PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin King (ranked 24439 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Silva (ranked 3172 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Roots Bloody Roots - Sepultura. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

King
vs
Silva

189 cm
28
267 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

192 cm
47
251 lbs
33 - 53 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 53 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodrigo Silva!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva lands with a nice combination. King backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Kevin King has been cut.

King darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

King wants to work for an arm triangle but Silva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

King is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by King.

King is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time King.
Silva wants to improve his position but King is controlling well.
Silva gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva 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.
King passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
King performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

King decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

King shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. King showed some decent athleticism there.

King decides to stand up.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. King manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
King appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Silva throws a jab when King was well out of range.
Silva leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Silva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. King did well to prevent Silva getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

King looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
King won't allow Silva to pass to mount.
King slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now King is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

King gets to his feet - Silva follows without any prompting.
Silva fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by Silva.

Silva drives through and clinches with King against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King prevents the takedown attempt.
King is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Silva to keep the fight standing.

King ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. King no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
King keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Silva should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
King looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.

King looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
King manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.

King wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.
King tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
King fails to pull guard.

Silva has picked King up - he's going for a ride! Silva dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
King gets full guard.

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

King is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kevin King overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King is trying to get back to full guard.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and King defends it well.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and King defends it well.
King wants to improve his position but Silva is controlling well.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but King defends the submission attempt.

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.
King slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
King wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva advances to half guard.

Silva is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. King doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Silva.

Silva is looking for a kimura here.
King is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

King looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva won't allow King to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and King has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between King's legs - danger averted.
King keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva preventing the sweep.

King kicks Silva off and gets to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
King tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. King fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva tries to land a body kick

and King counters with a shoot takedown into half 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!
Silva pushes King off looking to stand but King dives back in and keeps control.

King is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
King is just content to waste time from the top position. Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

King drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and King jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin King dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kevin King's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva lands a jab to the head.

King looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but King drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
King wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
King won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
King wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
King sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of King's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take King's back!
I really don't envy King right now.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King manages to reverse the position and now he's in Silva's guard. Nice work there by King.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
King is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King preventing the sweep.

King stands up and waves to Silva to follow him.
King shoots in for a double leg but Silva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva scores with a head kick. King tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

King looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but King drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
King advances to half guard.
Silva manages to get to full guard.
King won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
King works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King decides to stand up.
King throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing King off to one side.
King shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva looks for a takedown but King sprawls well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by King after a bit of a struggle.
King jumps guard but Silva stands there with King around his waist. King gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King has Silva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Silva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Silva gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, King regains guard.

King uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
King tries to counter with a takedown but Silva is quick to defend against it.

Silva tries to sprawl but King drives through with a takedown into half guard.

King is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

King is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.

Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet!
King displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Silva throws out the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodrigo Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
King looking to pass the guard.

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

King gets to his feet. Silva looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rodrigo Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.

King closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

King is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.

King stands up out of the half guard.
Kevin King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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 Kevin King.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for King, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin King!
Kevin King seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.