PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Stifler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savage comes to the cage accompanied by Bon Jovi - It's my life. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Savage
vs
Stifler

184 cm
39
185 lbs
33 - 30 - 0

185 cm
37
187 lbs
25 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 33 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jackson Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Stifler !
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savage throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Savage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stifler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Savage.
Stifler missing with a left hand there. Savage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savage darts in looking for a takedown but Stifler gets double underhooks and turns Savage into the cage.
Stifler throws a head punch that misses.
Savage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Savage tries to pull guard but Stifler holds him up against the cage and eventually Savage drops back down to his feet.

Stifler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stifler looks to land a combination but Savage avoids it well.
Savage dodges the punch combination from Stifler .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stifler swinging wildly here.
Stifler throws a nice looking combination but Savage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Steve Stifler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Stifler does it's job there.
Stifler lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage tries for a takedown but Stifler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage takes one to the side of the head.
Stifler scores with a crisp jab that stopped Savage in his tracks.

Savage is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stifler 's half guard.

Savage is trying to work for a kimura but Stifler is defending well.
Stifler is refusing to be controlled, as Savage sits in half guard.

Savage is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Savage is thwarting Stifler 's attempts to control the position.

Savage looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stifler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Savage wants to work for an arm triangle but Stifler is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Savage is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stifler tries to roll over but Savage keeps him under control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savage is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stifler doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Savage.

Stifler looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stifler wants to control but Savage is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Savage is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stifler is trying to maintain the position but Savage is very close to passing his half guard.
Stifler is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Savage is working for a submission of some sort.

Stifler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stifler is looking to improve his position.

Savage is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stifler is just riding it out for now. Savage eventually gives up the hold.
Stifler tries to roll over but Savage keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stifler 's corner calls for a 1-2. Stifler obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stifler cracks a nice hook into Savage's ribs.
Decent striking displayed by Stifler there.
Stifler lands a really nice looking cross but Savage seems unphased.
Stifler throws a nice looking combination but Savage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stifler moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jackson Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Savage is defended easily by Stifler .
Stifler throws a hook but Savage blocks it.
Stifler throws a body shot but no joy.
Stifler looks to throw the jab but Savage is out of range.
Savage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No luck for Savage with that takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right-left combo lands from Stifler .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Savage shoots in for a takedown but Stifler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stifler scores with a nice right hand.
Savage tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stifler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Savage walks into a jab.
Savage shoots in for a takedown but Stifler shows good takedown defense.
Stifler lands a head shot.
Savage moves in looking to clinch but Stifler pushes him off.
Stifler scores with a jab.
Stifler throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Steve Stifler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from Stifler misses its intended target.
Stifler throws a series of punches but Savage avoids them all with ease.
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!
Stifler stuffs the takedown attempt from Savage. Savage gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage fails with a takedown attempt.

Savage moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Stifler .
Savage wants to take the fight to the mat but Stifler manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stifler stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Stifler lands a nice uppercut.
Stifler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Savage goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stifler prevents it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Savage.
Savage prevents a body shot from Stifler .
Savage is trying to pull guard but Stifler has him pressed against the cage.
Savage is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stifler lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Savage backwards.
Savage wants to get back to striking at distance but Stifler won't allow it.
Savage is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stifler pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Savage trying to control the position but instead, Stifler has worked for underhooks and has pushed Savage into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stifler working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Stifler scores with a nice short uppercut.
Savage tries to pull guard but Stifler holds him up against the cage and eventually Savage drops back down to his feet.
Savage drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stifler gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Savage is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stifler can't fight it off and eventually Savage manages to take the fight to the floor. Stifler looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stifler wants to sweep here but Savage controlling him for the moment.

Stifler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Savage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Savage tries to free his leg and advance position but Stifler is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stifler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Savage manages to get himself to full guard.

Stifler trying to control the position from guard on top but Savage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Savage working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Stifler has passed into half guard!
My spies in Jumppamesta inform me that Stifler has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Stifler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stifler connects with a nice short shot to Savage's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stifler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Savage changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stifler tries to avoid it but Savage manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stifler to the ground. Stifler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stifler misses the jab.
Savage looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Savage throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stifler 's waist but Stifler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Savage off to one side.
Stifler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Savage.
Stifler moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Savage takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stifler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Savage moves away.
Savage fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stifler throws a hook but Savage avoids it easily.
Savage takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stifler throws a body shot but no joy.
Stifler throws out a loose jab but Savage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stifler misses with a series of wild punches.
Stifler misses with a body shot.
Savage is looking to clinch.
Steve Stifler seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage misses with a head kick.
No luck for Savage with that takedown attempt.
Stifler misses with a hook. Savage ducked under it nicely.
Stifler sizes up Savage with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Stifler drives through and clinches with Savage against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Savage's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stifler throws a punch but it's blocked by Savage.
Stifler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Savage jumps guard and drags Stifler to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Savage is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stifler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stifler is stalling in the full guard.
Jackson Savage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stifler doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stifler manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stifler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Savage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Savage looking to control but Stifler passes into half guard.
Savage is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stifler scores with a couple of nice shots.
Savage gets back to full guard.
Stifler trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage 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.
Stifler wants to stand and escape but instead Savage has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Jackson Savage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Stifler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Savage defends well.
Stifler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Savage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stifler has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Savage has managed to get both his arms back between Stifler 's legs - danger averted.
Steve Stifler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage preventing the sweep.
Savage slips nicely into half guard.

Savage seems to be working for a kimura but Stifler defends the submission attempt.

Savage is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stifler defends it well.

Stifler is defending against the submission attempts here by Savage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stifler wants to control but Savage is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Stifler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stifler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Stifler !