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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Zarco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Jaakko Savolainen has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jaakko Savolainen seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?
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| 184 cm
33
182 lbs
24 - 17 - 0 |
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172 cm
32
180 lbs
14 - 6 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank |
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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
24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaakko Savolainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Zarco!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarco's corner calls for a 1-2. Zarco obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Savolainen connects with a crisp jab.
Savolainen scores with a jab.
Savolainen slips a jab from Zarco.
Savolainen looks to throw the jab but Zarco is out of range.
Zarco ducks right into an uppercut from Savolainen.
Savolainen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zarco misses with a head kick.
Zarco stuffs the takedown attempt from Savolainen. Savolainen gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Zarco was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zarco is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Savolainen.
A big left from Zarco misses.
Savolainen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zarco sprawls and moves away.
Savolainen goes for a double leg but Zarco avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zarco continues to drive forward.
An inside leg kick from Zarco misses.
Savolainen ducks under a wild hook from Zarco.
Savolainen thuds his right hand into Zarco's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zarco takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zarco has managed to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarco misses with a knee strike.
Zarco lands a nice uppercut.
Zarco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Savolainen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Zarco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zarco tries to land knees in the clinch but Savolainen avoids the damage to the body.
Savolainen stalling the fight.
Zarco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Savolainen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Savolainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savolainen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zarco uses from the top position.
Zarco trying to control but Savolainen is working from the bottom.
Zarco looking to sit in guard and control but Savolainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Savolainen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen lands a couple of elbows.
Savolainen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zarco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Savolainen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Savolainen slips nicely into half guard.
Zarco looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarco wants to control but Savolainen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zarco desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Zarco tries to get to full guard but Savolainen has control of the leg.
Savolainen wants to free his trapped foot but Zarco is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zarco trying to control from the bottom.
Savolainen is looking to take a break and control but Zarco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zarco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Savolainen is looking to advance position but Zarco won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zarco is looking to improve his position.
Savolainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zarco keeps working.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Savolainen tries for a takedown but Zarco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Savolainen darts in and clinches Zarco up against the cage.
Zarco looking to throw knees to the head but Savolainen is blocking nicely.
Savolainen effectively controlling the action here.
Savolainen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Savolainen gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Savolainen can't get the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Jaakko Savolainen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Zarco tries to keep at a distance but Savolainen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Savolainen tightens his grip and picks Zarco up, before dumping him to the ground. Zarco manages to land in guard.
Savolainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Zarco is retaining full guard.
Savolainen throwing strikes but missing.
Savolainen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zarco seems keen to control Savolainen's posture.
Savolainen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savolainen throwing strikes from guard but Zarco blocks nicely.
Savolainen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Savolainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zarco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zarco working a defensive guard here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zarco is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Savolainen is stalling in the full guard.
Savolainen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zarco moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Savolainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Zarco counters with a slapping leg kick.
Savolainen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zarco is looking to clinch.
Savolainen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Savolainen lands in his opponent's guard.
Zarco manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zarco as Savolainen tries to tie him up.
Zarco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Savolainen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zarco lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zarco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zarco is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Zarco stops a takedown attempt from Savolainen.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Savolainen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zarco with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
It looks like Jaakko Savolainen has been cut.
Zarco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Antonio Zarco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zarco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zarco lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zarco crunches a lovely knee into Savolainen's ribcage.
Zarco misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zarco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Savolainen backwards.
Savolainen trying to stall but Zarco improves his position.
Savolainen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zarco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Savolainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savolainen stalling in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Zarco.
Savolainen can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Savolainen wants a takedown.
Savolainen goes for a takedown attempt but Zarco pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarco lands a jab to Savolainen's midsection.
Zarco jabbing away but nothing is landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savolainen moves forwards but Zarco connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Savolainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zarco.
Zarco lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Savolainen avoids the head kick by Zarco.
Zarco buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Antonio Zarco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savolainen with a poor takedown
and Zarco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zarco takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Savolainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zarco gets caught flat footed, as Savolainen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zarco has his foot on Savolainen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Savolainen works his way back into a safe position though.
Savolainen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zarco's head.
Zarco trying to keep a closed guard but Savolainen is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Antonio Zarco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Zarco slaps away a takedown attempt from Savolainen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Savolainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zarco struggles to land a body shot inside as Savolainen controls his hands.
Zarco looking to throw knees to the head but Savolainen is blocking nicely.
Savolainen tries to stall but Zarco uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zarco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zarco lands a nice shot to the body.
Zarco working Savolainen over with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zarco misses with a body punch.
Zarco lands with a right to the head.
Savolainen tightens his grip and picks Zarco up, before dumping him to the ground. Zarco manages to land in guard.
Zarco has Savolainen pulled in close to control his posture.
Let's hope that Zarco has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Zarco.
Savolainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Antonio Zarco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Savolainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Zarco tries to sprawl out of it but Savolainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zarco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Savolainen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Zarco instigates a clinch.
Savolainen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Savolainen manages to end up in side control.
Savolainen trying to control the action but Zarco is working from the bottom.
Zarco manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zarco is looking to control Savolainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zarco avoid being mounted?
Savolainen wants to take a breather but Zarco is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarco wants to control but Savolainen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Savolainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zarco wants to improve his position but Savolainen is controlling well.
Savolainen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zarco wants to get back to full guard.
Zarco has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Savolainen is working away from the top position though.
Zarco is trying to get back to full guard.
Savolainen is thwarting Zarco's attempts to control the position.
Savolainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zarco does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jaakko Savolainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zarco wants to get back to full guard.
Savolainen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Savolainen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Savolainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Zarco connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Savolainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Zarco counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zarco pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zarco lands a head kick!
A cross from Savolainen lands.
Savolainen scores with a body shot.
Zarco throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savolainen lands a nice shot that snaps Zarco's head back.
Savolainen throws a jab when Zarco was well out of range.
Savolainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zarco manages to avoid it.
Zarco moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antonio Zarco.
I think Zarco 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Zarco!
Antonio Zarco spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
46% |
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