PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maruim Silva (ranked 2176 p4p, 1553 weight class) and Dan Gable (ranked 260 p4p, 200 weight class). Maruim Silva had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Silva
vs
Gable

170 cm
31
155
17 - 4 - 0

175 cm
21
160
7 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
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 17 - 4 - 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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Gable!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gable sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gable keeps the fight on the outside.
Gable tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Silva is able to avoid easily.

Gable drives through with a takedown into Silva's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Silva wants to get back to his feet but Gable passes into half guard.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gable in particular looking to stall.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gable won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gable working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gable not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Gable is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gable's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Gable has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gable stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Silva is looking to stand up but Gable isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gable's guard.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Gable is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gable manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Gable's guard.
Gable 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's coaches at The Firm have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Gable is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gable is working away from the top position though.
Gable prevents Silva from improving his position.
Gable stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gable 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.
Gable is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Silva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gable's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gable's back!

Silva is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Gable manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gable controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Gable avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva trying to control the position.
Gable controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gable passes into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva tries to buck Gable off but Gable is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Gable dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Gable with the counter takedown but Silva avoids it easily.
Maruim Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Gable shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gable changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Silva tries for a takedown but Gable sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maruim Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

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

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gable controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Silva looking for a guillotine here but Gable defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gable stays in close to Silva's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Gable pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Gable postures up.
Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gable controls the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gable stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gable wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gable swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Gable changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gable fails to land the takedown.
Maruim Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Gable with the counter takedown but Silva avoids it easily.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gable paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva takes a swing at Gable's ribcage but misses.
Gable tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Silva misses with a wild combination.
Silva leaves Gable with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gable swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Gable feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gable uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Silva tries to clinch

and Gable counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.

Gable avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gable has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gable stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gable is one step ahead there.

Gable avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Silva seems keen to control Gable's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position but Gable postures up.
Gable is stalling in the full guard.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Gable.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Gable is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gable shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Gable showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gable throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Gable sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gable jabs Silva right on the nose. Silva blinks but takes it well.

Gable gets a double leg takedown into Silva's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva has his foot on Gable's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gable works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva wants to sweep here but Gable controlling him for the moment.
Gable controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gable passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Gable seems content to control.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Gable is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gable passes to side control.
Gable creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dan Gable has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gable lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Gable tries to move into full mount but can't pass Silva's legs.
Silva is not content to let Gable control the position.
Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Gable happy to just control the position for now.
Gable works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gable wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Gable might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Silva is trying to escape the position but Gable is controlling the position.
Gable wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Silva is looking to reverse the position.
Silva is pushing Gable's head away, looking to escape. Gable manages to hold on to the position though.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Silva wants to clinch up but Gable keeps it at a distance.
Gable with the counter takedown but Silva avoids it easily.
Gable fails with the takedown.
Silva was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gable avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maruim Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva tries to clinch but Gable moves out of range.
Gable keeps the fight on the outside.

Gable gets caught flat footed, as Silva shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva advances to half guard.
Gable preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Gable moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dan Gable is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gable controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Gable comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gable 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Gable!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Dan Gable waved his t-shirt featuring Furnace Performance 🔥's logo in front of the cameras.