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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Savkov (ranked 250 p4p, 42 weight class) and Jonathan Harding (ranked 351 p4p, 55 weight class). Harding comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bitch School kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 175 cm
29
180 lbs
20 - 9 - 0 |
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182 cm
39
172 lbs
23 - 12 - 1 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
20 - 9 - 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
23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonathan Harding!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harding throws a hook but Savkov blocks it.
Savkov attempts a counter takedown but Harding avoids it well and moves away.
Harding misses with an uppercut
and Savkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Harding throws a leg kick
and Savkov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Savkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savkov throwing strikes but missing.
Savkov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Harding manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Savkov has Harding in his guard.
Harding stays in close to Savkov's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov looking to control but Harding passes into half guard.
Savkov has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Harding escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Harding!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Harding decides to stand back up. Harding steps back and let's Savkov get back to his feet.
Harding dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Savkov throws a hook but Harding blocks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Harding misses.
Harding with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Harding lands with a nice body punch.
Jonathan Harding is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savkov blocks a jab.
Savkov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Harding to the mat! Harding manages to get full guard.
Savkov content to stall in guard here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throws a strike but Harding rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Harding postures up.
Savkov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Savkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Harding can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harding sitting in guard here, content to control.
Savkov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Harding escapes and throws Savkov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Harding presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Savkov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Savkov is trying to maintain the position but Harding is very close to passing his half guard.
Savkov wants to improve his position but Harding is controlling well.
Savkov actively working from the bottom here.
Harding is taking a breather. Savkov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
That's four 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.
Savkov wants to get back to full guard.
Savkov wants to get back to full guard but Harding has mounted him!
Savkov has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Savkov tries to reverse the position but Harding maintains control.
Savkov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Savkov is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Savkov is working to get back to half guard.
Savkov tries to hold on but Harding pushes him away.
Harding sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jonathan Harding dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Harding misses the shot to the body.
Harding throws a shot to the body.
Harding misses with a body punch
and Savkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Harding scores with a jab. Savkov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Harding takes a swing at Savkov's ribcage but misses.
Harding is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Savkov rather than just go for the knockout.
Harding missing with a left hand there. Savkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savkov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Harding swings for the body but Savkov moves out of range.
Harding has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harding has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Savkov finds it's way round the side to connect with Harding's head.
Savkov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Harding. Harding circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Harding throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding jabs at Savkov's body.
Savkov throws a shot from downtown. Harding moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harding. Savkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harding misses with a looping right.
Harding throws a solid leg kick but Savkov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Harding.
Savkov throwing a counter right hand but Harding manages to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding throws a body punch but Savkov moves out of range.
Savkov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Harding lands an overhand right.
A jab from Harding misses.
Savkov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Savkov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Savkov jabs Harding to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Harding looks to land a left hand but Savkov moved out of range nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Savkov.
Harding jabs at Savkov's body.
Harding leaves Savkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Savkov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Harding's guard.
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!
Savkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Savkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Savkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harding wants to get back to his feet but Savkov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Savkov distracts Harding with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Savkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harding is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Savkov throws an elbow that misses. Harding uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Savkov's guard. Nice move by Harding!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov looking for subs off his back but Harding has passed one foot through into half guard.
Savkov trying to control here.
Harding decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Savkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Harding.
Savkov scores with a nice head shot.
Savkov throws a looping overhand right but Harding ducks down to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harding tries to avoid it but Savkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harding to the ground. Harding escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Harding has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Savkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savkov walks into a stiff left hand from Harding.
Savkov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Harding did well to prevent Savkov getting side control.
Savkov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Harding keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Savkov throwing shots but Harding is blocking nicely.
Savkov trying to control from Harding's half guard. Harding has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Harding preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Savkov won't allow Harding to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jonathan Harding showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Savkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Harding jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Harding gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harding tries to land knees in the clinch but Savkov avoids the damage to the body.
Savkov effectively controlling the action here.
Harding lands a knee to the head.
A short uppercut from Savkov.
Harding working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Savkov throws an elbow but it misses.
Savkov lands a left hand.
Harding is pressed up against the cage. Savkov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Harding down to the mat. Harding avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Harding throws a body shot but no joy.
Savkov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov moves out of range as Harding strikes.
Harding throws a leg kick
and Savkov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harding being controlled here, momentarily.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Harding blocks nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harding is keeping the position for now.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Harding is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harding works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Savkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Savkov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Savkov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Jonathan Harding is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Savkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pavel Savkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Harding keeping full guard, as Savkov tries to pass.
Savkov is in close to Harding's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Savkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Savkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Harding not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Savkov postures up and lands a big shot to Harding's brow.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Harding is looking for a sweep.
Pavel Savkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savkov swings around for an armbar but Harding sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Savkov's guard.
Savkov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Harding passes into half guard.
Savkov wants to improve his position but Harding is controlling well.
Savkov is controlling Harding's position as best he can from this difficult position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harding slows the pace down in half guard.
Savkov tries to get to full guard but Harding has control of the leg.
Savkov is trying to control but Harding passes into side control!
Harding decides to stand up, so the ref orders Savkov to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savkov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
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 Harding 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Harding!
A relieved looking Jonathan Harding thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
41% |
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