PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maruim Silva (ranked 2232 p4p, 3057 weight class) and Joey Barboza (ranked 282 p4p, 361 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Silva
vs
Barboza

170 cm
27
155
11 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
171
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maruim Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva tries to keep at a distance but Barboza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva lands a left hand.
Barboza misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva tries a body shot but Barboza blocks it.
Barboza can't find room to land a body shot as Silva controls the action.
Silva misses with some punches.
I was talking to Silva's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Silva avoiding damage as Barboza throws knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Barboza.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Barboza controls his hands.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stalling in the clinch from Barboza.
Silva gets through Barboza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barboza has Silva pressed against the cage.
Barboza leaning against his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Barboza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silva lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barboza backwards.

It looks like Joey Barboza has been cut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barboza - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barboza is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Barboza receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Joey Barboza.
Barboza uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Silva has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza misses with an attempted mid kick.

Barboza closes the distance and clinches.
Barboza blocks an uppercut.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva lands with a short shot to the head.
Silva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barboza lands a left hand.
Silva throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barbozas head.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Silva is trying to trip Barboza. He has hold of a leg but Barboza is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Silva persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Silva seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Silva has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva'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.
Barboza wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Barboza manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barboza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barboza stands up over Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva looking to control.
Silva is adopting a defensive guard.
Barboza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva working for a triangle but Barboza defends it easily.
Barboza scoring with some ground and pound.
Barboza postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.

Silva has his feet on Barboza's thighs here. He's pushed Barboza off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Barboza screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Maruim Silva!
Maruim Silva thanked the fans post fight for their support.