PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Savickiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Gunn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Savickiy
vs
Gunn

169 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Savickiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tommy Gunn!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savickiy misses with a few strikes there.
Gunn is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Savickiy lands a big shot that drops Gunn! Can he finish him?

Gunn is rocked!

It looks like Tommy Gunn has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Savickiy drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gunn manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Savickiy has Gunn in his guard.
Gunn is still in real trouble! Can Savickiy finish him?
Gunn wants to control from the top but Savickiy keeps moving.
Savickiy is looking to stand up but Gunn isn't so interested in that idea.
Gunn seems to have recovered his senses.
Gunn wants to control from the top but Savickiy keeps moving.
Savickiy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Savickiy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Tommy Gunn has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A jab from Savickiy does it's job there.
Savickiy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gunn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Savickiy won't be happy with that.
Savickiy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gunn presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunn trying to control but Savickiy is having none of it.
Savickiy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savickiy regains half guard.
Savickiy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gunn decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Gunn throws a low kick but it's checked well by Savickiy.
Savickiy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gunn.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gunn is defended easily by Savickiy.
Gunn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Savickiy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Savickiy misses with a few strikes there.
Savickiy throws a low kick but Gunn moves out of range easily.
Gunn explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Savickiy has a takedown stuffed.
Savickiy misses with a kick to the body.
Savickiy is breathing heavily.
Gunn shoots in looking for a takedown. Savickiy tries to sprawl out of it but Gunn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savickiy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alexei Savickiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Gunn.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savickiy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gunn.
Savickiy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gunn throws a series of strikes that have Savickiy backpedaling.
Gunn slips a jab and a cross from Savickiy.
Savickiy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gunn. Gunn obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunn walks into a stiff left hand from Savickiy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gunn.
Savickiy fails to land with a series of punches.
Savickiy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Savickiy throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gunn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Gunn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Savickiy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gunn has managed to get both his arms back between Savickiy's legs - danger averted.
Savickiy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gunn puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gunn is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Savickiy manages to get to full guard.
Gunn stopping the sweep attempt from Savickiy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savickiy is looking for a triangle but Gunn pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gunn trying to control but Savickiy is working from the bottom.
Savickiy looking to control.
Savickiy striking from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Savickiy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Savickiy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gunn manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Savickiy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Gunn's cut.
That's time! Savickiy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Savickiy throws a combination that misses
and Savickiy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Savickiy dives in and grabs Gunn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gunn pushes down on Savickiy's head and hops out.
Alexei Savickiy is winning the standup battle so far.
Savickiy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gunn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savickiy.
Good leg kick by Gunn there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd cheers as Savickiy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gunn doesn't seem phased though.
Savickiy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Savickiy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gunn decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gunn tries to stand and escape but Savickiy is controlling the position.
Gunn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Savickiy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savickiy is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Savickiy is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunn not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Savickiy is defending against the submission attempts here by Gunn.
Savickiy is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunn is keen to just control but Savickiy is a slippery customer.
Savickiy throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Gunn prevents Savickiy from improving his position.
Tommy Gunn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Savickiy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Savickiy wants to sweep here but Gunn controlling him for the moment.
Gunn wants to pass the guard but Savickiy is keeping the position.
Gunn prevents Savickiy from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Savickiy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gunn!
Savickiy is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gunn can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Savickiy is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gunn has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Savickiy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Savickiy cracks Gunn with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Gunn is in a horrible position here. Savickiy smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Savickiy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Savickiy has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gunn's face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savickiy lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Savickiy cracks Gunn with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Savickiy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gunn is looking to escape.
Savickiy postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gunn looks a forlorn figure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savickiy unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Savickiy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Gunn's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Savickiy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Savickiy throws a series of punches but Gunn moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gunn is defended easily by Savickiy.
Gunn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Savickiy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Gunn looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Gunn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Savickiy is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Savickiy is pushing down on Gunn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gunn is fighting to maintain full guard but Savickiy has managed to sneak the leg through.
Savickiy is pressing down on Gunn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gunn is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Savickiy gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Savickiy throws a combination. Gunn tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Savickiy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gunn.
Gunn tries to close the distance and clinch but Savickiy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gunn shoots in for a double leg but Savickiy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alexei Savickiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Gunn.
Savickiy looks for a takedown but Gunn sprawls well.
Savickiy ducks under a wild hook from Gunn.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gunn.
A combination from Savickiy does no damage.
Gunn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gunn wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Savickiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Savickiy as Gunn shoots in.
A nice combination there by Savickiy.
No joy there for Savickiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savickiy is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gunn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Savickiy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alexei Savickiy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savickiy misses with a wild combination.
Gunn shoots in for a takedown but Savickiy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savickiy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circle momentarily. Savickiy darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gunn has a takedown stuffed.
Savickiy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gunn closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Savickiy tries to roll over but Gunn keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Savickiy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Savickiy has his foot on Gunn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gunn works his way back into a safe position though.

Savickiy looking for a guillotine here but Gunn defends easily.
Alexei Savickiy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gunn wants to stand but Savickiy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gunn is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Savickiy is on top in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gunn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Savickiy controls the pace.
Savickiy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Savickiy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Savickiy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Savickiy!
An out of breath Alexei Savickiy thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.