PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Lethal (ranked 516 p4p, 71 weight class) and Pavel Savkov (ranked 785 p4p, 98 weight class). Lethal comes to the cage accompanied by we're off to see the wizard. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lethal
vs
Savkov

190 cm
34
179 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

175 cm
30
180 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Lethal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lethal takes a swing at Savkov's ribcage but misses.
Pavel Savkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savkov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Savkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Lethal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lethal needs to keep his hands up - Savkov had a free shot at his head there.
Lethal connects with the punch.
Nice straight punches there by Savkov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Savkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lethal is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Savkov clobbers Lethal with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Savkov misses with a takedown attempt
and Lethal counters with a stiff right hand.
Matt Lethal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Savkov.
Savkov throws out a loose jab but Lethal uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lethal is looking to land body kicks.
Savkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slapping body kick lands there for Lethal.
Savkov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice jab there from Savkov.
Lethal throws out a loose jab but Savkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lethal misses the jab.

Lethal gets tackled into the cage by Savkov. Savkov maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lethal prevents it.
Lethal has a couple of punches blocked by Savkov.
A right handed body shot lands from Lethal.
Come on Lethal - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Lethal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matt Lethal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savkov takes a swing at Lethal's ribcage but misses.
Lethal throws the kick towards the body but Savkov avoids it.
Savkov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Lethal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Savkov misses with a straight left.
A big left from Lethal misses.
Lethal scores with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lethal lands with an uppercut that bounces Savkov off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lethal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savkov.
Lethal swats away the attempt to clinch by Savkov.
Lethal slaps away a takedown attempt from Savkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No joy there for Savkov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savkov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lethal counters with a head kick.
Savkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A swing and a miss from Lethal.
Savkov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Savkov throws a right hand that Lethal ducks under and follows up with a left that Lethal also avoids with ease.
Lethal swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lethal keeps the fight on the outside.

Savkov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lethal was covering up waiting for the punch and Savkov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lethal seems keen to control Savkov's posture.
Savkov distracts Lethal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lethal keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
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!
Lethal seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Savkov landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Lethal will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lethal moves forwards but Savkov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Savkov misses with a few strikes there.
A big right from Savkov misses.
Lethal throws a jab when Savkov was well out of range.
Savkov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Savkov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lethal is looking to break free of the clinch but Savkov has double underhooks.
Lethal swings wildly with an uppercut but Savkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lethal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lethal swings wildly with an uppercut but Savkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lethal tries a body shot but Savkov blocks it.
Lethal lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov has Lethal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lethal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lethal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Savkov backwards.
Savkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lethal fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Savkov tries to clinch
and Lethal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matt Lethal is winning the standup battle so far.
Lethal gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lethal misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Savkov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lethal takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Savkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lethal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Savkov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A punch lands to the side of Savkov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lethal dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Savkov. That did some damage!
Lethal looks to land a left hand but Savkov moved out of range nicely.
Lethal misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savkov sizes up Lethal with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
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!
Lethal misses with a right hand

and Savkov counters with a takedown into side control.
Savkov is looking to take a break and control but Lethal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lethal manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Savkov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Savkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Savkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Lethal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lethal tries to get to full guard but Savkov has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throws a strike but Lethal avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Savkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lethal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Savkov throwing strikes but missing.
Savkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Savkov throws an elbow that misses. Lethal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Savkov's guard. Nice move by Lethal!

Lethal preventing the sweep.
Savkov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Lethal is now in half guard.
Lethal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov is trying is best to control the position here.

Savkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Savkov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Savkov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lethal manages to get himself to full guard.

Lethal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lethal keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Lethal will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Savkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Lethal.
Nice defenses there by Lethal.
Lethal is looking to counter punch.
Savkov throws a lazy uppercut
and Lethal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Savkov throws a big shot that misses.
Lethal misses with a left hand

and Savkov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Savkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savkov preventing the sweep.
Lethal is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lethal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savkov wants to control from the top but Lethal keeps moving.
Savkov stopping the sweep attempt from Lethal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pavel Savkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Savkov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lethal's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Savkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Savkov postures up.
Savkov throwing strikes from guard but Lethal blocks nicely.
Savkov cracks Lethal with a solid left hand.
Savkov trying to move into half guard but instead Lethal has managed to sweep!

Savkov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lethal defends well.

Savkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lethal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lethal looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lethal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matt Lethal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Savkov is trying to control the position but Lethal postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Savkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lethal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Savkov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lethal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pavel Savkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Savkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Lethal is retaining full guard.
Savkov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lethal has momentary wrist control but Savkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Lethal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savkov.
Savkov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Savkov postures up in Lethal's guard and throws a big left but Lethal blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Savkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lethal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lethal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lethal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Savkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Lethal has wrist control.
Savkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Savkov throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A cross from Savkov lands.
Savkov lands a glancing blow to the side of Lethal's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Savkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lethal has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Matt Lethal!
Matt Lethal thanked the fans post fight for their support.