PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 1591 p4p, 684 weight class) and Balthazar Baker (ranked 241 p4p, 108 weight class). Silva's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, URSO O INVENCÍVEL. Balthazar Baker has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rickson Silva's chin.

Silva
vs
Baker

195 cm
27
200
13 - 4 - 0

195 cm
25
190
7 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rickson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balthazar Baker!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva misses with a takedown
and Baker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Baker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Silva prevents Baker from improving his position.
Baker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Baker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva being controlled here momentarily.
Baker working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Baker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Baker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silva lands a couple of digs.
Silva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Baker.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Baker blocks nicely.
Silva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Baker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva postures up.

Baker looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva 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.

Baker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Baker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baker manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Baker's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Baker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Baker!

Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Silva seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Baker wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Baker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Baker defends easily.
Silva keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Silva dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Baker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silva.
Baker wants to get back to full guard.
Baker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Silva postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Baker manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Silva has Baker in his guard.

Baker pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Baker drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
Baker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Silva looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Baker has picked Silva up and slammed him! Silva can't keep hold of the triangle and Baker manages to pass to side control!
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Silva manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Silva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baker gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Baker slips a nice elbow through Silva's hands, connecting with Silva's forehead.
Silva manages to get to full guard.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Baker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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!
Baker trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Baker won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baker is one step ahead there.
Baker passes Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Baker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Silva gets back to full guard.
Baker preventing the sweep.
Silva keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

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

Silva is looking to reverse the position.
Baker is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Baker working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Balthazar Baker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Silva closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baker's guard.

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

Silva wants to hit a sweep here but Baker passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Silva there!
Baker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?
Silva working to try and regain half guard.

Baker wants to finish this one by submission but Silva is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Baker.
Baker prevents Silva from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Baker cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Silva regains half guard.
Silva has hold of Baker's hands but Baker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Baker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.

Silva is rocked!
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.

Baker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baker has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baker manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Baker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Baker is looking for a triangle but Silva pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baker is on top in guard.

Baker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Baker pushes his legs off easily.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baker is one step ahead there.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silva trying to pass the guard but Baker defending well.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baker's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Baker.
Baker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva scoring with punches to the head and body.
Baker wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Silva postures up.
Baker wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva throwing strikes from guard but Baker blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Rickson Silva did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Baker enables Silva to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Baker manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva lands a couple of digs.

Baker is rocked!
Silva gets to his feet and stands over Baker, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Baker felt that one! Silva unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Baker from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rickson Silva!
During a confident post fight interview, Rickson Silva thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.