PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexev Savinov (ranked 1365 p4p, 1618 weight class) and Dennis Cunningham (ranked 168 p4p, 203 weight class). Savinov comes to the cage accompanied by HonestKey- Point A. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Savinov
vs
Cunningham

195 cm
25
257
10 - 10 - 0

193 cm
25
277
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexev Savinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Dennis Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savinov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cunningham ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Savinov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Savinov.
Cunningham misses with a straight right.
Cunningham avoids the head kick by Savinov.

Cunningham shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Savinov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cunningham lands a decent elbow from side control.
Cunningham slows the pace down.
Cunningham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savinov keeps working.

Savinov bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savinov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cunningham misses with an uppercut. Savinov saw that one coming.
Savinov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cunningham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Savinov manages to avoid it.

Cunningham shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cunningham showed some decent athleticism there.
Cunningham throwing shots but Savinov is blocking nicely.
Cunningham landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Cunningham wants to work for an arm triangle but Savinov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Well, if Cunningham is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a strike but Savinov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Savinov is looking to stand up but Cunningham isn't so interested in that idea.
Cunningham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cunningham in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savinov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cunningham is controlling him.
Cunningham lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savinov wants to stand up but Cunningham is controlling him.
Cunningham slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cunningham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunningham throwing strikes but missing.
Cunningham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savinov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Savinov throws a leg kick

and Cunningham counters with a shoot takedown. Savinov fights it but they end up in guard.
Savinov is wriggling around but Cunningham manages to pass to half guard.

Cunningham passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throws some wild stikes that Savinov manages to avoid easily.
Poor strikes thrown by Cunningham there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cunningham tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Savinov somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cunningham takes a swing at Savinov's ribcage but misses.
Cunningham with a jab.
Good shot there by Cunningham.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cunningham drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Savinov defends it well.
A clash of legs there as Cunningham blocks the low kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cunningham! But no joy.
A combination from Cunningham does no damage.
Cunningham throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Savinov counters with a nice leg kick.
Cunningham moves away from the strike by Savinov.
Savinov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A left lands for Cunningham.
Savinov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cunningham throws out a loose jab but Savinov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savinov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Savinov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Savinov slips a jab from Cunningham.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Savinov avoids the body shot from Cunningham.
Cunningham throws the left hand but Savinov avoids the punch easily.
Savinov is looking for a counter combo.
Cunningham looks to land a right hand but Savinov moved out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Savinov.
Savinov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cunningham.
Savinov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Savinov.
Savinov throws a head kick but Cunningham moves out of range.
Cunningham throws an overhand right that lands on Savinov's shoulder, as Savinov tries to avoid the shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savinov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cunningham's sensitive parts.
No joy there for Cunningham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savinov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cunningham avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Savinov takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a hook but Savinov blocks it.
A slow jab from Cunningham misses its intended target.
Savinov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Savinov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Savinov throws a head kick but Cunningham moves out of range.
Savinov blocks a jab.
Savinov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Savinov walks into a left hand.
Cunningham throws a jab when Savinov was well out of range.
Savinov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Savinov throws a head kick that misses.
Savinov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cunningham lands a nice hook to Savinov's body. Savinov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alexev Savinov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Savinov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cunningham scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Savinov throws a front kick aimed at Cunningham's knee but Cunningham avoids it well.
Cunningham misses with a body shot
and Savinov counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cunningham throws a hook but Savinov blocks it.
Cunningham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cunningham misses with a straight right.
Cunningham throws a big shot that misses.
A quick step to the side and Savinov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savinov throws a sloppy head kick and Cunningham moves out of range easily.
Nice body punch from Cunningham.
A looping hook to the body misses from Savinov. Cunningham does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cunningham swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham avoids the head kick by Savinov.
Savinov staying out of range there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Savinov.

Cunningham fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Savinov sprawls well initially but Cunningham persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cunningham takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cunningham thows a huge punch but Savinov dodges it nicely.
Cunningham has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Savinov is trying to stand.
Cunningham drops an elbow to the side of Savinov's head.
Cunningham performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cunningham wants to control but Savinov is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Cunningham dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Savinov fails to land with a series of punches.
Cunningham drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Savinov defends it well.
Cunningham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Savinov.
Cunningham on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dennis Cunningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cunningham connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Savinov scores with a leg kick.
Cunningham scores with a hook.
Cunningham misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Savinov's hands.
Savinov tries a low kick but Cunningham avoids it.
Savinov slips a straight right by Cunningham.
Savinov tries to score with a low kick but Cunningham moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savinov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cunningham scores with a sloppy right hand. Savinov should have avoided that one.
Savinov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Savinov swings widly with a right hand
and Cunningham cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Savinov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cunningham walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Some bone on bone action there as Cunningham checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A slow jab from Cunningham misses its intended target.
Cunningham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Savinov pinned against the cage. Savinov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cunningham. Savinov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Savinov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cunningham takes one to the chin there.
Cunningham misses with a looping left.

Cunningham closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cunningham lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savinov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Savinov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Savinov is looking to stand back up but Cunningham counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Savinov.
Cunningham prevents Savinov from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cunningham seems to be working for a kimura but Savinov defends the submission attempt.
Cunningham trying to control from half guard but Savinov is working away.
Cunningham is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Savinov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cunningham missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cunningham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cunningham is trying to control. Savinov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cunningham uses his free foot to push down on Savinov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Savinov.
Savinov wants to get back to his feet.
The referee warns Savinov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Savinov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Cunningham lands a heavy elbow.
Cunningham has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Savinov's face.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Savinov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cunningham lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cunningham controlling his opponent.
Cunningham is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Cunningham can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Savinov is looking to escape.
Cunningham controlling from mount.
Cunningham landing strikes from the mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham controlling from mount.
Cunningham lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cunningham postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Savinov in real trouble here! The ref calls for Savinov to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dennis Cunningham!
A relieved looking Dennis Cunningham thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.