PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Savkov (ranked 99 p4p, 17 weight class) and Paul Warror (ranked 262 p4p, 37 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Savkov
vs
Warror

175 cm
27
180 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

185 cm
29
180 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter
Aspire 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 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Warror!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Warror counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Savkov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Savkov tries for a takedown but Warror circles away easily
and Warror counters with a straight right hand.
Savkov throws an overhand right that lands on Warror's shoulder, as Warror tries to avoid the shot.
Savkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Warror.
Savkov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Savkov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Warror.
Savkov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Warror moves out of range as Savkov strikes.
Savkov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Warror throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savkov throws a hook but Warror blocks it.
Warror only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Warror looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Warror throws a hook but Savkov avoids it easily.
Savkov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Savkov misses with a hook. Warror ducked under it nicely.
Warror connects with a solid leg kick.
A slow jab from Savkov misses its intended target.
It seemed like Warror was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov cracks a nice hook into Warror's ribs.
Savkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Warror.
Warror lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Paul Warror is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savkov loads up on a big right hand but Warror slips the punch.
Savkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Warror is fending him off so far but Savkov persists. Nope, Warror circles away and we're back to standing.
Savkov moves out of range of the leg kick from Warror.
Savkov misses with a double jab.
Warror connects with a good right hand that stumbles Savkov. Savkov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Savkov throws a poor cross that misses
and Warror counters with a slapping leg kick.
Warror throws a lazy right hand but Savkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Warror ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Warror throws a leg kick which misses Savkov's front leg but catches the back leg as Savkov tries to avoid it.

Savkov looking to score a takedown here. Warror is defending well but Savkov drives through and ends up in Warror's guard.

Warror manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Warror fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Savkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savkov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Warror counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Warror tries a head kick but it misses.
Savkov attempts a counter takedown but Warror avoids it well and moves away.
Warror ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Warror only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Savkov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Warror moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Savkov misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Savkov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Savkov misses with a few strikes there.
Savkov shoots in looking for a takedown. Warror tries to sprawl out of it but Savkov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Warror manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Savkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Warror pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Savkov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Warror looks for the body kick but Savkov saw that one coming.
Savkov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Warror ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
A big left from Warror misses.
Warror ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Warror chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Savkov moves away from the strike by Warror.
Warror is looking to land body kicks.
Savkov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Savkov throws a jab when Warror was well out of range.
A slow jab from Savkov misses its intended target.
Warror doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warror thuds his shin into the meat of Savkov's side.
Savkov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Savkov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Warror connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Savkov scrambles back to his feet.
Savkov lands with an overhand left.
Warror turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Savkov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Warror.
Savkov lands with a cross.
Savkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savkov scores with a punch to the head.
Savkov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Warror's head backwards.
Savkov misses with a combination
and Warror counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Savkov thinking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savkov looks to land a right hand but Warror moved out of range.
Savkov is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Warror.
Savkov misses with an uppercut
and Warror counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Warror slips a jab from Savkov.
Savkov lands with a cross.
Warror bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Savkov walks into a straight right hand from Warror.
Warror uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Savkov.
Warror slips a jab from Savkov.
Warror fakes the leg kick and cracks Savkov in the body.
Warror ducks under a wild hook from Savkov.
Warror swings for the body but Savkov moves out of range.
Savkov throws a sloppy body shot
and Warror counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Savkov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Warror was well out of range. Poor timing from Savkov.
Pavel Savkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savkov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Warror connects with an inside leg kick.
Savkov with a nice cross.
Savkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Warror.
Warror uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Savkov.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Warror slaps away a takedown attempt from Savkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Savkov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Warror is looking to slow Savkov down with leg kicks.
A swing and a miss from Warror.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Warror dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Warror listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Warror avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Warror just misses with a punch to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Warror lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Savkov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Savkov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Savkov is looking to counter punch.
Savkov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Warror sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Warror misses the target.
Warror tries to work over Savkov's front leg with a kick but Savkov checks it.
Warror takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A leg kick checked by Savkov.
Jab by Warror.
Warror throws a front kick aimed at Savkov's knee but Savkov avoids it well.
Savkov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Warror moves out of range as Savkov strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warror changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Savkov throws a jab when Warror was well out of range.
Warror slips a straight right by Savkov.

Savkov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Savkov showed some decent athleticism there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Warror blocking the ground and pound attempt from Savkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov is looking to advance position but Warror won't allow it.
Warror felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warror regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Savkov.
Savkov throws a big elbow that misses.
Warror keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Warror holds on and takes a little breather.
Savkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Warror keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
Savkov content to stall in guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Savkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Warror swivels though and keeps the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Warror blocks nicely.
Savkov wants to control from the top but Warror keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Warror throws a right hand that Savkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Savkov also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Warror is just out of range.
Savkov throws the left hand but Warror avoids the punch easily.
Savkov moves out of range of the body kick.
Warror misses with a leg kick.
Warror looks to land a right hand but Savkov moved out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Savkov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Warror lands an overhand right.
Savkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A swing and a miss from Warror.
Savkov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Warror in his tracks.
Warror lands with a shot to the body.
Warror scores with a jab. Savkov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Warror has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Warror connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Warror!
Savkov feints a jab promting Warror to slip. Savkov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Warror slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savkov throws out a loose jab but Warror uses good head movement to avoid it.
Warror throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Savkov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Warror - the referee stops the clock and Savkov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Warror. Savkov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Savkov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Warror tries to bum rush Savkov with a series of wild strikes but Savkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A little feinted left hand from Savkov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Warror.
Savkov throws an off balance right hand
and Warror counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Warror has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Warror throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A solid leg kick lands there for Warror.
Warror is looking to land body kicks.
Warror gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Savkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Savkov moves out of range as Warror strikes.

Savkov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Savkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Warror does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Warror wants to control but Savkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Savkov lands a nice short elbow.
Savkov working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Warror showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Savkov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Warror.
Savkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Warror.
Savkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Warror flicks out a counter leg kick but Savkov steps away.
Paul Warror seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Savkov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Warror.
Savkov checks a low kick from Warror.
Warror misses the shot to the body.
Warror slips a straight right by Savkov.
Savkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Savkov scores with the left hand. Warror knows he should have avoided that one.
Savkov throws a big shot that misses.
Warror goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Warror uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Savkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warror lands a head kick. Savkov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Warror tries to score with a low kick but Savkov moves his leg out of the way.
Savkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Warror.
Savkov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Warror blocks a jab.
Warror counters with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov throws the left hand but Warror avoids the punch easily.
Savkov misses with an uppercut.
Savkov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Savkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Savkov misses with an uppercut. Warror saw that one coming.
Warror slips a jab from Savkov.
Savkov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Warror on the side of the head.
No joy there for Savkov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Warror ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Warror throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Warror throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Warror misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Savkov.
A jab lands there for Savkov.
Warror displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Savkov.
Warror scores with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good shot there by Savkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov misses with a right hand
and Warror connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Savkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Warror sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It seemed like Warror was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Warror throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Warror moves out of range as Savkov strikes.
Savkov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Warror connects with a leg kick. Savkov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Savkov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Savkov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Savkov throws a strike aimed at the side of Warror's head but Warror avoids it well.
Savkov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Savkov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Savkov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Savkov wants to take a breather but Warror manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Savkov.
Pavel Savkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Warror utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Savkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Savkov chips away with some ground and pound.
Savkov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Warror managing to control the position.
Paul Warror is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four 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.
Warror is trying to control the position but Savkov postures up.
Savkov scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savkov working some strikes from top position.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Warror controls Savkov momentarily but Savkov frees himself.
Savkov with a nice head shot there.
Savkov postures up in Warror's guard and throws a big left but Warror blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pavel Savkov.
I think Warror has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Warror!
A very excited looking Paul Warror made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.