PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafiki Adebayo (ranked 5109 p4p, 23979 weight class) and Joao Da Silva (ranked 514 p4p, 622 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Adebayo
vs
Da Silva

180 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
165
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafiki Adebayo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joao Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Da Silva misses.
Da Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A big left from Da Silva misses.
Adebayo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Da Silva's waist but Da Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Adebayo off to one side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Da Silva enables Adebayo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Da Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Adebayo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Adebayo won't allow Da Silva to sweep him here.
Da Silva is looking to stand up but Adebayo isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adebayo content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Adebayo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Adebayo slips nicely into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Da Silva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Da Silva wants to improve his position but Adebayo is controlling well.
Adebayo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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.
Da Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Adebayo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Da Silva is trying to control but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Adebayo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Da Silva's guard.
Da Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Da Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Adebayo controls the pace.
Da Silva looking to control.
Da Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Adebayo is one step ahead there.
Adebayo slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Adebayo prevents Da Silva from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adebayo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Da Silva!
Adebayo controlling his opponent.
Da Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Adebayo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Da Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Da Silva keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adebayo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Da Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Da Silva is still trying to improve position.
Adebayo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Da Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

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

Da Silva throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Adebayo fails with a takedown attempt.
Da Silva lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Da Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Da Silva tries to bum rush Adebayo with a series of wild strikes but Adebayo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Adebayo shoots in looking for a takedown but Da Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Adebayo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Adebayo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Da Silva!
Da Silva can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adebayo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Da Silva's shoulder. That is not cool.
Da Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Adebayo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Da Silva wants to control but Adebayo postures up.
Da Silva tries to bench press Adebayo off him but Adebayo keeps the position.
Adebayo just content to control the position.
Da Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Da Silva is trying to control Adebayo's posture but Adebayo avoids it.
Adebayo moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Da Silva is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Da Silva's face as Adebayo controls the position.
Adebayo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Adebayo moves into full mount!
Adebayo controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Adebayo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Adebayo prevents Da Silva from getting the reversal.
Adebayo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Da Silva wants to control but Adebayo is having none of it.
Adebayo controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adebayo prevents Da Silva from getting the reversal.
Adebayo controlling the position easily from mount.
Da Silva tries to hold on but Adebayo pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Adebayo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Da Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rafiki Adebayo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Adebayo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Adebayo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Da Silva sprawls well initially but Adebayo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Da Silva wants to control but Adebayo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Adebayo trying to control the pace.
Da Silva wants to improve his position but Adebayo is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adebayo trying to control the pace.
Da Silva manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adebayo preventing the sweep.
Da Silva trying to control the position.
Adebayo stopping the sweep attempt from Da Silva.
Adebayo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Da Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Adebayo is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Adebayo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Da Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Da Silva lands with a shot to the body.
Da Silva misses with an uppercut. Adebayo saw that one coming.
Adebayo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Da Silva as he jumps to the side.
Da Silva stuffs the takedown.
Da Silva swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafiki Adebayo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Silva misses with a double jab.
Adebayo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Da Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Da Silva looks to land a combination. Adebayo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A looping hook to the body misses from Da Silva. Adebayo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Da Silva as Adebayo shoots in.
Adebayo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Donk. Da Silva catches Adebayo right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adebayo fails with a takedown attempt.
Da Silva throws a low kick but Adebayo avoids it.
Da Silva misses with a head kick.
Adebayo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Da Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Adebayo somewhat.
Rafiki Adebayo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Da Silva misses with an uppercut.
Da Silva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Adebayo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Da Silva counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Adebayo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Adebayo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adebayo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Da Silva tries to avoid it but Adebayo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Da Silva to the ground. Da Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rafiki Adebayo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Silva lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Da Silva throws a head kick but Adebayo moves out of range.
Da Silva throws a combination. Adebayo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Da Silva misses with a body shot.
Rafiki Adebayo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Da Silva fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Da Silva stuffs the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Da Silva on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Da Silva misses with a hook. Adebayo ducked under it nicely.
Da Silva throws a big shot that misses.
Da Silva throws an overhand right that lands on Adebayo's shoulder, as Adebayo tries to avoid the shot.
Adebayo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A head kick misses from Da Silva.
The fighters circling - Da Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice jab there from Da Silva.
Joao Da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adebayo misses with a takedown
and Da Silva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Da Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Adebayo 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joao Da Silva!