PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Forrest Worthington (ranked 1139 p4p, 136 weight class) and Pavel Savkov (ranked 1061 p4p, 127 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Worthington might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I Am Canadian Anthem. Forrest Worthington could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Pavel Savkov's chin.

Worthington
vs
Savkov

183 cm
35
175 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

175 cm
30
180 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Forrest Worthington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Worthington moves into range and clinches up with Savkov.
Worthington goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Savkov blocking some punches.
Worthington swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Worthington fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Savkov wants a takedown but no success here.
Worthington swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Worthington gets underhooks to prevent Savkov's takedown attempt.
Worthington fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Worthington gets through Savkov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Savkov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Worthington lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Worthington 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.
Worthington trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Worthington forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savkov manages to get to full guard.
Worthington pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Savkov is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worthington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Worthington lands a couple of digs.
Savkov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Savkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Savkov has his foot on Worthington's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Worthington works his way back into a safe position though.
Savkov trying to keep a closed guard but Worthington is proving a slippery customer.
Worthington pushes down on Savkov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Worthington is pressing down on Savkov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Savkov is holding on for now.

Savkov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Worthington working over Savkov with some ground and pound. Savkov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov wants to improve his position but Worthington is controlling well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Savkov gets back to full guard.

Savkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Worthington gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Worthington landing with the ground and pound.
Worthington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Savkov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Worthington passes into side control.
You can see the frustration on Savkov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Worthington lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Worthington lands a nice short elbow.
Worthington is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Worthington winds up and cracks Savkov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Savkov is looking to control Worthington's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Savkov avoid being mounted?

Savkov looking for submissions off his back.
Worthington lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Worthington.
Savkov wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov is looking to get back to full guard here but Worthington has managed to pass to side control instead.
Savkov wants to control but Worthington postures up.
Savkov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Worthington connects with a nice short shot to Savkov's temple.
Worthington scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Worthington looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Worthington connects with a nice short shot to Savkov's temple.

Savkov actively working from the bottom here.
Savkov is looking to control Worthington's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Savkov avoid being mounted?
Savkov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nice strikes from Worthington there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Worthington dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Worthington scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Worthington takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Worthington looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savkov trying to control from the bottom.
Savkov moves into full guard.
Savkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Savkov, not yet.
Savkov managing to control the position.
Worthington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Savkov can do to turn this around?

Savkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Worthington gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Worthington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Worthington looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worthington working some strikes from top position.

Savkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Worthington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Savkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Worthington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Worthington sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Savkov's guard.
Savkov is trying to get back to full guard.
Worthington is thwarting Savkov's attempts to control the position.
Worthington is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worthington is thwarting Savkov's attempts to control the position.
Worthington working the head and body with strikes.
Worthington misses with a head shot. Savkov uses the momentum to regain guard.

Worthington got a little sloppy there for a moment and Savkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Worthington has managed to get both his arms back between Savkov's legs - danger averted.
Savkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Worthington scoring with some ground and pound.
Worthington landing some decent shots from guard.

Savkov looking for a guillotine here but Worthington defends easily.
Savkov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worthington is working Savkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Worthington postures up and lands a big shot to Savkov's brow.

Savkov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Worthington working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Savkov's head.
Savkov looking to control.
Worthington content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Savkov working for a triangle but Worthington defends it easily.
Worthington lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savkov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Savkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Worthington is aware though and is defending well.
Worthington is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Worthington chips away with some ground and pound.
Worthington is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Savkov is rocked!

Savkov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Worthington doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Worthington manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Savkov is still in real trouble! Can Worthington finish him?
Worthington content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Worthington scoring with some ground and pound.
Worthington landing some decent shots from guard.
Worthington is in close to Savkov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Savkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Savkov controls Worthington momentarily but Worthington frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Worthington dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Savkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Worthington swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savkov seems to have recovered his senses.
Savkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Worthington counters with a stiff right hand.
Worthington displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Savkov throws out the jab.
Worthington was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Savkov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Worthington. Worthington obviously looking to wear him down.
Worthington swings for the body but Savkov moves out of range.
Savkov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Worthington.
Worthington rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Savkov counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Worthington. Savkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Worthington throws a lazy uppercut
and Savkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Savkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worthington is looking for a sweep.
Worthington is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Savkov off and has taken his back!
Worthington connects with a big shot to the side of Savkov's head.
Worthington gets his hands free as Savkov looks to control.
Savkov tries to roll but Worthington sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Worthington lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Savkov.
Worthington not allowing Savkov to control his hands.
Worthington doesn't have the hooks in and Savkov manages to turn into his guard.

Worthington working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Savkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Savkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Worthington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Savkov is one step ahead there.

Worthington throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throwing strikes but missing.
Worthington utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Worthington working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Savkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Savkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Worthington wants to sweep here but Savkov controlling him for the moment.

Worthington is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Worthington had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Savkov defends it easily.
Pavel Savkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Savkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Worthington's head.

Worthington is looking for a triangle but Savkov pushes his legs off easily.

Worthington looking for a guillotine here but Savkov defends easily.
Savkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Savkov landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov landing with the ground and pound.
Savkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Savkov won't allow Worthington to sweep him here.
Savkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Worthington's head.
Worthington looking for a sweep. Not yet Worthington, not yet.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Worthington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Worthington looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Forrest Worthington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Worthington trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pavel Savkov.
I think Worthington 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Forrest Worthington!
Forrest Worthington seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.