PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Warren Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Jardine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Warren Savage has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Savage
vs
Jardine

200 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
223 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Warren Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JJ Jardine!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jardine will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Jardine closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Savage is pushing Jardine's head away, looking to escape. Jardine manages to hold on to the position though.
Jardine wants to control but Savage is keeping him busy.

Jardine swings around for an armbar but Savage sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jardine's guard.
Savage preventing the sweep.
Jardine has control of Savage's left arm, preventing Savage from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Savage postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jardine is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Savage, into his guard.
Jardine throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jardine stuffs the takedown.
Savage fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Savage misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jardine shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Savage but Savage pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Jardine instigates a clinch.

Jardine manages to break the clinch.
Jardine goes for a double leg but Savage avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Savage continues to drive forward.
Warren Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JJ Jardine.
Savage looks to land a body kick but Jardine moved away.
Savage uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jardine has time to react.
Jardine throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Savage.

It looks like Warren Savage has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jardine throws a body kick that misses.

Jardine gets a clinch.
Jardine manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Savage prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jardine looks winded!
Jardine goes for a takedown attempt but Savage pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Savage throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like JJ Jardine has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jardine dives in and grabs Savage's left leg, looking for a takedown. Savage pushes down on Jardine's head and hops out.
Savage shoots in for a double leg but Jardine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jardine shoots for a double leg takedown but Savage sprawls well. He's pushed Jardine's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Savage wants to slow Jardine down by chopping away at his legs.
Savage tries to clinch there but Jardine circles away.
Savage throws a nice looking combination but Jardine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Savage misses with a series of wild punches.
Jardine is looking to clinch but Savage is avoiding it.
Savage throws a series of punches but Jardine moves out of range.
And Jardine tries to counter it with a takedown but Savage pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Savage throws a right and a left that both miss.
Savage fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jardine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jardine blocks a leg kick.
Savage shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Jardine eats them both and turns towards Savage to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Savage enables Jardine to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Savage manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savage keeping full guard, as Jardine tries to pass.
Jardine throws a strike but Savage rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jardine trying to control the position here.
Savage throws an elbow that misses. Jardine uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Savage's guard. Nice move by Jardine!
Jardine postures up in Savage's guard and throws a big left but Savage blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warren Savage dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jardine instigates a clinch.
Jardine displaying some good clinch control by pressing Savage up against the cage.

Jardine pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jardine pushes Savage off and gets back to his feet.
Warren Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jardine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Savage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Savage gets caught flat footed, as Jardine shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Savage manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savage can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jardine jumps guard.
Jardine seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jardine is breathing heavily.
Savage stopping the sweep attempt from Jardine.

Jardine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Savage stopping the sweep attempt from Jardine.
Savage is looking to work some ground and pound but Jardine has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Savage loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jardine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Savage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jardine works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savage postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savage drops back looking for a leg! Jardine is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jardine manages to kick Savage off! Savage jumps back into Jardine's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jardine is looking to stand up but Savage isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Savage does no damage.
Jardine stuffs the takedown attempt from Savage. Savage gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jardine.
Nice straight punches there by Savage. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Savage.
A combination from Savage does no damage.
Jardine fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Savage is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Jardine wants to slow Savage down by chopping away at his legs.
Jardine misses with a takedown
and Savage counters with a straight right hand.
Savage fails to land with a series of punches.
Jardine shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Savage as he avoids it easily.
Warren Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JJ Jardine.
Savage misses with a double jab.

Jardine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jardine gets underhooks to prevent Savage's takedown attempt.
Jardine wants a takedown.
Savage tries for a takedown but Jardine manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jardine stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Savage is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jardine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jardine content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Jardine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jardine dodges the punch combination from Savage.
Jardine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Savage misses with the combination.
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 Warren Savage will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Savage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jardine circles away quickly and effectively.

Jardine moves into range and clinches up with Savage.
Jardine stalling against the cage.
Savage is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jardine pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Savage has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jardine is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Jardine jumps guard and drags Savage to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jardine controlling Savage's posture.
Savage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jardine throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jardine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jardine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Savage manages to get himself to full guard.
Savage will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jardine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Some wild striking there from Savage.
Jardine throws a head kick but Savage moves out of range.
Savage shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Jardine eats them both and turns towards Savage to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jardine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savage.
Savage keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Warren Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jardine fails with the takedown.
Savage is looking for a counter combo.
Jardine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Savage's waist but Savage gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jardine off to one side.
Warren Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JJ Jardine.
Savage throws a series of punches but Jardine avoids them all with ease.
Savage misses with a series of wild punches.
Savage misses with a body punch

and Jardine holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Jardine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jardine circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savage shoots in but no luck this time.

Jardine fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Savage, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jardine breaks the clinch.
Savage wants to clinch up but Jardine keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Savage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jardine throws a chopping leg kick but Savage manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Savage throwing a counter right hand but Jardine manages to avoid it.
Savage will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Jardine shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jardine showed some decent athleticism there.
Jardine keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage is looking to escape.
Jardine looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Savage wants to get back to his feet.
Jardine trying to pass the guard but Savage defending well.
Savage wants to get back to his feet.
JJ Jardine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warren Savage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savage keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to JJ Jardine.
I think Savage 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 Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Warren Savage!
Warren Savage decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.