PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sidney Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexis Savvidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rhodes
vs
Savvidis

175 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

167 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sidney Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexis Savvidis !
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Savvidis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rhodes did well to prevent Savvidis getting side control.
Savvidis wants to get back to his feet.
Rhodes controlling the position for now.
Savvidis is keen to just control but Rhodes is a slippery customer.
Rhodes is looking for a sweep. Savvidis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Savvidis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rhodes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rhodes is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexis Savvidis .
Savvidis keeps the fight on the outside.
Rhodes swats away the attempt to clinch by Savvidis .
Savvidis is looking to chop away at Rhodes's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savvidis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rhodes misses with a combination
and Savvidis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Savvidis closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rhodes counters by moving into the clinch.
Savvidis wants to break free but Rhodes has control.

Savvidis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rhodes closes the distance and clinches up with Savvidis , looking for a takedown. Rhodes pushes Savvidis against the cage but Savvidis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Savvidis rushes Rhodes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savvidis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhodes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rhodes enables Savvidis to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rhodes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rhodes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Savvidis is one step ahead there.
Savvidis trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savvidis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Savvidis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Savvidis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savvidis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes 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.
Rhodes pulls Savvidis in close to prevent any damage.
Rhodes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Savvidis on the ground.
Rhodes trying to control the position.
Savvidis wanted to stand there but Rhodes had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rhodes tries for a takedown but Savvidis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rhodes swats away the attempt to clinch by Savvidis .
Savvidis looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Alexis Savvidis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Rhodes. Those never looked like landing.
Savvidis dives in for a single leg takedown but Rhodes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rhodes stalling in the clinch.
Rhodes wants to get back to striking at distance but Savvidis won't allow it.

Savvidis has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rhodes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rhodes tries to break free.
Savvidis controls the position.
Rhodes trying to control the position but Savvidis manages to sink in the hooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rhodes is in bad spot here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexis Savvidis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Savvidis is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rhodes's half guard.
Savvidis controlling the action here.
Savvidis is keen to just control but Rhodes is a slippery customer.
Rhodes controlling the position well.
Savvidis controlling the pace.
Alexis Savvidis has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexis Savvidis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nice sprawl there from Rhodes as Savvidis shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Rhodes. No joy for Savvidis on that attempt.

Savvidis gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Savvidis ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Savvidis no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rhodes trying to control but Savvidis is working from the bottom.
Savvidis 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.
Savvidis is breathing heavily.
Rhodes chips away with some ground and pound.

Rhodes stands up and waves to Savvidis to follow him.
Rhodes leaves Savvidis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sidney Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexis Savvidis .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Savvidis sprawls well. Savvidis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rhodes gets slowly back to his feet.
Savvidis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rhodes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A frustrated look appears on Rhodes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rhodes has Savvidis pressed against the cage.

Rhodes breaks from the clinch.

Rhodes shoots in and gets a takedown into Savvidis 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savvidis wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rhodes is now in half guard.
Savvidis trying to control here.
Savvidis wants to improve his position but Rhodes is controlling well.

Rhodes stands up and beckons Savvidis to join him on the feet.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown but Savvidis shows good takedown defense.
Savvidis misses with a right hand
and Rhodes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Savvidis .
Savvidis with a poor takedown
and Rhodes counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from Rhodes misses.
Savvidis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rhodes throws a series of strikes that have Savvidis backpedaling.
Savvidis closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rhodes moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rhodes is looking to take this one to the mat.
Come on Savvidis - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sidney Rhodes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Savvidis tries to clinch there but Rhodes circles away.

Rhodes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Savvidis prevents Rhodes from breaking the clinch.
Rhodes controlling the action here for a moment.
Rhodes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Savvidis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rhodes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Savvidis closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Savvidis lands in his opponent's guard.
Rhodes is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes wants to get back to his feet but Savvidis passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rhodes trying to hold on to Savvidis 's head to control him but Savvidis postures up.
Savvidis is keen to just control but Rhodes is a slippery customer.
Rhodes is trying to control but can't.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Savvidis is keen to just control but Rhodes is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sidney Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Savvidis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rhodes defends well and Savvidis ends up having to push Rhodes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Savvidis has clasped his hands together around Rhodes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rhodes struggling a bit here.
Rhodes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Savvidis off and has taken his back!
Savvidis is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rhodes trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
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!
Savvidis breaks Rhodes's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savvidis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rhodes is proving hard to escape from.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rhodes holds on and takes a little breather.
Rhodes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sidney Rhodes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Savvidis closes the distance but Rhodes moves to the side
and Savvidis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A combination from Savvidis does no damage.
Savvidis misses with a right hand

and Rhodes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Savvidis won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Savvidis but he's now mounted!
Rhodes trying to control but Savvidis is having none of it.
Savvidis working to try and regain half guard.
Rhodes controlling the position easily from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rhodes lands a couple of good shots and Savvidis has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sidney Rhodes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rhodes 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sidney Rhodes!