PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Savage (ranked 24674 p4p, 0 weight class) and Israel Adesanya (ranked 6646 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Savage
vs
Adesanya

177 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roger Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Israel Adesanya!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savage with a poor takedown
and Adesanya counters with a right hand to the body.

Adesanya closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Savage quickly recovers to half guard.
Adesanya lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Savage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Savage kicks Adesanya off and gets back to his feet.
Adesanya fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Savage avoids it really well and circles away.
Savage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Adesanya scores with a takedown into Savage's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Adesanya controls the pace.
Adesanya is looking to stand up but Savage won't let him.
Adesanya trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savage has control of Adesanya's left arm, preventing Adesanya from doing any damage.
Adesanya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Savage is keeping the position for now.
Savage keeping moving, preventing Adesanya from controlling successfully.
Savage is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Adesanya scores with a takedown into Savage's guard.
Savage could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Savage wants to stand up but Adesanya is controlling him.
Adesanya is stalling in the full guard.

Savage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Adesanya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Adesanya wants to pass the guard but Savage is keeping the position.
Savage might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Savage has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Adesanya has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Adesanya looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savage manages to break the clinch.

Adesanya has closed the distance and engaged Savage in a clinch.
Adesanya tries to score a body lock takedown but Savage shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Savage breaks the clinch.
Adesanya tries to score a power double leg takedown but Savage sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Adesanya somewhat.
Roger Savage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Israel Adesanya.
Savage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Adesanya's calf.

Adesanya moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Savage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Adesanya but Adesanya pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Savage shoots for a double leg takedown but Adesanya sprawls well. He's pushed Savage's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Savage shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Adesanya defends it nicely.

Adesanya forces Savage back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Israel Adesanya will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Adesanya moves into the clinch.
Savage tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Savage avoids the elbow strike from Adesanya, against the cage.

Savage jumps guard.
Savage looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Adesanya wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.
Savage seems keen to control Adesanya's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Savage pushes Adesanya off and scrambles back to his feet.
Adesanya scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage fails to land the takedown.

Adesanya closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Savage's guard.
Adesanya must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Adesanya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savage has control of Adesanya's left arm, preventing Adesanya from doing any damage.
Adesanya wants to stand but Savage is controlling his posture from full guard.
Adesanya trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
Adesanya is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Savage manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Adesanya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Adesanya misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Adesanya closes the distance and pushes Savage back into the cage.

Adesanya manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Adesanya changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Savage fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savage shoots in looking for a takedown. Adesanya tries to sprawl out of it but Savage keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Adesanya manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage closes the distance and clinches up with Adesanya, looking for a takedown. Savage pushes Adesanya against the cage but Adesanya circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Roger Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savage blocks a head kick by Adesanya.
Adesanya with a lazy takedown attempt
and Savage counters with a series of strikes. Adesanya will be more careful next time no doubt.

Savage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Adesanya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Savage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Adesanya controls Savage momentarily but Savage frees himself.
Savage content to stall in guard here.

Savage drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Savage jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage content to stall in guard here.

Savage drops back looking for a leg! Adesanya is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Adesanya manages to kick Savage off! Savage jumps back into Adesanya's guard.
Adesanya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roger 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Savage changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Adesanya looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Adesanya tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Adesanya is in bad spot here.
Adesanya is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Savage is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Adesanya has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Savage working for a choke but Adesanya is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage wants to control but Adesanya is keeping busy.
Savage keeps control of the position as Adesanya tries to break free.
Adesanya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Savage looking for the choke from the back.
Adesanya breaks Savage's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Savage holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Adesanya avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Savage pulls Adesanya in to control the position.
Adesanya looking to sit in guard and control but Savage gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Savage is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Adesanya is looking for a triangle but Savage pushes his legs off easily.
Savage wants to control from the top but Adesanya keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage content to stall in guard here.
Adesanya keeping full guard, as Savage tries to pass.
Savage is stalling in the full guard.

Savage stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four 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 fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Adesanya darts in and clinches Savage up against the cage.
Adesanya drops down looking for an ankle pick but Savage pulls his leg out and moves away.
Adesanya stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Adesanya wants it to stay on the feet.
Adesanya tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savage swivels and escapes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Adesanya throws a head kick that misses.
Savage shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Adesanya defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Savage showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!