PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sven Artur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Savage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Artur
vs
Savage

191 cm
26
209 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

190 cm
23
199 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Irish Collar & Elbow Nutrition and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sven Artur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocky Savage!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Artur missing with a left hand there. Savage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Artur throws a series of punches but Savage avoids them all with ease.
We've been told by Artur's head coaches at DiscoClub that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Savage throws a push kick but Artur slaps the foot to one side.
Artur waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Savage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Savage.

Savage has managed to clinch.
Savage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Artur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Artur throws a looping overhand right but Savage ducks down to avoid it.
Savage takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Artur throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Artur cracks Savage with an open hand slap.

It looks like Rocky Savage has been cut.
Savage fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Artur is out of range.
Savage blocks a jab.
A big left from Artur misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Artur waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Savage.
Savage scores with a body shot.
Artur missing with a left hand there. Savage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Savage forces Artur back against the cage and clinches.
Artur lands with a short shot to the head.

Artur escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Savage takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Savage closes the distance and clinches.
Artur fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Artur.
Savage stalls.
Savage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Savage misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artur throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Savages head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Artur breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Artur showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savage.
Savage checks a leg kick.
Savage shoots in but Artur avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Savage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Artur manages to avoid it.
Artur swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Savage shoots for a takedown but Artur saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sven Artur has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Savage.
Artur is looking to chop away at Savage's legs.
Artur misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Savage.
Savage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savage doesn't manage to clinch there - Artur circles away.
Savage scores with a jab to the body.
Savage misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage ducks under a wild hook from Artur.
Savage feints the counter takedown.
Savage tries to close the distance and clinch but Artur swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Savage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Artur circles away quickly and effectively.
A quick step to the side and Artur tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savage misses with the combination.
Savage swings away with a body shot that misses
and Savage takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Savage rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Artur moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Artur looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Savage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savage just misses with a punch to the body.
Sven Artur is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Artur motions for Savage to come forward. Artur throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Savage misses with a wild body shot.
Artur turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Savage tries to close the distance and clinch but Artur swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Savage on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Artur misses the jab.
Savage jabs at Artur's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Artur.
Rocky Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Artur fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Artur lands a really nice looking cross but Savage seems unphased.
Artur lands a jab.

Savage moves into range and clinches up with Artur.
Savage just leaning against Artur, taking a breather.
Artur avoiding damage as Savage throws knees to the body.
Artur leaning against his opponent.
Savage's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Savage is stalling here.
Savage lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Artur's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Savage misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Artur dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocky Savage's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Artur misses the shot to the body.
Artur missing with a left hand there. Savage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Artur throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Savage sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Savage throws a lazy right hand but Artur sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Savage ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Savage takes the fight into the clinch.
Artur on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Savage throws an elbow that misses.
Savage is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Artur is defending well for now.
Artur throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Artur lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Savage tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Artur avoids it.
Artur misses with a hook to the ribs.
Artur blocks a body shot from Savage.
Artur prevents a body shot from Savage.
Savage working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage can't find room to land a body shot as Artur controls the action.
Artur misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A shot in the inside from Savage.
Savage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Savage takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Artur blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, Artur scores with a nice short uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Artur.
Savage tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Artur avoids it.
Artur is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Savage tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Artur breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Savage tries to close the distance and clinch up but Artur swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Artur avoids the body shot from Savage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That has opened up Rocky Savage's cut even more.
Artur shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Artur scores with a hook.
Savage misses the shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Savage checks a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Artur checks a leg kick.
Savage wants to clinch.
Savage slips a jab from Artur.
Jab by Artur.
Savage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Artur manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
An attempted straight right counter from Artur misses the target.
Savage wants to clinch up but Artur keeps it at a distance.
Savage wants to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Artur on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Artur checks a low kick from Savage.
Artur ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Savage drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Artur manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Artur wants to pass the guard but Savage is defending well.

Artur stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Artur lands with a hook. Savage tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Savage shoots and misses
and Savage takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

The cut above Rocky Savage's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Artur is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Savage can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Artur circles away from the clinch attempt.
Artur throws a shot from downtown. Savage moves away and avoids it.
Savage appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Savage is looking to clinch but Artur is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage tries to clinch but Artur moves away
and Artur counters with a stiff right hand.
Savage throws a body punch but Artur moves out of range.
Savage tries to clinch but Artur is having none of it.
Artur missing with a left hand there. Savage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Artur throws a hook but Savage avoids it easily.
Artur throws a good cross that connects.
Savage is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Artur rather than just go for the knockout.
Artur throws a hook but Savage avoids it easily.
As Artur backs off Savage throws a huge counter combo but Artur manages to avoid it all.
Savage darts in trying to clinch
and Artur connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Artur with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Savage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Artur on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Savage leaning against his opponent.
Savage blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Artur dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rocky Savage's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Savage tries to close the distance and clinch but Artur swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Savage wants to clinch
and Artur counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Savage doesn't manage to clinch there - Artur circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Artur as he connects with a hook.
Savage moves out of range as Artur strikes.
Savage thuds a left hand into Artur's body.

Savage gets a clinch.
Savage is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Artur to keep the fight standing.
Artur blocking some punches.

Savage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage fails with the takedown.
Savage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Artur.
Artur lands the left hand.
Savage wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Savage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice body punch from Savage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Savage has Artur pressed against the cage.

Artur escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Savage takes the fight into the clinch.
Artur wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Savage has him pressed against the cage.
Artur lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Artur gets through Savage's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage prevents a body shot from Artur.
Savage has a couple of punches blocked by Artur.
Artur misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Artur stalling in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Savage scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rocky Savage seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Savage is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Artur is defending well for now.
A body shot lands from Artur.
Artur misses with a hook to the ribs.
Savage stalls.
Artur is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Artur misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Artur prevents a body shot from Savage.
Savage misses with an elbow over the top.
Savage trying to stall but Artur improves his position.
Savage scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Artur avoiding damage as Savage throws knees to the body.
Savage lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short uppercut from Artur.
Artur is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Savage manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Savage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Artur fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Savage looking to stall.
Savage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Artur misses with a hook to the ribs.
The referee is keeping an eye on Savage - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Artur lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Savage backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage tries to throw a body punch but Artur avoids it by throwing Savage back against the cage.
Savage trying to control the position but instead, Artur has worked for underhooks and has pushed Savage into the cage.

Artur's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savage shoots for a double leg takedown but Artur sprawls well. He's pushed Savage's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rocky Savage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sven Artur has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Savage.
Savage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Savage takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Savage blocks a jab.
Savage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Artur manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Savage showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Artur.
Sven Artur is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Artur uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Savage has time to react.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Artur showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Artur, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Artur!
Sven Artur very nearly forgot to thank Irish Collar & Elbow Nutrition and Laundry amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.