Savage.

Savage goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ko rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Savage's guard! Nice work there by Ko!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ko is one step ahead there.
Savage is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage trying to control from half guard but Ko is working away.
Ko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Savage with the ground and pound but Ko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Savage loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savage throws a big elbow that misses.
Savage working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Savage is looking to work some ground and pound but Ko has wrist control.
Savage might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Savage postures up in Ko's guard and throws a big left but Ko blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage postures up in Ko's guard and throws a big left but Ko blocks it.
Savage working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ko pulls Savage in close to his closed guard and prevents Savage from doing any damage or advancing position.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Ko is keeping the position.
Savage preventing the sweep.
Ko keeping moving, preventing Savage from controlling successfully.
Ko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a big right hand that misses.
Savage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savage.
Savage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Savage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savage in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Savage throws a big right hand that misses.
Savage preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savage with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Savage dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ko jabs at Savage's body.
Savage lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Ivan Ko has been cut.
Ko throws a hook to the side of Savage's head but Savage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Savage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ko connects with a single shot there.
Savage fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Savage will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from Savage misses.

Ko darts in and clinches Savage up against the cage.
Savage blocks a body shot from Ko.
Savage wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Savage's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Savage backwards.
Savage wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short right from Ko.
Ko can't find room to land a body shot as Savage controls the action.
Ko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ko misses with a punch on the inside.
Ko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Ko fails to land.
Come on Ko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage can't break the clinch.
Ko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Ko.
Ko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ko tries a body shot but Savage blocks it.
Ko misses with a punch to the body.
Savage's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Savage prevents a body shot from Ko.
Savage blocks a body shot from Ko.

Savage manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a series of punches but Ko avoids them all with ease.
Ivan Ko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savage throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ko throws a jab but it's blocked by Savage.
Ko throws a jab but it's blocked by Savage.
Savage walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Savage misses with the combination.
Savage closes the distance and clinches up with Ko, looking for a takedown. Savage pushes Ko against the cage but Ko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Savage.
Sid Savage is winning the standup battle so far.
Ko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Savage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ko.
The crowd cheers as Ko lands an impressive looking overhand right. Savage doesn't seem phased though.
Savage moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A combination from Savage does no damage.
Savage avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ko slips a jab from Savage.
Ko is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ko clinches.
Savage blocks a body shot from Ko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A frustrated look appears on Savage's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Savage blocks a body shot from Ko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A hook to the body from Ko.
Savage wants to break free but Ko has control.

Savage has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ko is trying to keep an underhook but Savage manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ivan Ko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ivan Ko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ko wants to clinch
enabling Savage to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Savage. Ko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ko lands a head shot.
Savage tries for a takedown but Ko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Savage will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Savage misses with a lunging right hand
and Ko counters with a straight right hand.
Ko is looking to clinch but Savage is avoiding it.

Ko has managed to clinch.

Savage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sid Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Ko as Savage shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage throws a shot from downtown. Ko moves away and avoids it.
Savage walks into a left hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Ko moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage tries to break the clinch but Ko is controlling the position.
Ko tries to work over Savage's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Savage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savage looks to land a right hand but Ko moved out of range.
Savage is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Savage throws a combination that misses
and Ko counters with a left to the body.
Savage swings widly with a right hand
and Ko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Savage slips a jab from Ko.
A punch combination from Ko misses.
Ko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savage.
Ko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Savage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Savage tries to bum rush Ko with a series of wild strikes but Ko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Savage is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ko's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Savage doesn't seem bothered though.

Savage shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ko is trying to defend but Savage finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savage seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Savage thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Savage.
Savage takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Savage trying to control from Ko's half guard. Ko has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko is trying to control the position but Savage postures up.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Ko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savage with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Savage has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Savage drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ko!

Ko has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a push kick but Ko slaps the foot to one side.
Savage misses with a takedown attempt
and Ko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Savage shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Savage looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Savage shoots in but Ko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Savage misses with a left hand
letting Ko counter with a right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Savage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ko with a hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ko catches Savage with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Savage is rocked!

Ko clinches.
Oh Savage is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ko pushes Savage back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ko lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ko cracks Savage with a nice body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Ko.
I think Ko 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ivan Ko!
Ivan Ko really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.