PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Savage (ranked 5870 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghassan Habibi (ranked 5248 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Savage
vs
Habibi

183 cm
24
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Billy Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ghassan Habibi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Habibi is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Savage is defended easily by Habibi.
Habibi throws a counter combo.
No joy there for Savage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Habibi's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Habibi's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Habibi shoots for a double leg takedown but Savage sprawls well. He's pushed Habibi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Savage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Habibi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Savage avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Savage gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Habibi.
Billy Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghassan Habibi.

Savage lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Habibi wants to improve his position but Savage is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habibi keeps trying to improve his position.
Savage passes into side control, despite Habibi's attempt to control the position.
Savage trying to control the position but Habibi is working away.
Savage tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Savage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Habibi for as long as he can get away with.
Savage looking to control but instead Habibi has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's two 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.
Savage stalling away here and it's allowed Habibi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Savage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Savage throws a strike but Habibi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Savage has his foot on Habibi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Habibi works his way back into a safe position though.
Savage on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Savage tries to get out of the position.
Habibi passes into half guard.
Habibi trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habibi controlling the action here.
Habibi trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.
Habibi trying to pass the guard but Savage defending well.
Habibi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Habibi tries to control but Savage wriggling away.
Savage working to try and regain half guard.
Habibi wants to control the pace but Savage is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Habibi stands up from mount. Strange move.
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 Billy Savage will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Habibi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Savage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Savage tries to free his leg and advance position but Habibi is retaining full guard.
Habibi is pulling down on Savage's head. It's preventing any offense from Savage, at least for the moment.
Habibi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Savage controls the pace.
Savage continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage wants to control from the top but Habibi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habibi looking to control.
Savage keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Habibi's head.
Savage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Habibi can do to turn this around?

Habibi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Savage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Habibi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Savage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Habibi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savage engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Habibi is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habibi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Habibi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Savage haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Savage dives in and scores a takedown into Habibi's guard.

Habibi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Savage gets underhooks to prevent Habibi's takedown attempt.
Savage wants to break free but Habibi has control.
Habibi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Savage gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Habibi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Savage is defending well.
Billy Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghassan Habibi.
Habibi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Savage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Savage is trying to break the clinch but Habibi is controlling him.
Habibi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Savage pulls his leg out and moves away.

Savage forces Habibi back against the cage and clinches.
Habibi looking for a takedown.
Habibi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Savage.
Habibi jumps guard but Savage stands there with Habibi around his waist. Habibi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Habibi misses with a punch to the body.
Savage working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Habibi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Savage gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Habibi is looking for a takedown.
Savage wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Habibi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Habibi successfully pulls guard.
Savage wants to control from the top but Habibi keeps moving.
Savage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Savage dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Savage fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Habibi sprawls well initially but Savage persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Savage sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Habibi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Savage is working away from the top position though.
Habibi moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage controls from within his opponent's guard.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Habibi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habibi wants to sweep here but Savage controlling him for the moment.
Savage looking to sit in guard and control but Habibi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Habibi wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.

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

That's two 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 looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Habibi has picked Savage up and slammed him! Savage can't keep hold of the triangle and Habibi manages to pass to side control!
Savage wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Habibi is looking to take a break and control but Savage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Habibi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Savage to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Savage.
Habibi feints the counter takedown.
Billy Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Savage. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Habibi has closed the distance and engaged Savage in a clinch.
Savage blocks a body shot from Habibi.
Savage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Habibi manages to pull guard.
Savage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Habibi looking for a sweep. Not yet Habibi, not yet.
Savage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Habibi is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savage drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Habibi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Savage has Habibi in his guard.

Habibi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Savage has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Habibi has managed to get both his arms back between Savage's legs - danger averted.
Billy Savage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Habibi trying to control the position from guard on top but Savage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ghassan Habibi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Savage seems keen to control Habibi's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ghassan Habibi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Savage!
Billy Savage tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.