PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Spangler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Savage
vs
Spangler

190 cm
27
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antonio Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rob Spangler!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spangler gets tackled into the cage by Savage. Savage maintains the clinch.
Savage makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Spangler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Savage walks away with a smile on his face. Spangler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Spangler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Savage has taken the fight to the clinch.
Spangler blocks an uppercut.
Spangler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Savage gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A bit of stalling here from Savage.
Spangler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Savage gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Antonio Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Spangler.

Savage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spangler lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spangler gets tackled into the cage by Savage. Savage maintains the clinch.
Savage digs a right hand into Spangler's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Spangler's gas tank.
Savage manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Savage scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage throws a punch but it's blocked by Spangler.
Savage lands a nice shot to the body.
Savage scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Savage.
Savage throws a punch but it's blocked by Spangler.
Savage pushes Spangler back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Savage lands an uppercut.
Spangler is trying to drag Savage to the mat but Savage just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Savage works on Spangler's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch on the inside from Savage fails to land.
Savage misses with a punch to the body.
Savage misses with some punches.
Savage gets through Spangler's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage working some nice short punches in the clinch.

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

Savage rushes Spangler and presses him up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savage misses with the head strike.
Savage lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spangler or not.
Spangler is trying to pull guard but Savage turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Spangler content to slow the pace in the clinch.
I was talking to Savage's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Spangler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Savage tries to work over Spangler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Savage misses with a short punch on the inside.
Savage lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Savage working aggressively here.
Spangler looking to slow down the pace here.
Savage lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spangler backwards.
Savage tries a body shot but Spangler blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spangler looks to score with a jab to the body but Savage is just out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Spangler 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Savage gets a clinch.
Spangler can't break the clinch.
Savage misses with a hook from the clinch.
Spangler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savage scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
Spangler blocking some punches.
Savage lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Savage breaks from the clinch.

Savage instigates a clinch.
Spangler's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Savage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Spangler jumps guard but Savage turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spangler blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Spangler.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stalling in the clinch from Savage.
Savage misses with the head strike.
Savage lands with a left to the head.
Savage scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Savage lands with a short shot to the head.
Savage lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Spangler is rocked!
Savage gets through Spangler's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Spangler is still on wobbly legs! Can Savage finish him?
Savage throws a head punch that misses.
Savage swings wildly with an uppercut but Spangler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savage lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Savage scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Savage throws a punch but it's blocked by Spangler.
Savage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spangler is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Savage is keeping busy.
Savage misses with a punch to the body.
Savage throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Savage dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Savage has Spangler up against the cage in a clinch.
Spangler seems to have recovered his senses.
Spangler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Savage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Spangler wants to break free but Savage has control.
Spangler missing with knees to the body.
Spangler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Savage lands with a right to the head.
Savage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spangler's elbow.
Spangler blocking some punches.
Savage working aggressively here.
Spangler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Spangler wants to break free but Savage has control.
Savage misses with a hook to the ribs.
Spangler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Spangler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Savage manages to break the clinch.
Savage swats away the attempt to clinch by Spangler.
Savage lands with an uppercut that bounces Spangler off the cage and back into range.
Savage just misses with a punch to the body.

Savage clinches.
Savage throws a head punch that misses.
Spangler can't get the takedown.
Savage blocking some punches.
A short right from Savage on the inside.
Savage gets through Spangler's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Savage throws a punch but it's blocked by Spangler.
Savage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Spangler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Savage is defending well.
Antonio Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Spangler.
Spangler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Savage pulls his leg out and moves away.
Spangler tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savage gets a clinch.
Spangler prevents a body shot from Savage.
Savage keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spangler's efforts to push away.
Savage struggles to land a body shot inside as Spangler controls his hands.
Savage struggles to land a body shot inside as Spangler controls his hands.
Spangler is looking to control Savage's arms but Savage gets an underhook and turns him. Now Spangler has his back to the cage.
Savage softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spangler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Savage creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Savage has a couple of punches blocked by Spangler.
Savage working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Savage.
Spangler is looking to control Savage's arms but Savage gets an underhook and turns him. Now Spangler has his back to the cage.
Spangler is trying to pull guard but Savage has him pressed against the cage.
Spangler takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spangler.
Savage tries a body shot but Spangler blocks it.
Savage lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spangler or not.

Savage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rob Spangler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spangler gets tackled into the cage by Savage. Savage maintains the clinch.
Savage prevents the takedown attempt.
Spangler prevents a body shot from Savage.
A head punch on the inside from Savage fails to land.
Savage lands a nice shot to the body.
Spangler tries to stall but Savage uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Savage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Savage misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spangler.
A right handed body shot lands from Savage.
Spangler tries to work over Savage's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Antonio Savage has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spangler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Savage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Savage lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spangler backwards.
Savage softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Savage lands a shoulder strike.
Savage misses with a hook from the clinch.
Spangler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Savage smiles and moves away.
Spangler tries to clinch there but Savage circles away.
Spangler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spangler looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spangler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Savage clinches up with Spangler and pushes him back against the cage.
Spangler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savage displaying some good clinch control by pressing Spangler up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Savage dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Savage jabs Spangler right on the nose. Spangler blinks but takes it well.

Savage gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Spangler's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Spangler struggles to land a body shot inside as Savage controls his hands.
Spangler is trying to pull guard but Savage turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Savage struggles to land a body shot inside as Spangler controls his hands.
Savage misses with some punches.

Savage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spangler takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Spangler lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Savage fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spangler, pushing him back against the cage.
Spangler is trying to push Savage away but Savage has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Savage has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Spangler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Spangler can't break the clinch.
Savage working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Savage lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Savage is pressed up against the cage. Spangler has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Savage down to the mat. Savage avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spangler has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Savage struggles to land a body shot inside as Spangler controls his hands.
Spangler wants a takedown.
Antonio Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Spangler.
Savage swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Savage.
Savage pushes Spangler against the cage. Savage is working some dirty boxing. Savage pushes off with a quick right hook! Spangler goes down! Spangler tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Savage moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antonio Savage!
After the fight, Antonio Savage was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.