PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 1284 p4p, 777 weight class) and Frank Diaz (ranked 194 p4p, 114 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Silva
vs
Diaz

195 cm
28
200
15 - 6 - 0

188 cm
27
195
7 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rickson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva thows a leg kick but Diaz checks it
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silva takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diaz scores with a body shot.
Diaz throws a looping overhand right but Silva ducks down to avoid it.
Silva gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Diaz is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Diaz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Diaz misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
Silva misses with a body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Silva tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Diaz is able to avoid easily.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Silva was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Silva tries to move into range but Diaz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz misses with an uppercut. Silva saw that one coming.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diaz swivels and escapes.
Diaz cracks Silva with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diaz's waist but Diaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.

Diaz feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
My spies in The Rubber Guard Emporium inform me that Diaz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

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

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Diaz stalling.
Silva trying to control here.
Diaz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Diaz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Diaz 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 Diaz.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands strikes from half guard.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.
Silva is not content to let Diaz control the position.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Diaz to get the leverage.
Well, if Diaz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Silva!
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
Diaz with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.
Diaz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Diaz's attempts to control the action.
Diaz prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Diaz dominated that round.
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.

Diaz darts in looking for a takedown but Silva gets double underhooks and turns Diaz into the cage.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.
Diaz throws an off balance right hand
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Silva lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Frank Diaz has been cut.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz misses the jab.
Diaz lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva looks for a takedown but Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz jabs Silva right on the nose. Silva blinks but takes it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
Diaz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silva takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Frank Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva, which made it look bad.
Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab lands there for Diaz.
Silva misses with a low kick.

Diaz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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!
Diaz trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Silva working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Diaz is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz advances position into side control!
Silva manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Diaz sits in half guard.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Diaz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diaz defends it easily.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frank Diaz's cut.
That's time! Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silva takes one to the chin there.
Diaz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Silva. Silva circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Silva throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Diaz scores with a nice head shot.
Diaz misses with a looping right.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
We've been hearing good reports from Silva's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Silva tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Silva down.
Diaz controlling the position from side mount.
Diaz trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Diaz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.

Diaz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Silva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Silva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working the head and body with strikes.
Silva is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?

Diaz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Silva is pressing down on Diaz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Diaz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
Silva trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Diaz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Diaz lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz lands strikes from half guard.
Diaz is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diaz is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Diaz is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
Silva gets back to full guard.
Silva has control of Diaz's left arm, preventing Diaz from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Rickson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Frank Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Diaz!
A very excited looking Frank Diaz made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
In defeat, Rickson Silva stepped up to the mic, saying 'una derrota no significa fracaso, significa pararte y comenzar otra ves con mas fuerzas.'.