PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Savo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Islamanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Savo
vs
Islamanov

187 cm
22
192 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

181 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Isaac Savo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruslan Islamanov!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Savo tries to clinch up but Islamanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Savo moves to clinch but Islamanov breaks away

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

Islamanov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Islamanov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Islamanov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Savo, who protects the arm well.

Islamanov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savo is looking for a sweep.
Savo is working hard here to advance position.
Islamanov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savo is looking for a sweep.
Islamanov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Islamanov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Savo can't do much from the bottom here.
Islamanov lands a nice forearm strike.
Islamanov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Islamanov lands a nice forearm strike.

Islamanov is trying to get an arm triangle but Savo is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Islamanov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Savo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Savo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Islamanov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Islamanov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Savo has escaped the position, nice work there.

Islamanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
An elbow from Islamanov crashes against the mat.

Islamanov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Savo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Islamanov but great work by Savo.
Savo trying to control the position but Islamanov is working away.
Islamanov is trying to improve his position.
Savo advances to mount.
Islamanov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Islamanov is squirming around, avoiding Savo's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islamanov has given up his back here. Will Savo look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Islamanov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Savo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Islamanov tries to reverse the position but Savo maintains control.
Savo controlling from the full mount.
Islamanov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Islamanov gets back to half guard.
Islamanov is staying active underneath Savo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Savo in particular looking to stall.
Islamanov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Islamanov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Islamanov looking for submissions off his back.
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!

Islamanov looking for submissions off his back.
Islamanov looks winded!

Islamanov looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Savo not doing much here.

Islamanov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Islamanov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Savo tries to clinch but Islamanov moves out of range.
Islamanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Savo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Islamanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savo is looking to take a break and control but Islamanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Islamanov seems a little lost for a moment, as Savo dominates the positioning.
Islamanov is trying to get back to half guard.

Savo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Islamanov has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Islamanov sneaks back into half guard.

Islamanov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Islamanov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Islamanov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Savo passes into side control!
Islamanov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Savo's best efforts.
Islamanov is breathing heavily.
Savo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savo controlling from mount.
Islamanov tries to reverse the position but Savo maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islamanov keeps trying to improve his position.
Savo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Islamanov is desperately trying to improve his position but Savo has a good base and remains in mount.
Islamanov regains half guard.

Islamanov actively working from the bottom here.
Savo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Islamanov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Savo controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Islamanov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Islamanov looking for submissions off his back.
Savo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Savo trying to control from half guard but Islamanov is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savo wants to pass the guard but Islamanov is defending well.
Savo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Savo dominated that second round.
That's time! Savo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Islamanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Savo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Savo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Islamanov keeps working.

Islamanov looking for subs from the bottom but Savo mounts him!
Savo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Islamanov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Islamanov regains half guard.

Islamanov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Savo trying to control the action but Islamanov is working from the bottom.

Islamanov looking for submissions off his back.
Islamanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Savo is working for a kimura but Islamanov is defending it quite comfortably.
Ruslan Islamanov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Islamanov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Savo passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Islamanov is trying to improve his position.
Savo is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Islamanov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Savo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Islamanov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Islamanov tries to buck Savo off but Savo is having none of it.
Islamanov is not content to let Savo control the position.
Islamanov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Savo off and has taken his back!
Savo is covering up but some of the strikes from Islamanov are getting through and doing damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savo tries to break free.
Islamanov is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Savo. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Savo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Islamanov.
Islamanov punches the canvas rather than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Islamanov connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Savo to escape the position.
Islamanov is punishing Savo with strikes - can he finish him?!
Islamanov lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savo is trying to break free.
Islamanov has Savo flattened out and is raining down punches.

Islamanov looking for the choke from the back.
Savo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Savo regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savo looking for a sweep. Not yet Savo, not yet.
Islamanov cracks Savo with a solid left hand.
Savo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Islamanov is in close to Savo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Savo is trying to control the position but Islamanov postures up.
Islamanov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Savo has momentary wrist control but Islamanov slips an elbow through the middle.
Savo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Islamanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Savo's head.
Savo wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Islamanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Savo's head.
Savo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Savo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Islamanov.
Islamanov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Islamanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Islamanov 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Islamanov!
A very excited looking Ruslan Islamanov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.