PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Saviola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haile Selassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Selassie's choice of entrance music: Confrontation by Damian Marley. Haile Selassie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saviola
vs
Selassie

170 cm
24
153 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Esteban Saviola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Haile Selassie!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Selassie lands a jab to Saviola's midsection.
Saviola shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Selassie pinned against the cage. Selassie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Selassie misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Selassie catches Saviola right on the button with a cross.
Haile Selassie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saviola closes the distance and clinches up with Selassie, looking for a takedown. Saviola pushes Selassie against the cage but Selassie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie misses the shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Selassie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Selassie.
Selassie feints and then cracks Saviola's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saviola down.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Selassie scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Selassie tries to bum rush Saviola with a series of wild strikes but Saviola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saviola shoots in looking for a takedown. Selassie tries to sprawl out of it but Saviola keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Selassie 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 Esteban Saviola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saviola shoots in for a takedown but Selassie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Selassie misses the shot to the body.
Selassie digs a good body shot into Saviola's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie tries to land a leg kick but Saviola saw it coming and moves away.
Selassie misses with a hook. Saviola ducked under it nicely.
Selassie dips to his left and cracks Saviola with an uppercut!
Selassie throws a leg kick which misses Saviola's front leg but catches the back leg as Saviola tries to avoid it.
Selassie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saviola was well out of range. Poor timing from Selassie.

That's four 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.
Saviola fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Selassie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saviola was well out of range. Poor timing from Selassie.
Selassie moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Saviola stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Selassie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saviola keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haile Selassie dominated that round.
That's time! Saviola's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Selassie throws an overhand right that lands on Saviola's shoulder, as Saviola tries to avoid the shot.
Selassie stuns Saviola with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Selassie slaps away a takedown attempt from Saviola, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saviola avoids the head kick by Selassie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saviola takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie takes a swing at Saviola's ribcage but misses.
Esteban Saviola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saviola shoots in for a double leg but Selassie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Selassie fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saviola uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Selassie.
Saviola blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two 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.
Selassie fakes the leg kick and cracks Saviola in the body.
Selassie just misses with a punch to the body.
Saviola has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esteban Saviola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saviola shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Selassie defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie tests Saviola's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Selassie looks to throw the jab but Saviola is out of range.
Haile Selassie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Selassie tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saviola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Selassie.
Saviola tries to score a power double leg takedown but Selassie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saviola somewhat.
A good leg kick by Selassie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haile Selassie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Saviola defending well as Selassie loads up on a big left hand.
Selassie finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Selassie finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Saviola walks into a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saviola defending well as Selassie loads up on a big left hand.
Selassie throws a nice head kick!
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Saviola. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie lands a nice hook to Saviola's body. Saviola takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Selassie swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Selassie. Saviola does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saviola shoots for a takedown but Selassie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Selassie scores with a jab to the body.

That's two 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.
Selassie cracks Saviola with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Saviola fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saviola shoots for a double leg takedown but Selassie sprawls well. He's pushed Saviola's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esteban Saviola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saviola shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Selassie tests Saviola's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Selassie misses with a head kick.
Selassie lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Saviola shoots in but no luck this time.
Esteban Saviola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Selassie looks to score with a jab to the body but Saviola is just out of range.
Selassie lands with a straight right. Saviola didn't see that one coming.
Selassie lands with a good body shot.
Selassie throws a solid leg kick but Saviola takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Selassie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saviola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Selassie but Selassie pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haile Selassie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Selassie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haile Selassie!