PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Dennis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sylvain Sauvage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dennis comes to the cage accompanied by Bark at the moon. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dennis
vs
Sauvage

185 cm
29
178 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

177 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Dennis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sylvain Sauvage!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sauvage tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dennis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sauvage tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dennis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sauvage takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dennis lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sauvage is looking to clinch but Dennis is avoiding it.
Sauvage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dennis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sauvage leaves Dennis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sauvage wants to clinch.
Sauvage is looking to clinch.
Dennis keeps the fight on the outside.
Dennis smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dennis checks a low kick from Sauvage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sauvage tries to land a leg kick but Dennis saw it coming and moves away.
Dennis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sauvage.
Dennis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sauvage tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dennis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dennis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sauvage in his tracks.
Sauvage lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Dennis blocks the body kick.
Sauvage thuds his shin into the meat of Dennis's side.
Dennis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Dennis swings for the body but Sauvage moves out of range.
Dennis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorge Dennis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sauvage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dennis throws a body punch but Sauvage moves out of range.
Dennis fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dennis misses with a wild combination.
Dennis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sauvage is looking to land body kicks.
Sauvage tries to land a body kick
and Dennis counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
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!
Dennis keeps the fight on the outside.
Sauvage throws a leg kick but Dennis sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sylvain Sauvage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sauvage jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Sauvage closes the distance and pushes Dennis back into the cage.
Sauvage tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dennis avoids it.
Sauvage throws an elbow that misses.
Sauvage digs a right hand underneath Dennis's ribcage. Dennis let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sauvage takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Sauvage's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Dennis dodges an elbow strike from Sauvage.
Dennis is trying to pull guard but Sauvage turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Dennis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sauvage just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dennis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Sauvage.
Sauvage lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sauvage is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dennis blocks an elbow strike.
Sauvage prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sauvage scores a nice knee to the body.
Sauvage tries to land a knee to the head but Dennis blocks with his arms.

Dennis jumps into guard, dragging Sauvage to the mat.
Dennis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sauvage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dennis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dennis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sauvage!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sauvage wants to hold on but Dennis pushes him away.
Dennis unloading with bombs!
Dennis tries to control but Sauvage wriggling away.

Dennis is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sauvage is surviving well by controlling Dennis's body position as best he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sauvage is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sylvain Sauvage will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A lazy left from Sauvage finds it's target.

Sauvage closes the distance and clinches.
Dennis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sauvage fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dennis swats away the attempt to clinch by Sauvage.
Sauvage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dennis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sylvain Sauvage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sauvage tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dennis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sylvain Sauvage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dennis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dennis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sauvage but Sauvage pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sauvage throws a low kick, looking for Dennis's leg but Dennis calmly moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sauvage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Sauvage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jorge Dennis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sauvage tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dennis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dennis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sauvage.
Sauvage throws a front kick that sends Dennis stumbling back into the cage.
Dennis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sauvage.
Dennis misses with a looping right.
Dennis checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sauvage throws a head kick but Dennis moves out of range.
Sauvage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sauvage throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Dennis counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sauvage!
Sauvage is looking to regain half guard here but Dennis keeps moving and retains side control.

Dennis tries for a kimura but Sauvage is defending well.
Dennis cracks Sauvage with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sauvage tries to improve position but can't.
Sauvage can't do much from the bottom here.
Sauvage is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Dennis is staying active.
Dennis scoring with punches and elbows.
Dennis working the head and body with strikes.
Dennis trying to control the position but Sauvage is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis working the body and head with strikes.
Sauvage is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dennis connects with a decent elbow.
Sauvage tries to improve position but can't.
Dennis trying to control the action but Sauvage is working from the bottom.
Dennis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sauvage is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sauvage prevents Dennis from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sauvage tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dennis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dennis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sauvage keeps working.
Sauvage is trying to get back to half guard.
Sauvage struggling a bit here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dennis is looking to take a break and control but Sauvage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sauvage is trying to control Dennis's posture but Dennis avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Dennis dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dennis swats away the attempt to clinch by Sauvage.

Sauvage clinches.
Sauvage landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sauvage.

Sauvage has Dennis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sauvage pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dennis tumbling to the mat - Sauvage dives into Dennis's guard.
Sauvage throwing strikes but missing.
Sauvage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sauvage working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dennis tries to strike from the bottom.

Dennis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sauvage works over Dennis with some ground and pound from guard.
Sauvage trying to control the position from guard on top but Dennis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sauvage tries to free his leg and advance position but Dennis is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dennis is on top in guard.

Dennis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sauvage is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dennis, into his guard.
Sauvage working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dennis's head.
Sauvage must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sauvage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dennis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sauvage has managed to get both his arms back between Dennis's legs - danger averted.
Dennis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dennis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sauvage is looking to escape.
Sauvage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dennis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sauvage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jorge Dennis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dennis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sauvage wants to control but Dennis is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Sauvage tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Dennis jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sauvage manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Dennis takes a little break here. Sauvage wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Dennis'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis working the head with strikes.

Dennis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dennis tries to score with some ground and pound. Sauvage controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Dennis lands a few punches from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dennis wants to control but Sauvage is keeping him busy.
Sauvage manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

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 Jorge Dennis.
I think Dennis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jorge Dennis!
Jorge Dennis bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.