PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sava Savov (ranked 4278 p4p, 216 weight class) and Hideo Hazuki (ranked 7067 p4p, 274 weight class). Sava Savov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Savov
vs
Hazuki

164 cm
23
134 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

165 cm
20
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sava Savov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hideo Hazuki !
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hazuki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Savov sprawls well initially but Hazuki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Savov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hazuki controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hazuki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Savov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hazuki , into his guard.

Savov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hazuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hazuki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Savov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savov darts in looking for a takedown but Hazuki gets double underhooks and turns Savov into the cage.
Savov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hazuki pinned against the cage. Hazuki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazuki shoots in for a takedown but Savov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hazuki shoots for a double leg takedown but Savov sprawls well. He's pushed Hazuki 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Savov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Hazuki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Savov's guard.
Savov striking off his back but it's not causing Hazuki any problems.

Savov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hazuki off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hazuki takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Savov tries to clinch there but Hazuki circles away.
Hazuki wants to counter with a clinch but Savov pushes him away.
Savov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hazuki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hazuki shoots and misses
and Savov counters with a leg kick.
Sava Savov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hideo Hazuki .
Horrible takedown attempt by Hazuki or perhaps it was just good defense by Savov, which made it look bad.
Hazuki looks winded!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hazuki misses with a takedown attempt
and Savov counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savov has closed the distance and engaged Hazuki in a clinch.
Savov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Hideo Hazuki has been cut.
Savov has Hazuki pressed against the cage.

Savov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Savov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Savov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hazuki 's guard.

Hazuki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Savov is aware though and is defending well.
Hazuki being controlled here, momentarily.
Savov passes into half guard.
Savov is trying to control. Hazuki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Savov connects with a nice short shot to Hazuki 's temple.
Savov lands with a punch from half guard.
Still in half guard, Savov seems content to control.
Hazuki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hazuki has hold of Savov's hands but Savov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Hazuki is rocked!
Savov lands strikes from half guard.
Hazuki is still in real trouble! Can Savov finish him?

Savov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hazuki has managed to free his arm - good work.

Savov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Savov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hazuki to stand up.
Savov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hazuki seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Savov has been working on his balance at whitey's gym , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Hazuki .
Hazuki shoots in looking for a takedown. Savov tries to sprawl out of it but Hazuki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hazuki tries for a takedown but Savov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hazuki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Savov counters with a low kick, right behind Hazuki 's knee.
A nice leg kick lands there from Savov.
A slapping leg kick lands for Savov.

Savov drives through and clinches with Hazuki against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hazuki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Savov pulls guard effortlessly.
Savov striking from his own guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sava Savov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hideo Hazuki 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Savov clinches up with Hazuki and pushes him back against the cage.
Savov is struggling to control the position.
Savov lands a knee to the head.

Savov pulls Hazuki into guard.
Savov lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Savov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Savov keeping moving, preventing Hazuki from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hazuki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hazuki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Savov looking to control.
Hazuki lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazuki stops Savov from standing up.
Savov throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Savov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hazuki can do to turn this around?
Hazuki preventing the sweep.
Hazuki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Savov controls Hazuki momentarily but Hazuki frees himself.

Hazuki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Savov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Savov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Savov!

Hazuki can't do much from the bottom here.

Savov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Hazuki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Savov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Hazuki tries for a kimura but Savov is defending well.

Hazuki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hazuki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hazuki is breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Savov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hazuki wants to control for a moment but Savov uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savov is looking to escape.
Savov 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.
Hazuki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Hazuki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Savov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Savov pushes Hazuki off and gets back to his feet.
Savov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hazuki .
Hazuki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Savov counters with a thumping low kick.
Hazuki swats away the attempt to clinch by Savov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazuki fails with the takedown
and Savov counters with a two punch combo.
Hazuki tries for a takedown but Savov circles away easily

and Savov counters by clinching up.
Sava Savov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hideo Hazuki .
Savov stops a takedown attempt from Hazuki .
Savov leaning against his opponent.
Savov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hazuki fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hazuki goes for a double leg but Savov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Savov continues to drive forward.
Savov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Savov leaves Hazuki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Savov tried to counter with a leg kick but Hazuki avoided it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savov scores with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sava Savov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hideo Hazuki 's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Savov moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Savov.
Knees in the clinch landing for Savov.

Savov decides to pull guard.

Hazuki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Savov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Savov is trying to control the position but Hazuki postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savov looking for a sweep. Not yet Savov, not yet.
Sava Savov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hazuki wants to control from the top but Savov keeps moving.
Hazuki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Savov looking for a sweep. Not yet Savov, not yet.
Hazuki is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Savov is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hazuki presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Savov lands a shot to the body.
Savov lands a nice knee to the body.
Savov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Savov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Savov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hazuki keeps working.
Savov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazuki is looking for a sweep.
Savov lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hazuki is looking to reverse the position.

Savov decides to stand back up.
Savov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sava Savov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hazuki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hazuki looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Savov stuffs the takedown attempt from Hazuki . Hazuki gets slowly back to his feet.
Savov tries to close the distance and clinch but Hazuki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hazuki looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Savov tries to clinch up but Hazuki circles away and keeps his distance.

Savov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hazuki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sava Savov has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savov leaning against his opponent.
Hazuki takes a knee to the side of the body.
Savov lands a good knee to the midsection. Hazuki won't want to take too many of those.

Savov pulls guard.
Hazuki throwing strikes but missing.
Savov is trying to control the position but Hazuki postures up.
Savov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hazuki has gone for a leg lock! Savov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hazuki 's guard.

Savov trying to control but Hazuki is working from the bottom.
Savov landing some decent shots from guard.

Savov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Savov.
Savov throws a nice head kick!
Hazuki shoots in for a takedown but Savov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hideo Hazuki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Savov pushes Hazuki up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sava Savov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Savov 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sava Savov!
A relieved looking Sava Savov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.